'Joy and Vaughn's methods are used in the training of every champion here at TsarShadow. They have helped us win Best In Show titles on many different breeds, plus championships in over twenty countries. Joy's coaching andindividualised attention played a major role in the successes of our most famous dogs; among them are MBIS/MCH TsarShadow's Jatkosota, a 35-time BISwinner who was Canada's #4 Dog All Breeds in 2009, and MBISS/MCH TsarShadow's Forest Lord, a top European campaigner and internationalchampion. The truly great thing is Joy and Vaughn 'walk the walk'; every trick they teach you, they actually use themselves. Give their next Worshop a try - you have nothing to lose but ribbons! 'Yours in dogs, Dawne Deeley, TsarShadow Carelians,North Saanich, BC.
In 2009 I campagianed a Karelian Bear Dog Ch Tsarshadows Jakasota to #4 All breed status. This is not easy for any dog and with the help of Joy's conditioning regime "Rokka" stayed in magnificent shape both physically and mentally. Doug Belter, Professional Handler
The work that you do here is cross training for ALL the dog sports you do with your dog! The exercises and games you learn are fabulous tools for focus in agility. Let’s face it , if you do not have the full attention of your dog then you are not working to your full potential! Joy and Vaughn are strict, fair and fun all at the same time. For years I thought that obedience was boring. HA! Take the seminar…you will not be sorry! Bev Mattson HighRun Dog Sports
PS I attended the seminar with my girls Flora, Magz and Zsim. My husband Stan took his new rescue boy Bert. He was unmanageable even trying to get him out of the car on leash. By the weekend we had him in the ring with 25 other dogs in VERY close proximity. I was totally blown away. In fact I think I will have to book them again after writing this to you! It really was a great weekend!
"The seminars helped me train for titles in several venues. Although the focus of Joy and Vaughn's seminars was conformation training, I gained useful knowledge and skills for training in water work and obedience as well as conformation. I used Joy's drive work exercises and conditioning program to earn multiple obedience High In Trial titles on both my dogs as well as an All Breed BIS and BISS win.
I attended my first Joy and Vaughn seminar when my second puppy was not yet 6 months old. I had tried showing my first dog once but ended up crashing my head into the judge's head when the judge came to examine my dog. After that, I decided to let a professional show my dog for me. I had never earned a point on a dog but I was taking my puppy to Joy and Vaughn's seminar in preparation for the puppy to be shown by a handler. Joy and Vaughn's owner handler philosophy hooked me on dog showing. When my puppy turned 6 months, I earned my first conformation point (and the puppy's first point too) the first time we went in the ring together. I attended another Joy and Vaughn seminar and learned enough to finish the puppy myself while she was still a junior puppy. Joy helped me find a way to enjoy conformation training so I continued taking seminars, classes and lessons with her. A little over a year ago, my dog won an All Breed Best In Show owner handled. Joy took me from being a nervous novice to compentent competitor and found a way to make the journey fun for both dog and handler. " Tammy Hibberson, Portugues Water Dogs, Vancouver Island. Venues I've earned titles in are tracking, agility, water work, drafting, obedience, rally and conformation.
I attended one of your workshops this year south of Calgary. I am using someof the training exercises and principles with my Finnish Lapphunds. I decided to handle a 13 month old male of mine at a small show in BC, with the long term goal of getting a group placement on one of my dogs. This isthe first owner-handled group first in my breed in Canada.
Thank you very much. I will certainly attend a future seminar and suggest it to my friends. I am working a new puppy and am looking forward to using your training techniques from the start. Leeza Friedman-Prokopishyn, MSW, RSW
I worked with Joy with 3 of my dogs. 2 for rehab of injuries and 2 for obedience/rally. Joy developed a plan to rehab my 11yr old Weim so that she could continue to compete in agility for the 2010 season. Christie has remained sound, enthusiastic and safely competing in 2010 attending both Regionals and Nationals. Jake fully rehabbed from a serious broken toe with no issues. Joy was able to quickly pick up on training gaps in both obedience and rally and suggest strategies and exercises to be successful. I look forward to working with her again and again.Denise McLean, Greyghost Weimaraners, Prince George, BC.
I've been working with Joy and Vaughn for 3 years now. Joy has been instrumental in getting my female Dobe back in competitive condition after having major surgery at 9 months old, her knowledge and insight into conditioning, gait and structure are amazing, she notices even the slightest issues and gives you exercises and ways to improve.I currently compete in both Conformation and Agility with my Dobe, and will eventually go into Rally and Obedience and Joy and Vaughn know how to make it fun (one of the reasons I stopped training it). I was able to finish my Dobe to her championship myself as well as get a couple Group placements on her, she has also earned titles in Agility, and passed her Herding Instinct Test and Temperament Test. We are taking a break from conformation for Agility right now but will return to the show ring. I have also acquired two Toy Fox Terriers thanks to Joy's recommendation on a wonderful breeder and now good friend. Joy is helping me get my puppies ready for both the Show and Agility rings, both showing great potential, we will also eventually train for Rally and Obedience.
I feel honoured to consider both Joy and Vaughn good friends and mentors, and plan to continue training with them for many years to come. I highly recommend taking one of their workshops or many of them, as you always learn something new and different at each one. Lee Hartfield,Victoria, BC.
Outstanding! It was one of the best Seminars I've attended. I was particularly impressed with their philosophies, their approach to running the seminar and their extensive knowledge of how the different breeds learn plus the most effective ways to teach various breeds considering their idiosyncrasies. They offered a wealth of unique, practical ideas to achieve the best results and carefully showed you how to go about it.
Although they primarily addressed Conformation handling and training, they advocated using Obedience as the foundation for all other activities, including Conformation, to develop a happy, driving, focused dog which is essential for success in all working activities plus dealing with the subjectivity of judging in the Conformation ring.
Since it was a working Seminar, with only enough time spent periodically sitting to discuss the protocol and answer questions, we were up working with our dogs on the exercises and games discussed, while Joy or Vaughan called out the instructions as we all moved around the room together. This was a far better way to learn, for several reasons, than just sitting, discussing and observing someone else do the exercises. First, you could discover unforeseen questions doing the exercises with your dog; secondly, Joy or Vaughan went quickly over to you to help you solve your problem immediately; thirdly, with all of us working at the same time, your dog could benefit from learning to deal with focusing on you during the pressures of socialization created by some 30 teams working in close proximity; and fourthly, you retained all the Seminar information afterwards.
This strategy proved extremely effective as witnessed by the incredible improvement in all the teams by the end of the second day. My puppy and I were no exception. The Seminar really advanced my puppy's confidence, learning, and socialization. Being a total novice to Conformation handling, I gained knowledge and skills that will make me appear more professional in the ring.
This is definitely a Seminar I would highly recommend to anyone, novice or experienced, including their dog(s) which may be trained or untrained. Joy and Vaughan are most supportive and offer innovative approaches that are of value to everyone and their dogs, whether you are interested in just Conformation or planning to work your dog in other dog sports. Margaret Chandler, CKC Obedience & Rally Judge, CKC Water and Draft Test Judge, ASCA Obedience Judge
Testimonials: