Online Workshops
MDSA offers monthly free on-line workshops for our members. A variety of subjects are covered including canine freestyle training and performance related topics.
Your MDSA membership gives you access to a full year of on-line workshops! The ever popular "Music Match" workshop is included.
In addition, MDSA members can view the instructions and discussions of previous workshops.
Scroll down to see a list of upcoming and completed workshop topics.
Click below to join or renew your membership.
2020 MDSA Online Workshop Schedule
January Teri Rolph "Beginning Skills"
February Ilona Wright "Lagging and Starts"
March Judy Gamet "Flow"
April Mitzi Tinaglia "Segmented Choreography”
May “Music Match”
June Kim Beckberger "Segmented Choreography"
July Ilona Wright To Be Announced
August Pat Marshall "Gates"
September Teri Rolph "T Touch"
October Shari Heino "Tricks"
November Mitzi Tinaglia "Segmented Choreography"
December Kim Beckberger To Be Announced
2019 workshop schedule
month topic presenter
January Positions Ray Underwood
February "Aim High" Marie Logue
March "Combination Moves" Ilona Wright
April Music Match
May "Sam Cooke Medley" segmented choreo Mitzi Tinaglia
June "T-Touch Revisted" Teri Rolph
July "Segmented Choreo" Kim
August "Attention Skills" Ilona Wright
September "Cues: The Freestylers Other Best Friend: Julie Flanery
Fluency, Transfer and Timing"
October "Segmented Choreography" Mitzi Tinaglia
November "Brags and Snags" Ilona Wright
December TBA Kim Beckberger
2018 workshop schedule
month topic presenter
January Creating an Advanced Weaving Section Ray Underwood
February 1 - 24 Problem Solving Ilona Wright
February 25 - Backchaining Behavior Sequences Michele Pouliot
March 7
March 8 - 31 Crufts MDSA Executive Board
April Creating a Heeling Footage Video Karen Hunter & Ilona Wright
May Segmented Choreography Mitzi Tinaglia
June Music Matching MDSA Executive Board
July TBA TBA
August Tricks Pat Marshall
September Segmented Choreography Mitzi Tinaglia
October TBA Teri Rolph
November TBA TBA
December TBA Kim Beckberger
2017 workshop schedule
month topic presenter
January "Let's Talk" Kim Beckberger
February "Transitions" Julie Flanery
March Crufts
April "Polishing the Move" with problem solving Ilona Wright
May segmented choreo Mitzi Tinaglia
June "Music Match"
July segmented choreo Angie Hagedeon
August "Positions" with problem solving Ilona Wright
September segmented choreo Mitzi Tinaglia
October "Canine Conditioning" Petra Ford
November "How to Construct and Choreograph a Routine
That Can Be Successfully Performed Every Time" Ray Underwood
December segmented choreo Karen Hunter
2016 workshop schedule
month
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
topic
"What IS Up/Down with the HANDS?
Creative Heeling-Finding the Sweet Spot in Movement
Let's Go to Crufts!
Dog Dressage 1
Backchaining
Dog Dressage 2
Problem Solving
Choreography Segmented Routine to Music
Tricks for Treats
TTouch
Around the World Group Routine
presenter
Mitzi Tinaglia
Nancy Tanner
Ann Priddy
Jenn Michaelis
Ann Priddy
Ilona Wright
Mitzi Tinaglia
Karen Hunter
Teri Rolph
Kim Beckberger
2014 WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
MONTH
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
TOPIC
Benefits of Cross Training for Freestyle
Force to Finesse: Creating Team
Let's Go to Crufts!
Magic of the Match
Magic of the Match - Follow up
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Freestyle
Choreography
Paw Work
Doggy Yoga
Pawsitions
Props
MDSA Winter Holiday Project - Freestyle Alphabet
PRESENTER
Karen Johnson
Nancy Tanner
Bridgette Pirtle
MDSA
Karen Hunter
Ann Priddy
Mitzi Tinaglia
Ilona Wright
Allison Culver
Mitzi Tinaglia
Emily Pyle
Angie Hagedorn
2013 WORKSHOPS
MONTH
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
TOPIC
Lure vs. Reward
Choreography
Performance Guidelines
New Website
Breaking Down a Routine
Magic of the Match
MotM II - Casting the Spell
Platform Training
Training freestyle on your own
Clicker Training
MDSA Winter Holiday Project
Strike a Pose
PRESENTER
Carolyn Pfrank
Mitzi Tinaglia
MDSA Executive Board
MDSA Executive Board
Barbara Walls
MDSA Executive Board
Karen Hunter
Ilona Wright
Ann Priddy
Cindy Ludwig, Canine Connection LLC
Angie Hagedorn
MP Jackson
2012 WORKSHOPS
MONTH
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
TOPIC
Brace Training
Musicality
Re-Innovation
MDSA Performance Guidelines Update & New Titling Divisions
Magic of the Match
Freestyle for Senior Dogs
Aim High
Heeling & Focus
Using the Ring Space
Executive Board questions to members
All things backing up
Flow & Transitions
PRESENTER
Judi Wilson
Emily Pyle
Karen Johnson
MP Jackson
Carolyn Pfrank
Judy Gamet
Marie Logue
Ilona Wright
Barbara Walls
Carolyn Pfrank
Ilona Wright
MP Jackson
2011 WORKSHOPS
MONTH
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
TOPIC
Heel Up
The Mental Advantage
Magic of the Match
Video Event Quiz
Performance Proofing Protocol and Clickers
Freestyle and Pet Therapy
New MDSA Performance Guidelines
Heel Position, Focus and Attention
Innovation in the Freestyle Ring
The ABC's and 1-2-3's of Choreography
Fading Food
Musicality - What is THAT?
