Marc with a horse and puppy
Hello!
Thanks for your interest.
Being part of my heritage, it is little wonder that training would become a way of life for me. The ability to teach, is a gift. Training, is my passion.
My experiences in training equine and several breeds of canine, opened my eyes to a unique perspective on training. Lessons I learned from one species, yielded new insights into training the other. Through these experiences I have gained an understanding of the natural behavior, and silent language of predator and prey.
My methods are based upon the fundamentals of training. The progressive, step by step approach I employ facilitates learning. My techniques, while being subtle, encourage trust and gain respect.
I will forever be grateful to those who shared their knowledge and inspiration. I give thanks to God, our creator, the ultimate trainer and author of wisdom.
Marc Christopher
Comments of Others
From Jan DeMello - top obedience competitor and teacher...
Quite Simply... the best is how I would describe Marc Christopher. Yes, I have attended other clinics from those considered to be the best in the herding community. From my perspective, Marc Christopher stands alone in his journey to share his knowledge. Knowledge that comes from deep within his fiber so that both human and dog will have a much better understanding of each other... not just within the confines of working stock but spilling over into other performance events or everyday living with our K 9 companions.
His gentle manner and one which is so simplistic in relating information to both the handler and the dog. Ego has no place in this clinician's demeanor. Not one of the 15 limit working attendees raised their voice nor took up a chase as stock was worked in a quiet fashion...so unlike traditional methods. With the use of a line, fashioned in somewhat of a simple harness-like style, in combination with subtle body language (pressure on/pressure off ) opened up a whole new dialogue between handler and dog. No stock sticks, rakes, rattle paddles, etc. were used or needed.
His theory of making the wrong thing difficult and the right thing easy seems too simplistic to believe but when demonstrated time and again by every handler and dog team in attendance, it IS just that easy. His teaching style of breaking it down into smaller segments mirrors my long time training philosophy.
Never before has the art of shedding been made so simplistic and easy to understand as well as applied to even novice dogs and handlers
From Claudia J. Frank, breeder/trialer of JusDandy Shelties and Border Collies...
Is there something better than the traditional methods of training stock dogs? Tired of watching enthusiastic young dogs racing sheep toward you out of control? Had enough of yelling, running at your dog and throwing things at him? Well, then you most likely will greatly enjoy and appreciate the training methods of Marc Christopher. Quiet gentle maneuvers that make doing the wrong thing difficult and the right thing easy, highlight Marc's very intuitive way of schooling dogs. The dogs learn to handle livestock and then commands are put to the correct actions. All of the progressive steps are just as important for any breed of dog with some just moving through them faster than others. I believe understanding and utilizing Marc's methodology step by step provides the ultimate in training information.
From Janet R. Lewis, breeder of MacLeod Border Collies and author of the book. "Smart Trainers Brilliant Dogs"...
I LOVED the Marc Christopher clinics I attended and would travel just about forever to go to others.
Marc, in my opinion , has far more insight into the nature of the relationship that exists between trainer and dog and that between dog and stock than any other trainer of dogs that I have ever met in any venue whatsoever. In a matter of hours he taught me more about how my dog related to me ( and how that related to the dog's work) than I had gained in seven years of training the dog.
Marc is a kind , quiet trainer, but one that is very demanding. Anyone that attends his seminar comes away tremendously enriched in understanding the working partnership between dog and trainer.