North Star Dog Training

08/13/2024

Two very special workshops with AKC Tracking Judge Carolyn Fuhrer!
Limited working spots available in each. Location: Augusta, Maine
These workshops will help you gain more tools and fine-tune the ones you have now.
Take the team that you and your dog are now to the team you can be!

Saturday, November 2, 2024: TDX Tracking Workshop $195
Sunday, November 3, 2024: Introduction to VST Tracking Workshop $195
Contact Kathy at 207-691-2332 or [email protected] FMI and to register.
Please don’t wait – only a few spots open in each workshop.

06/08/2024

AKC Tracking Judge Carolyn Fuhrer will be presenting a one-day TDX Tracking Workshop on Saturday, November 2, 2024 in Augusta, Maine. Working dog/handler teams: $195.
Limit: 8 working teams. Audit spots will be available.
Carolyn’s tracking workshops fill very quickly. If you are interested and would like more information, contact Kathy at [email protected] or call 207-691-2332.
Please don’t wait!
If earning a TDX title is your goal, this workshop is a must

04/19/2024

Interested in AKC FETCH? On Track Agility Club of Maine (OTAC) is having a workshop: "Introduction to FETCH" with two AKC FETCH judges on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at North Star Dog Training School in Somerville from 9:00 until noon. Cost: $50.
OTAC members special price, $35. Great way to get ready for the AKC FETCH Test at North Star on May 18!! Call Kathy at 207-691-2332 or e-mail [email protected] FMI.

04/16/2024

Our two-day VST Tracking Workshop with Carolyn Fuhrer - a huge success! 6 handlers and their dogs working hard to learn all the subtleties of what we need to pass that VST test - we learned so much. Thank you!

04/01/2024

Kelby and Maverick at North Star's workshop on Saturday: Play, Focus and Engagement, Part 2. This team has a wonderful relationship!

04/01/2024

Saturday, March 30 - Wonderful workshop - Play, Focus and Engagement, Part 2 with Carolyn Fuhrer. Learning to understand what our dogs are trying so hard to tell us - and how to listen!

03/18/2024

More pics from Play Focus and Engagement Workshop at North Star this weekend - next workshop - Part 2 - Play Focus and Engagement on Sat., March 30. Still room - want to join us? Call Kathy at 207-61-2332 or e-mail [email protected].

03/18/2024

Play, Focus & Engagement workshop at North Star this weekend! Great teams learning how to create a willing partner without begging, bribing or fooling your dog. All the cookies in the world can’t replace training through understanding . Part 2 will be March 30 – still room – come and join us and open up a new world for you and your dog! E-mail Kathy at [email protected] or call 207-691-2332.

02/04/2024

Our workshop "Foundation Games for Rally and Obedience" at North Star today. Using games to show your dog that to be with you is the best thing there is! Take that focus and joy into the rally ring and have success and - a great time together. Thanks to Carolyn for another terrific workshop at North Star.

01/27/2024

2 Day VST (Variable Surface Tracking) Workshop with AKC Tracking Judge Carolyn Fuhrer. Date: April 13 and 14, 2024 in Augusta, ME. Limited to 8 working teams. If your goal is to earn a VST title with your dog - this workshop is a must!

01/08/2024

Saturday, January 20, 2024 10:00 AM until 1:00 PM
Ready to get started in Agility with your dog? Need to build your agility dog's confidence? Still room at North Star's workshop on Saturday:
INTRODUCTION TO AGILITY WORKSHOP
What do I need to get started? How do I introduce my dog to this? Proper introduction is critical – it sets the tone for the rest of your agility career!
Not just for beginners - also for dogs who need more confidence on certain obstacles or their general performance. Lots of fun and great learning for everyone.
$75 handler/dog teams - call Kathy at 207-691-2332 or e-mail [email protected] to register and/or for more info!

12/17/2023

Here are the workshops we will be offering at North Star in January!
Call Kathy at 207-691-2332 or e-mail [email protected] FMI!!