PRESENTER
Pam Martin
Judy Gamet
Carolyn Scott and the MDSA EB
MP Jackson & Jo Monfort
Donna Hill
Amy Podojil
Carolyn Pfrank
Ilona Wright
Karen Johnson
Ann Priddy
Judy Gamet
Emily Pyle
2010 WORKSHOPS
MONTH
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
TOPIC
Herbs and Canine Health
Tips Toward a Happy Dog & a Successful Routine
Magic of the Match
Choreograpy
Attunement
How to Showcase your Dog
Lure vs. Reward
Hosting a Live Event
Magic of the Match
Music Editing
Working a Routine with a Veteran Dog
New Year's Resolution to Do a Routine
PRESENTER
Linda Lyon
Ilona Wright
Carolyn Scott
Carolyn Scott
Margot Lasher
Judy Gamet
Carolyn Pfrank
Barbara Walls
Carolyn Scott
MP Jackson
Ilona Wright
Karen Johnson
2009 WORKSHOPS
MONTH
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
TOPIC
Member Introductions
Building a Routine
Magic of the Match
Follow-Up to Magic of the Match
No Topic
No Topic
Leash Handling for the Sport of Freestyle
Clicker Training with Melissa
Share Fair - discussion of freestyle routines and PG revisions
So You Think You Can Choreograph - with Dogs???
Attention & Motivation Games
Sharing of Special Freestyle Experiences & 2010 Goals
PRESENTER
MDSA Executive Board
Karen Johnson
Carolyn Scott
MDSA Executive Board
Judy Gamet
Melissa Alexander
MDSA Executive Board
Ann Priddy
Nancy Tanner
Carolyn Scott
2008 WORKSHOPS
MONTH
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
TOPIC
Clicker 101
From Discovery to Celebrating the Unique Qualities of Each Individual Dog
Transitions
Share Fair - Discussions of Freestyle Routines
Q&A About MDSA Events with a Fun Quiz
No Topic
Teamwork: Attention & Focus, Synchronization, Visual Bond
Continuation of July Topic
By Design - Using Creative Heeling to Explore the Design Elements of a Routine
Keep it Interesting - How to Keep your Training Interesting
Choreography & Flow
No Topic
PRESENTER
Judy Seils
MDSA Executive Board
Karen Johnson
MDSA Executive Board
MDSA Executive Board
Karen Johnson
Karen Johnson
Carol Ballou
Nancy Tanner
Judy Gamet
2007 WORKSHOPS
MONTH
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
TOPIC
Videotaping for Film Festival Events
Continuation of January Topic
No Topic
"What's Driving Your Dog?"
No Topic
"Heeling - the Melody of Freestyle"
How Resilient is Your Dog?
Share Fair - Review of Film Festival Routines
Presentation & Showmanship
Filming Your Routine & Ring Nerves
From Heeling to WOW
No Topic
PRESENTER
Jo Monfort & Sharlene Rochen
Carolyn Scott
Ann Priddy
Jo Gaebel, Jan Weiner & Susan Klavon
MDSA Executive Board
Pam Martin & Emily Pyle
MDSA Executive Board & Susan Klavon
Carol Ballou & CJS
2006 WORKSHOPS
MONTH
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
TOPIC
Choreography Exercise
Choosing Music
How to Use the Performance Space to Showcase Your Choreography
Choreographing a Routine
No Topic
Teaching Behaviors
Adventures in Cross-Training
Luring 101
Share Fair - Sharing Film Festive Routines
Continuation of September Topic
Fun Freestyle Exercises
Performance Guidelines Review
PRESENTER
Carolyn Scott
Carolyn Scott
Ann Priddy
Ann Priddy
Pam Martin
MDSA Executive Board
Susanna Pathak
Carolyn Scott
Richard Curtis
Susanna Pathak
2005 WORKSHOPS
MONTH
October
November
December
TOPIC
Clicker Training
Q&A on MDSA Film Festival & PG Review
Continuation of November Topic
PRESENTER
Melissa Alexander
Ann Priddy