Conference Ends on a High Note!

Victoria Stillwell

Saturday was an intensive day of learning in the sessions and  exhausting shopping at the Trade Show.  Then it was off to party and dance to Jane Bond and the Pink Martini's.

So tired attendees started Sunday off with several great lectures by Colleen Pelar, Jennifer Sobie and Judy Warth and Sue Pearson.  These speakers and others got our brains back on dog training.

Our closing speaker was the entertaining and enlightening Victoria Stillwell.  She talked about communicating with dogs and learning about all the senses dogs use to communicate with us.  With her vivacious speaking style and her great video clips, Victoria was the perfect way to end a great conference.

We also took time to honor President Kellyann Conway and Secretary Laura Van Dyne for their 6 years of dedication and service to the APDT.  We so appreciate their hard work.

Your Conference Committee starts the planning for Oakland tomorrow morning so you can be sure our next Conference will be even better than this one.   Mark your calendars for October 21-25, 2009.

Travel safely!!

Saturdog Night Live on Friday!

Attendees had difficult decisions to make on Friday.  We started our breakout sessions yesterday which meant we had to decide which of several speakers we listened to at each time slot.  Hard to choose when the line-up included experts such as Grey Stafford, Suzanne Clothier, Karen London and Soraya Juarbe-Diaz and more.  Some of our members took the Louisville Zoo trip or went with Allan Bauman to the Kentucky Humane Society.  A busy day was had by all. And of course we still had to make time to hit the trade show!

To unwind, people headed out to dinner and then back to Ballroom C for "You Should Be in Pictures".  Our conference photographer took pictures of groups of attendees so we'll have memories of the event.  Duffer Schultz offered a wonderful video tribute to Dr. R.K. AndersonThen the "Not Ready for Dog Park Players" performed their version of Saturday Night Live.

APDT President Kellyann Conway transformed herself into "Sarah Pawlin".  We got to see Ian in a variety of roles including "Simon ChowChow" in the APDT Idol skit and Teoti Anderson as "Paula Airedale".  The Beagles offered two songs and we treated to favorite characters like Rosanne Rosannadana and the Church Lady.  A good time was had by all.

Play Symposium

Yesterday we had our all day Play Symposium.  We had a terrific line up of presenters who gave us the latest in play research and showed great videos.

After that we got to play at the Trade Show!  Our attendees swarmed the exhibitor booths to buy the latest in dog products.

Today we start our breakout sessions and workshops.  Tonight we have "The You Should Be In Pictures" social event which includes homegrown entertainment by the Not Ready for Dog Park Players.

Conference Off to a Great Start!

Greetings from Louisville!

The2008 APDT Conference got off to a great start yesterday with a wonderful talk by Dr. Robert Miller on natural horsemanship.  It was followed by a ceremony to honor our award winners.

The afternoon was taken up with interesting sessions by Sarah Kalnajs and Teoti Anderson.  President Kellyann Conway and Executive Director Richard Spencer talked about the state of the association at the General Membership Meeting and outlined some of the successes of the past year.  They also told us about exciting plans for the future of our organization.

Conference puppies got together at the Conference Puppy Orientation which was followed by a Welcome Reception for all the attendees.

We are looking forward to today's Play Symposium

Travel Safely

Many of you will be driving or flying to Louisville on Tuesday.  Please travel safely.  We are looking forward to seeing you all.

If you check in to the hotel before 7:00 PM you can check in at Conference Registration on the 2nd floor of the Suite Tower to pick up your tote bag and workbook.  You can also stop by the DVD Networking there to meet up with other attendees.

See you all soon.

Hug A Puppy

While our veterans make up the majority of our conference attendees, puppies are always in attendance.  Each year our puppies arrive hungry and eager to learn (like all of us).

I am calling on our veterans to hug a puppy - at least once a day during the conference!

My friends and I actually seek puppies out each year.  We chat them up and try to really get to know at least two puppies each conference.  Usually there are three of four puppies in our pack before the conference is over.  As a result, the number of people that I meet up with every year seems to grow exponentially.  Why?  Because those puppies that we meet do the same thing - seek out puppies - each year that they return.

You may be wondering "How should you approach a puppy?"  Well, I am sure that most of you already know how - but here are a few starting tips:

For those of you who like the direct approach - A genuine hello with a smile can be effective.

For those who need the opportunity to present itself... Comment on something in the immediate area, such as the long line you're both waiting in or the wealth of information in your workbook.

Some favorite conversation generators are:  Which speakers are you plan on attending?  Where do you go for professional advice?  How many dogs do you have?  What are their names?  How did you choose their names?

Every puppy should have at least a new friend or two or twenty by the end of the conference.  By welcoming our puppies, we improve the diversity of experience, knowledge, opinions and ideas at our conference.  Remember that you were once a puppy too.  Give them a gentle hug - let them know that we're a friendly bunch and that we are happy they are here too!

Kellyann Conway

APDT President

APDT Awards

2007 APDT Award Winners

We will honor our 2008 APDT Award Winners at a ceremony on Wednesday immediately following the our keynote speaker, Dr. Robert Miller.