WORKSHOPS ARE ALL ON SATURDAY – TIME: 10AM TO 1 PM
BAD WEATHER DATES ON SUNDAY
$75 WORKING TEAMS - $40 TO AUDIT ANY WORKSHOP

Saturday, January 6, 2024 Welcome in the New Year with Rally!
RALLY WORKSHOP
Learn how to perform the rally exercises correctly and Increase motivation by developing your dog’s confidence. Avoid losing points unnecessarily – learn how to handle correctly – your dog will thank you!

Saturday, January 20, 2024
INTRODUCTION TO AGILITY WORKSHOP
What do I need to get started? How do I introduce my dog to this? Proper introduction is critical – it sets the tone for the rest of your agility career!
Not just for beginners - also for dogs who need more confidence on certain obstacles or their general performance. Lots of fun and great learning for everyone.

Saturday, January 27, 2024 – FOR BENEFIT OF OTAC
I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO DO RALLY BUT DON’T KNOW WHERE TO START!
A workshop designed to introduce dogs and their handlers to AKC Rally. See how much fun you can have learning to work with your dog to create an enjoyable partnership. Lots of fun ideas and things you can practice at home all winter. Even if you are not new to Rally, you can benefit from some of these motivational techniques and improve your performance.
OTAC MEMBERS $65

12/12/2023

Happy New Year! (almost)
North Star Dog Training School New classes begin January 3, 2024

Do you want to explore Rally, Obedience and Agility with your dog - but don’t know where to start?

All the cookies in the world can’t replace training through understanding.

We have the foundation games to get you started and teach your dog to want to perform, not have to perform – it will be a new world!

You will create a dog who loves to problem-solve and who not only expects to win, but also expects to enjoy himself!

If you are looking for a class which will help you enjoy your dog immensely as you make him smart, resourceful, and engaged with you – these classes are for you!

All classes taught by Carolyn Fuhrer
North Star Dog Training School, Somerville, Maine 207-691-2332 [email protected]

Classes are on Wednesdays. Three-weeks, $120. January 3, January 10, January 17, 2024

9:00 a.m. Foundation Games for Obedience: Novice, Open, Utility. Build confidence and teach your dog to problem solve. All levels of experience.

10:15 a.m. Focus Games for Connection suitable for teaching the foundation for any dog sport you wish to pursue. Who should attend: all ages, including puppies!

11:30 a.m. Agility Skills and Building a working relationship. This class will focus on basic obstacle performance with an emphasis on relationship and handling. All levels welcome.

05/03/2023

Happy Birthday to our beautiful golden girls, Somer and Paris, on their 13th birthday. On the morning of her 13th birthday, Paris chewed a hole in the heating pad and stole her sister's toy. Somer chased Paris around the yard and knocked her down. Sisters forever. And we have loved you forever. Some things never change.

03/27/2023

North Star Dog Training offered a Show & Go on Saturday with Rally courses from Master to Novice and Obedience runs from Novice to Utility. A great way for us to practice with our dogs before the On Track Agility Club of Maine's Rally and Obedience Trials in Portland at the end of April. Carolyn "judged" the runs and offered helpful suggestions as well as explaining the signs and the rules. All the teams did very well and had a blast! Feeling good and feeling ready for the show - what a wonderful day.

03/06/2023

Let's Talk Tracking - a workshop held yesterday at North Star - to benefit On Track Agility Club of Maine, was a huge success. Carolyn outdid herself with a fabulous workshop covering everything from article indication to start routines. We have so many new people now going to pursue this wonderful sport - looking forward to a great tracking year. Don't forget: our annual Beginners and Beyond Beginners Tracking Workshop is on Saturday, May 13. More details to come!

02/19/2023

Want to work on your agility skills? Want to learn what you need to earn an AKC Agility Course title at our ACT test this summer?? Safely introduce your dog
to the different obstacles and work on the skills you need. Workshop at North Star in Somerville on Saturday, February 25 from 10:00 to 1 PM. $75 dog/handler teams and $40 to audit. Contact Kathy at [email protected] to register.

