abcs seminar faqs – abcsofdogbreeding

Frequently Asked Questions
about the ABC's of Dog Breeding Seminar

By Claudia Waller Orlandi, PhD

What do you charge for the seminar?

How do we make your book available?

I don’t charge for the seminar itself but do charge for travel and hotel expenses. I HIGHLY recommend that you do a pre-registration. A sample pre-registration form is included at the end of this FAQ.

The ABC's of Dog Breeding Hardcopy is now available at the AKC Online Store.

How much do clubs usually charge for those who wish to attend your seminar?

How much a club charges depends on the club’s finances. Some clubs that offer education at a National specialty, for example, may pick up the entire cost of the seminar and offer the opportunity free of charge to their members. Other clubs can’t afford to do this. It depends entirely on what works best for your club.

What about airline reservations? Airport pick-up? For how long do you require a hotel room?

I will need to know the airport into which I will fly. I prefer to make my own flight reservations and always try to get the lowest possible fare. I generally do not like to arrive the same day I am to give a presentation, especially in the winter when so much can go wrong with the weather and the fact that I am flying from Burlington, Vermont. Much depends on your location and on when the presentation is scheduled to start. If it begins at 8:30 in the morning, which many of them do, then I need to arrive the day before. If I can fly out after giving the presentation and not have to stay another night, I’m happy to do so. Some clubs have me take a shuttle to the hotel and others send people to pick me up. It will depend on what works best for your club and location. I’m happy to work with you in any way I can.

I will need to have the phone or cell number of someone to contact once I begin the trip.

What type of equipment do you need for the presentation?

Unless the club has an available LCD projector and computer, I will bring my own computer and LCD but I will need the following:

~ A projection screen

~ A lavaliere microphone (the type that clips to your suit)

~ An audio-visual table on which to set up equipment

~ An extension cord and electrical hook up

~ A grooming table and live dogs, if you wish a hands-on workshop

(see below)

How long is the ABC's of Dog Breeding presentation?

I will need to know how long you wish the seminar to be. The average seminar is about 4 hours but this can be shortened to 2 hours or lengthened to about 5-6 hours, depending on what works best for you. I like to have a minimum of 3 hours, if possible.

Is there anything else we should know?

I also offer an optional hands-on workshop on how to evaluate forequarter and hindquarter angulation and placement in dogs. I like to use a couple of live dogs for this demonstration, if possible. My including this workshop is entirely up to you. There is no charge, since I consider it part of the presentation.

What is your contact information to speak to you about a seminar?

Claudia Orlandi

P O Box 169

Essex Jct, VT 05453-0169

Email: [email protected]

Do you have a description of your presentation which we can use for advertising purposes?

The description that follows may be used in its entirety or in an abbreviated format, depending on what you feel would be appropriate for your group and the amount of space you have available for copy.

ADVERTISING COPY FOR: The ABC's of Dog Breeding: What Every Breeder Should Know! By Claudia Waller Orlandi, PhD

Dr. Claudia Orlandi, of Essex Junction, Vermont, has been in the fancy for over 50 years. She has successfully bred Basset Hounds for more than 25 years under the Topsfield prefix and with her late husband, Dom, has produced over 140 champions. Topsfield Bassets have won more than 120 All-Breed Bests in Show and hold numerous Breed and All-Breed show records. The top group-winning dog and the top-producing dam in the history of the breed were bred by Topsfield and the top winning dam was sired by a Topsfield dog.

Claudia’s enthusiasm for breeding is matched only by her passion for teaching and working with other breeders. Her ABC’s of Dog Breeding and Practical Canine Anatomy & Movement self-study courses form part of the AKC’s Bred with H.E.A.R.T. education program, reflecting her belief that anyone can understand the practical rules of genetics and canine structure in their quest to breed better, healthier dogs. Knowledge, coupled with integrity and honesty about health problems, are cornerstones of her breeding and teaching philosophy.

Claudia has authored numerous articles and for many years chaired BHCA Judges’ and Breeders’ Education for which she developed an educational concept called Basset Hound University, whose course designs are available for parent clubs to use as templates. Claudia never charges for her popular seminars and has spoken at over 150 dog clubs and AKC/CHF Breeder’s Symposia.

She judges Basset Hounds, Dachshunds, PBGV’s, Beagles, Basenjis, Rhodesian Ridgebacks and Junior Showmanship. She is a 2009 Dogs in Review Outstanding Breeder nominee, winner of the 2009 American Kennel Club Breeder of the Year award and a finalist for the 2016 AKC Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2015 she was honored by Dog Fancy Magazine as one of the “45 people who changed the dog world” by helping to improve dog breeding and making canine genetics easier to understand.

THE ABC’S OF DOG BREEDING PROGRAM: The ABC’s of Dog Breeding Home Study Program was developed to help fill the need for an affordable, easy-to-understand course of study on dog breeding, which is suitable for club structured breeder’s education and appropriate for breeders of all breeds of dog. The goal of the ABC’s of Dog Breeding is to take a practical, step-by-step-approach to the art and science of breeding. It is thanks to our understanding of the proven breeding strategies of livestock species that we know the importance of applying genetic principles to the breeding of companion animals like dogs and horses. The ABC’s textbook outlines 7 key breeding tools and concepts, which include (1) genetics, (2) breeding systems, (3) pedigree, (4) selection, (5) anatomy, (6) kennel blindness and (7) genetic defects. In addition to discussing the basic rules of heredity, the ABC’s of Dog Breeding also addresses many of the common misconceptions that have been handed down from dog breeder to dog breeder. The ABC’s of Dog Breeding Home Study Program includes a series of workbook exercises. Breeders who send in their completed exercises to the American Kennel club will receive a Certificate of Completion.

The ABC’s of Dog Breeding seminar is an introduction to the topics that are covered in the home study program and explains many of the practical genetic breeding principles that can benefit breeders of all breeds of dogs.

A Sample Pre-Registration Form is included below:

SAMPLE REGISTRATION FORM TO USE AS POSSIBLE MODEL FOR YOUR CLUB:

The ABC’s of Dog Breeding seminar is easy to understand and fun to learn. The session will be followed by a hands-on workshop on how to determine shoulder angulation and placement.

Who: Claudia Orlandi

What: ABC’s of Dog Breeding Seminar

When: Friday, January 20, 200? 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. ?

Where: ??????????
Cost: $25 each or $30/Couple

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * date????????????????? * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Pre-Registration Form

I would like to sign up for the seminar ($?? per person; $?? per couple)

Mail form and check made out to My Kennel Club to:

Jane Doe, 1234 Dog Lane, Anywhere, State 00000-1111

For further information contact C Doe at [email protected] (555) 555-5555 or

John Smith at Smith@net (111) 111-1111

Frequently Asked Questions about the ABC's of Dog Breeding Seminar