HSV Hoogkerk.

My First IPO seminar.

Through Google I’m always searching for stuff concerning dog sport. I just started and I get my info from all over. I tried to school a bitch of 2 years. But I lacked consistence and I always want to know what I’m doing. After my young male died I got a male which also came from a good line of Groenendalers. So I had to learn something about the sport and through Google I came by Ellen. I thought’ great she has rookies too. I was so bold as to send her a mail with questions. Deep down I had hope, maybe a great location to train but I was really disappointed to hear that she lives down under in Holland and I live all the way up in Holland.

We kept on mailing over dog training and were in the mood so to speak. And them, in a mail she said’ maybe I know something for you. I read this and said it in my thoughts, since I knew Ellen only by mail. And what was maybe something for me, the week seminar of Tuukka Nikola. I talked it over with Dick and asked Jose if we could participate and yes…it was a go. I was going to a seminar. I was really proud. To be honest I made fun of my IPO training buddies from the club. I’m going to learn something and you gushy think you know everything. And next week I’ll know more than you do.

After a days drive in the rain all the way from south of the country we arrived in Hoogkerk. When we approached the training club we heard dogs barking and we saw people. I thought there are 2 women and one of them has a Groenendaler, which must be Ellen. We got introduced and she looked familiar. It would seem that I matched Ellen to Jeltje (from the serie my daughter and me… sorry Ellen this is well meant. But you had the same soft southern accent as I do and I was nice to hear. Ellen came by for a talk and we got settled in. We heard that Tuukka ‘ busy chap’ was. Well, I was there to learn so… The days would prove to be long, from 10 a.m. to 22 pm. Pauze. Tuukka never heard of it?. We, silly Dutchmen did.

We didn’t lunch with the Group since we wanted to walk the dogs and give them the attention they need. That is the only criticism concerning this week. Do an obligatory pause because I was pissed off every time that I had to miss the training advice. But, nevertheless we took the time for our dogs. This was their right. This is the first time that they kept staring at the inside of the car for such a long time. How is that Tuukka. Concrete and to the point. What the technical side of his training concerns, I won’t write anything, since it is in my memory and my PC, ha-ha. But he does tell you a lot and if you listen carefully that every story has a point, one and one equals two. I did , in any case. I always find it annoying that people at seminars take the word and then go on and on about their problem. With Tuukka, this was not the case. Hats off. Great.

The sky was blue, the sun, bright and Groningen is flat. I come from the land of hills.;-) What is my impression? I and Dick as well, but I’m writing for myself found it an educational experience. I was scared that the long days would be too much but this was not the case. The dinner was Always great. The ambiance was good. I was sometimes annoyed that some people came for 2 or 3 days so they missed the build-up. Tuukka handled this very well. Sometimes, during seminars men try to explain everything all over again but Tuukka doesn’t. My opinion is, why not attended the whole week then you would know what we are talking about. Going back to the beginning is not acceptable and unfair to those who attend the whole time. Tuukka did attempt to explain things during dinnertime but these people didn’t listen. Shows a lack of respect in my opinion. There was a steady progress during the whole week and if you took notes and worked them out then you have a good base for your training. I do in any case. My negative point is that I do see the benefits of the aggression training( because of the obvious result) but I can’t give my dog( or a human being for that matter) pain stimulans. It’s not my thing and does not suit me. So I will have to think hard how to use it. I know now a lot about drives and motivations and believe me I will train it in my group. Of course, I’ll do this sneaky.

My picture is super clear for me.

Camping space, food, cantina, training location everything was satisfactory.

And… HSV Hoogkerk, I’ll be Back Tuukka en HSV Hoogkerk, thank you.