Training Camp 2023

Event

Five full days of dog training, activities, workshops, lectures, and demonstrations. Learn to apply your dog's drive to build success. The camp week runs Sunday through Saturday and is done after breakfast Saturday. The registration includes meals, room and board.

What is the Volhard Motivational Method?

Welcome to the Motivational Method, an approach to training for people who like their dogs and who have them first and foremost as pets and companions. At the heart of the Motivational Method is the conviction that positive reinforcement is the most effective teaching tool. We believe that when a dog is consistently rewarded for the correct response to a given command, rather than constantly checked for a negative action, he is motivated to learn and training is made pleasant and effective for both handler and dog.

It is an evolving method. As we have gained experience through training, teaching and the continued study of canine behavior, we have been more and more successful in eliminating the need for negative reinforcement and compulsive training. The Motivational Method dates back to 1970 and we gave our first training seminar in 1974. The seminars were followed by the first Instructor School in 1977. Next we introduced the Instructor Schools and Training Camps, which have been attended by individuals at every level of experience, from rank beginners to accomplished trainers and instructors. Participants have come from across the United States, Australia, Bermuda, Canada, England, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Puerto Rico, the Republic of Singapore, Turkey and the West Indies.

"Success Breeds Success" is an old saying and one that well applies to this method.

The Motivational Method is a proven approach to teaching beginners how to train their dogs. The techniques are simple and can be successfully used by inexperienced trainers, as well as by those with more experience. And, although it was intended as a technique for training puppies, it proved itself equally effective with adolescent, adult and even problem dogs, many of which were given a second chance at life.

The relationship between man and dog is complex and often suffers from poor communication. The Motivational Method bridges the gap between the species, blending human and canine psychology into a carefully structured program, whose ultimate goal is a happy, reliable dog. As complex chains of behaviors are mastered, learning becomes easy and enjoyable. Training begins with exercises of basic control and progresses step-by-step to advanced level exercises. The Motivational Method systematically moves through three phases: teaching, practicing, and testing. The result is a dog that believes it can succeed, a belief that is crucial to the dog’s confidence. Without it, the dog may experience difficulty learning and responding in a reliable, motivated fashion.

The Motivational Method trains handlers to communicate with their dogs in a clear, compelling, and positive manner. Research into the psychology of how people learn is incorporated into every step of the training process. Body posture, leash handling, tone of voice and an understanding of dog behavior are skills taught to each owner and handler, enabling anyone who has the desire the opportunity to achieve their training goals.

The Instruction Team:

Theresa Richmond- Director

Since 1982, Theresa has titled her own and client dogs in Canada and the U.S. including a number of breed championships, group placements, and obedience, rally, and agility titles. Theresa has also collected a number of Canine Good Citizen Awards & Temperament Test Certificates.

In 1985, Theresa attended Jack and Wendy Volhard’s Instructor Training School in New Hampshire. Theresa adopted Volhard's motivational method as her mission at Mahogany Ridge and has never looked back.

Welcome to Camp 2023! I look forward to spending time with you and your dog(s)!

Wendy Volhard

Wendy Volhard is a consummate dog person, internationally recognized for her contributions to training, health, and nutrition. In print, in films, and in the field, she has helped thousands of people to better enjoy the experience of dog ownership and thousands of dogs to live better lives.

For the past 40 years, Wendy has taught dog owners how to communicate effectively with their pets. At the heart of her teaching is the "Motivational Method," a unique approach to training that is aimed at people who have dogs first and foremost as pets and companions. Wendy believes that positive reinforcement is the most effective tool for teaching any dog – a technique that is fundamental to her renowned training camps, workshops, and one-on-one training sessions.

Mary Ann Rombold Zeigenfuse

Mary Ann has been teaching people how to train their dogs since 1981. She has been training
dogs since 1978. She started as the training director for a small school in Lexington KY. Now
she owns and operates her own training school, in Lexington, which has 10 instructors. Best
Friends Obedience, Inc. offers Obedience, Rally, Scent Work, and Tricks everything at
all levels. On top of this, Mary Ann is a Licensed Veterinary Technician who graduated from
Bel-Rea Institute of Animal Technology in Denver, Co. As a technician, she recently retired
from supervising 20 technicians at a 24-hour practice just outside of Lexington.
Mary Ann has authored a trick training book using the drives theory, which will be available at
camp. Most recently, Mary Ann and Wendy Volhard updated and edited the Dog Training for
Dummies book. Mary Ann also is a frequent lecturer for Humane Societies, Pet Sitting and
Home Care Services, as well as Veterinary Conferences in Kentucky. She is also certified
through NADOI (National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors).
Most of all, Mary Ann loves training and showing her youngest dog, a Papillion named Alex.
Alex has planned on attending camp this year in a supervisory role. Look for him around the
area and give him any feedback, he takes it all in stride.

Linda Pike

Linda is the proud mother of three wonder kids: Justin (29), Jacqueline (24), and Danielle (23) 19. She personally owns six dogs, four Mastiffs, and two German Shepherds. Her kids all have their own dogs which they care for themselves from buying food to paying their vet bills.

