Hi, yes I've been to their water camp and loved it. Orka has blossomed and flourished since their intensive hands-on.
Whatever I asked for re NCA tests was taught thoroughly. I was more focused on real life training because I kayak and swim with Orka and need him to be able to rescue me for real if I ever get in trouble. But I intend to start NCA titling him this year so wanted some of that also.
Bettina and Annina Salmelin’s training is superb, with long lasting excellent results. The Salmelin sisters personalize and customize their approach specifically to the needs of each dog. They are able to assess and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of a dog, what motivates the dog to cooperate and learn new commands and skills, and work with the dog with just the right amount of repetition and rest breaks to ensure the dog understands and masters new abilities.
The Salmelins also took into account the humanimal handler capabilities and trained me how to read my Newf Orka’s receptivity and advance through step by step skill components. This was invaluable. They are objective and can see, correct and encourage best handling and nitty gritty working with one’s waterdog.
Bettina and Annina are kind gentle and patient with the dogs. They have lilting musical voices, melodic praise, which Orka loves. They were never harsh with training and used positive reinforcement and playful joyous response. Orka knows they mean work and business yet he adores them. They are tenacious and their workshops felt like boot camp to me, chock full wealth of unique valuable knowledge, methods, approaches and techniques and an infinite number of hands-on exercises, reinforcements and broadening of growing aptitudes. This is serious physical exertion in and out of water.
I was thrilled that, after they left, Orka remembered everything they taught and was eager to repeat it. He flourished and blossomed from the training. He became alert to me in ways that rote exercises before had never produced. He became intuitive and eager to please, eager to figure out what I wanted of him. Before, he was prone to fits and tantrums; now, he begs for training. The transformation has been astonishing and I am eager to participate in the Salmelin training magic as much as possible for the incredible boost it gives both of us.
Bettina and Annina train with persistent discipline, relentless drilling but never punitive and always with a careful eye out for tiring, giving the dogs well placed rest and walk / sniff interludes. Their pace is quick and efficient training. They get the most out of every second. I could see echoes of the military component from some of Bettina’s amazing trainings with SICs. They keep the opportunities coming fast, keep the handlers alert and ready for the next gung ho dash into water or a new land exercise.
The dogs rest while the handlers listen and look at the next exercise, another team working, then up! Dogs watch and learn also while they're resting. The eager beaver excited young dogs are metaphorically coiled to spring back into the water. So interesting to see the enthusiasm and those instincts blossom. One of the aspects I enjoyed was watching new dogs learn skills so quickly, and be so proud of themselves. It was thrilling and moving.
I find Salmelin training beyond fantastic, so useful, clear, practical, varied, and sensible, with a foundation geared to real life waterwork and rescue. Their training has enabled me to kayak with Orka wherever I want and be safe. It gave us enough fodder for a lifetime of varied exercises and ways to train no matter what shore or type of water we wanted to try. It also gave me more confidence based on actual achievement. They helped me with all kinds of details and safety considerations and whatever specific development I asked for. And they did it kindly, with good humor, even though I am a newbie with major dork physical issues.
They THINK, they LOOK, they LISTEN, they figure out what the dog needs for learning and they teach the dog and the handler and drill it over and over, then vary it in increments. They are totally tuned into reality and real life problem solving -- nothing just rote but for real. B&A tuned into each Newf and developed his strong points and worked on the weak points. And they trained the handler. Like a relentless yet gentle boot camp. They were extremely helpful, schlepping gear all over the city, cleaning things up, watchful of anything that needed doing, totally kind and serviceful and professional. It was inspiring.
They evaluated my specific unusual requests, such as how to get a huge Newf back onto the kayak in the water, experimented with the kayak, figured out the only way to safely accomplish this necessary task, and taught Orka and I the steps we need to practice to get good at it. Bettina and Annina have the experience and skills to figure out things that have not been addressed by other trainings. They have traveled the globe attending workshops and trainings and using best methods for waterwork. Their expertise is a joy to behold. Now Orka and I know what to do, the progression of steps, and how to drill it. And if I have any questions I can make videos and email Bettina and she will answer.
Last summer’s workshop with Bettina and Annina Salmelin has been a fount of inspiration and exercises all year and I am most eager to do it again this summer.
and water training is vitally important to me.