Join us to celebrate the achievements of:

Sara Reusche, CPDT, CVT

Dogwise John Fisher Essay Award

Inga From, CPDT

Premier Shelter Staff Award

Dr. Karen Garelick

APDT Outstanding Trainer of the Year

Maggie Blutreich, CPDT

APDT Ian Dunbar Member of the Year

Gayle Di Menna, CVT

Central Life Sciences-Comfort Zone Veterinary Technician of the Year

Dr. R. K. Anderson

Lifetime Member Award

You Should Be In Pictures

Are you ready for an unforgettable Friday night at the APDT Conference?  Keep your conference memories alive by capturing them forever in a photo... or two... or three!

Gather up a group of friends, fellow program alumni, breed enthusiasts or sports competitors and immortalize your meeting in the photo corner.  Or, how about a picture with all the trainers you can find from your state, city, county or country?  Heck, why not take a picture with all the red-haired trainers you see or everyone there wearing purple?!  Only your imagination will limit the fun you can have with the new "You Should Be In Pictures" event.

To add to the fun, be sure you arrive in time to watch an entertaining performance by the famous (or should I say, infamous?) "APDT Not Ready for the Dog Park Players"!  They've planned skits and songs for your entertainment.

Don't miss out on the memories... join us Friday from 8:00-10:00 PM for a night of fun, friends, folly and photos!

Laurel Scarioni, CPDT

Conference Committee

Let the Networking Begin!

One of the things I enjoy most about the Conference is the chance to meet up with old friends and make new ones.  The Conference Committee has planned events that will help you do just that.

If you are arriving on Tuesday, stop by the Conference Registration desk on the 2nd floor to check in and pick up your workbook.  Then head over to the DVD networking.  We'll have a cash bar and videos of dogs doing fun things.  Come on in, relax, chat and watch some videos.  If you have DVDs of your dogs running agility, rally, playing in the dog park, doing tricks or being bad, bring them with you to show to your fellow attendees.  You still have time to get out the video recorder and tape your dog this weekend.  No videos - don't worry - just show up and meet new friends.  DVD Networking from 5:00-7:00 PM on Tuesday in the Nunn Room.

We will have the Round Table Discussions on Thursday from 12:15 - 1:00 PM in the Carrol Ford room.  Pick up some lunch at the concession and then join a table.  We have all sorts of interesting topics set up but you can also start a table of your own.

More Louisville Attractions

The fall colors won't be at the peak during the Conference, but it will still be beautiful.  The city's nighttime skyline is a great photo-op when viewed from the Indiana side.  The Clark Memorial Bridge (aka Second Street Bridge) is a short two blocks for the hotel, which will take you across to Indiana.

Both sides of the river offer great restaurants with outdoor seating overlooking the river.  On the Indiana side, Rocky's Italian Grill and Buckheads offer outdoor seating where you can enjoy the great fall weather and view the downtown skyline along with great food.  On the Kentucky side, Joe's Crab Shack is fun along with great seafood.  Another great independent restaurant on the Indiana side is Come Back Inn at 415 Spring St. in Jeffersonville (only a few miles form the hotel across the bridge).  You can't really go wrong with the pasta specials, but some other favorites are the Chicken Alfredo and the Bolognese.  The won ton appetizers are spectacular!  Go hungry because they give you a huge bowl of pasta!

Visiting Fourth Street Live is a must.  It's Louisville's  Time Square and it's a short walk from the hotel.  It contains many pubs, clubs, restaurants and live music concerts including Hard Rock Cafe and Lucky Strike Bowling Alley.  Other area attractions to see are the Louisville Slugger Museum, the Muhammad Ali Museum, the beautiful Cave Hill Cemetery (Colonel Sanders is buried here) and of course, Churchill Downs.

Cheri Beattie

Conference Committee member and Louisville resident

Bag Stuffing

Imagine this.  You have arrived at the Galt House, checked into your room and are now wandering around, wondering where is everybody.  If it is Tuesday and 1:30 PM, we are stuffing Conference Bags!!  Why don't you come join us?  We'll be in the Breathitt Room - located in the Suite Tower, 2nd floor/Ballroom level.

It's a fun way to get reacquainted with old friends and meet people new to the Conference.  And regardless if you have just flown or driven in, it will be a good way to stretch your legs as we play ring around the goodies table.  Not only that , you will get to be among the first to see what great treats, literature and who knows what else there will be (I know I don't).

By the time we are done, Registration will be open and you can pick up your packets and join up with friends to enjoy the DVD Networking for some entertainment.

Rebecca Ramsey Fenton

Conference Committee member

Conference Puppy Orientation

If this is your first time at an APDT Conference I can help you get the most from your Conference experience.  Please join me at the Conference Puppy Orientation on Wednesday, October 15th from 5:30 - 6:00 PM, immediately following the General Membership Meeting.

I'll go over the Conference publications, the networking and social opportunities as well as choosing educational sessions.  As a repeat Conference attendee I will try to answer your questions.  And attending the session is a great way to meet other trainers.

I look forward to seeing you all at the Orientation on Wednesday evening.

Barbara Long, CPDT

APDT Vice President

Board Advisor - Conference Committee

 

Last Minute Travel Tips

Take some time to go over these Last Minute Travel Tips for the Conference.  We've included information on packing, directions, the airport shuttle and more.  You can print the pdf and take the information with you.

Any questions?  Check out the APDT website or contact the Conference office at APDT@details2.com or call toll free (866) 570-9967.