The family also has a small barn with four horses complete with three barn cats. Now, these are not your normal barn cats. These cats are a little spoiled :) When it is cold they sleep on the horses' backs and have been known to bring the mice home and keep as pets for themselves.

Linda continues to teach classes at home along with her full-time daycare for dogs. Linda is actively involved in K-9 sport. Linda is a certified Volhard Instructor.

Sherri Capp

Sherrie has been involved in the sport of dogs for 45 years. During that time, she bred, trained and showed Alaskan Malamutes with her mom.

In the desire to live peacefully with a powerful breed, obedience entered her life. Over the years, she completed 19 CDs in the US and Canada, proving to many that the breed could be both beautiful and well behaved.

Dawn Parson

Dawn lives in Newfoundland, Canada and enjoys all types of outdoor activities: Hiking, mountain biking, skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling, to name a few. Her interest in animals and how they work led to her studies in Biology at university, and a career in fish population science. She has been training her own dogs for over 15 years, and discovered the Volhard method 10 years ago when she met Linda Pike at Companion Dog Trainers. She competes in obedience trials with her Boxer, Copper, has attended the Volhard training camps, and has successfully completed the Volhard Instructor certification program.

Lee Swimm

Lee has spent, like many of us, a lifetime in dogs. She lives the method every day with her dogs and has been seen applying the VMM to her 8-year-old! Lee is a dear friend and is here to help you and me in any way she can. Thanks, and welcome my friend!

Location: Camp Friendship

Address: 573 Friendship Way, Palmyra, VA 22963

Telephone: 1-800-873-3223, 434-589-8950

Camp Friendship is a residential seasonal camp in Virginia, nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains on 520 acres of rolling hills and scenic woods.

http://campfriendship.com/

Sample Training Schedule (subject to change)

Information about you:

Full Name*

PrefixFirst NameLast Name

Non-Participating

PrefixFirst NameLast Name

Address*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip CodeCountry

Phone Number*

Area CodePhone Number

E-mail*

Information about your dog:

Name of Dog*

Breed*

Date of Birth*

Sex*

Date of Last Rabies Vaccination*

Spayed or Neutered?*

Have you owned a dog before?*

Anything we should know about your dog?

Have you trained a dog before?*

Breed (s)*

2nd Dog Information (please type, name, age, sex, breed, spayed/neutered, Date of Last Rabies, Anything else we should know)

Have you been to camp before?*

If so how many years have you attended?

Human T-Shirt Size*

Policies:

All registrations require a $100 non-refundable registration fee at the time of registration.

If you wish to reserve a specific room, a $500 deposit is required. $100 of that $500 deposit is non-refundable if the reservation is canceled.

Check-in is on Sunday after 3:00 pm, April 16, 2023

Check-out is right after breakfast on Saturday, April 22, 2023

$100 Off all Registrations made before January 28, 2023 (Early Bird)

General Registration November 04, 2022 - January 28, 2023

-Cabin with private Bath (if Available) - $1695

Late Registration January 30, 2023- April 16, 2023

-Cabin with Private bath (if available) - $1795

RV Lodging (Use of bathhouse) - $1195 regardless of registration time

No camp fee refunds after March 15, 2023

Lodging Information:

Guests can either rent towels, linens, pillows, and blankets for $25 for the week or can bring their own. Sleeping bags work well too!

The linen set costs $25 and would include:

1.) fitted and flat sheets
2.) pillow and pillowcase
3.) blanket
4.) two towels

Summary of different lodging options are available:

1.) Cabin lodging with private bath - Many available

2.) RV Camping - RV needs to be fully contained as there are no hookups. (Dumping station located at a nearby campground)

Registration includes lodging plus all meals starting with Sunday Dinner, Monday through Saturday breakfast.

Every meal will have a meat and veggie option.

Cart does not include the linen package.

First-time Volhard campers will receive a training collar at no charge as well as adding it is highly recommended that first-time campers and those staying on for the certification should take the Living With your Dog class, required for certification.

Non- Participating Spouse - Room & Board "tag along" - $700

Food Allergies?

My Products

Late Registration - Includes lodging in cabin with private bath, meals from Sunday dinner through Saturday breakfast$1,795.00

Until April 16, 2023

RV Camping- Includes parking of RV and meals from Sunday through Saturday breakfast$1,195.00

Linen and towel rental-The linen set would include: fitted and flat sheets pillow and pillowcase ,blanket, two towels$25.00

Quantity

CGC Test$ Free

Trick Title$ Free

Non-Participating Attendee$700.00

Room and Board

Quantity

Total $0.00

If Reserving a specific Room, Please identify Village

DogwoodPine GroveCedar Grove

Please enter your room number

Please fill out form to register and check the appropriate lodging/registration combination you prefer and submit only once. Registrations without payment will be deleted and your spot will not be saved.

Volhard Dog Training Camp April 16-22, 2023

Registration Form