Seminars Vs Ecourses/online Content

[Kavik]

I only have a certain amount of money/time I can spend on training seminars etc.

What do people think of seminars vs ecourses/online content? Just found out about Greg Derrett coming out in January who would be awesome to see! And also know Susan Garrett is planning on running an ecourse on contacts at some point which I would also love to do. If you had to choose, which would you do? Why?

[Agility Dogs]

I only have a certain amount of money/time I can spend on training seminars etc.

What do people think of seminars vs ecourses/online content? Just found out about Greg Derrett coming out in January who would be awesome to see! And also know Susan Garrett is planning on running an ecourse on contacts at some point which I would also love to do. If you had to choose, which would you do? Why?

I'm going to do the Greg/Laura seminar in January - hopefully I'll get a working spot!!

Personally I'd always choose to work with a 'live' person rather than an e-course simply for the feedback that you get. E-courses are great and IMO very valuable, but I don't think you can beat having someone standing on the sidelines talking you through what it is you are missing.

THat said you probably need to consider whether you think improving your handling or your contacts is going to bring more benefit to your results. (Sorry if that is stating the obvious.)

[JulesP]

Go and see Greg I went last time and want to go this time and haven't even been doing agility!

With an e-course I would want to be able to be sending video back to the person for feedback, not sure if that is the case with the Susan G course? If you don't have that you really don't know if you are doing things correctly.

[Kavik]

Thanks guys

Hope you get a working spot Agility Dogs! I think if I go I will just audit, as I will be travelling from Sydney so not sure I want to bring the dog that far for a start and I get self conscious when being watched by a crowd so not sure how well Kaos will work with me like that, and it might be rather warm.

Yes I am also trying to decide whether handling or contacts need the most work - they both need work . I saw Greg briefly at the World Dog Games and it would be great to see him for a longer period of time. Not sure how the e-course works or when it will be on or price or anything, only that it is in the works.

[kelpiechick]

Was just going to post for a couple of people who asked previously that Greg & Laura details are now available on Agility Click website (www.agilityclick.com) so will do it here instead, LOL.

Having done both 'live and online' I think it depends on what you are aiming to get out of it in the first place.

Some online presentations (eg: SG and GD) are more towards providing you with training exercises and it's up to you to work through them. You don't get that instant trouble shooting and feedback that you get live, but the upside is that you can work through things at your own pace, get a good collection of ideas for training plus you still have the benefit of contact with other students for discussion, etc.

Other online courses (eg: Silvia Trkman, Daisy Peel) allow you to choose whether to enrol as a participant or an auditor. As an participant you post videos of your exercises each week for feedback. Being an auditor is a bit like auditing a workshop where you get to view everyone else's videos and read the feedback, but can't post your own. But you can join in discussions and ask questions.

If you want specific feedback for your own performance, then obviously 'in the flesh' or an online course that allows you to submit videos is the way to go. If you want to improve your knowledge base in general then auditing or online is great.... you just have to figure out how to apply it to your own performance though.

I've been a bit of a junkie this year, due to 2 of my 3 dogs being out injured for most of the year and only trialling the baby lightly so my much lessened trial entries have gone towards signing up for a lot of online to sample of 'bit of this and a bit of that'. Happy to share what I thought was worthwhile and what not so much if anyone wants to know.

Now just need to work out how I can find the money for GD 'in the flesh' as I didn't bugdet for that one.

[Kavik]

Thanks kelpiechick

I'm interested in improving my knowledge base. So would go as auditor. I like to work things out in my own time, wouldn't want the pressure of time and also get a bit self conscious in front of a crowd. Certainly improving contacts is a biggie for me atm.

Would love to know what you have had a look at so far.

[kelpiechick]

Thanks kelpiechick

I'm interested in improving my knowledge base. So would go as auditor. I like to work things out in my own time, wouldn't want the pressure of time and also get a bit self conscious in front of a crowd. Certainly improving contacts is a biggie for me atm.

Would love to know what you have had a look at so far.

No problems, will PM you later.

[Casima]

Having done both in the flesh seminars and e courses with Susan and Greg here are my thoughts

Seminars are great if you want to ask questions and if you can get a working spot you get great feedback which is really helpful and often you learn extra little bits and pieces that you didn't know you didn't know and wouldn't have made it onto an eCourse. It can be super motivating to go home and train your dog after attending seminars, the energy can be very contagious.

eCourses are great so you can see their actual training since being in Aus they don't bring demo dogs over here and I have found it really useful to see how it looks when done right, the information is fed to you more slowly so you don't get the information overload that happens after several days of seminar and they tend to be much cheaper and without the associated travel of seminars.

Both very useful for learning all you want to know about agility I guess my decision on what to do would come down to what I needed to learn most at the time