02/18/2023

North Star's "Getting Connected - Staying Connected" Performance workshop today was a great success! From fixing start line waits to directed jumping and a reliable stay - Carolyn took each dog and handler team and helped them understand how to connect with their dogs and to understand what the dog is telling us! Next workshop in this three part series is on March 11: Clarity in Training. Interested: e-mail Kathy at [email protected]

02/18/2023

Carol and Tulip - Bronze medal winners. North Star Winter Olympics. Annual fund raiser for On Track Agility Club of Maine.

02/18/2023

Looking forward to North Star's second workshop of our Performance Dog Workshop - GETTING CONNECTED - STAYING CONNECTED. In this workshop, Carolyn will answer the question as to why you start out well and then things get progressively worse. Understand what causes performance to break down and what we can do about it. Last and third of the series - Clarity in Training - will be on March 11. Watch for details.

02/14/2023

Tracking season is coming!

08/10/2022

So many people asking about tracking! We are happy to help you learn this wonderful sport. Someone asked about Carolyn teaching a three week tracking class - let us know if you are interested and we can put something together. Also: a suggestion was made for us to do a lead handling workshop. What do you think? Let me know - e-mail [email protected] or call me at 207-691-2332.

08/08/2022

Another wonderful follow-up Tracking Workshop with our North Star tracking students on Saturday! Starting early, we beat the heat and had six wonderful practice TDU tracks that Carolyn planned based on each of our student's individual needs. Everyone did well and by watching each track, learned so much about handling, corner indications, start routines, etc. Two more tracking follow up workshops are scheduled for Sept. 10 and Sept. 24. Interested in tracking? Call Kathy at North Star at 207-691-2332. Find out how to get started.

05/09/2022

Our North Star Goldens are accomplishing so much this spring! At OTAC's TDX test today, under the wonderful AKC Tracking Judges Jack Sappenfield II and Kim Kearfott, North Star's Gamblin' Man (Mikey) and I earned his TDX title. A gorgeous spring day made it perfect. And congratulations, too, to our student and friend, Judy Moore and her GSD, Drake, for earning his TDX title. These beautiful boys did us proud!

04/25/2022

It is with great pride that we announce that our Wyatt, North Star's Deputy Marshal, earned his VST today at On Track Agility Club of Maine's test under judges Ken Barna and Michele Gillette. This makes Wyatt a Champion Tracker since he has earned a TD, TDX and VST. It was a beautiful track brilliantly handler by Carolyn! What a fabulous day for us! And tracking season has just begun -

04/21/2022

Thinking about entering a Tracking Dog Urban test this year? Need a little help? North Star Dog Training School will be having a "How To Pass a TDU Test" with AKC Tracking Judge Carolyn Fuhrer on Saturday, June 4, 2022. Want to know more? Call Kathy at 207-691-2332 or e-mail [email protected].

04/18/2022

03/07/2022

North Star's "Let's Talk Tracking" workshop on Saturday was filled with information about all facets of tracking. Carolyn demonstrated line handling, start line routine, article indication and all the handlers and dogs took part with great success! We learned about the complexities of the tracks and watched a video of a challenging TDX track. A great presentation from a wonderful teacher and tracking judge. Thank you Carolyn for inspiring all of us! We can't wait to start tracking with our dogs!

02/27/2022

I am so proud of my lovely boy, North Star's Gamblin' Man - Mikey - for earning the Gold Medal at the Winter Olympics today. A Golden in every way, he is gentle, sweet and an athlete with great talent. I am proud to be his coach. Kathy Duhnoski

02/26/2022

Winter Olympics at North Star today to benefit the On Track Agility Club of Maine - a wonderful day for all the athletes and their coaches - congratulations to everyone! This annual event brings out the best in all of us and today was no exception. Watch for photos - Kathy and Carolyn at North Star