How to Think Like a Dog, Cat Horse, Giraffe……

Length: 1.5 -8 hours
Note: This is a foundation lecture for any of the training lectures or behavior modification lectures and is essential if the topic of pitfalls of punishment is covered or if social learning in dogs is covered.

Description:
In this presentation attendies will learn why animals behave the way they do and how we accidentally train bad behaviors. They'll learn a simple approach to modifying behavior and then, using videos, case studies and photos, look at the factors that are essential for making the modification plan work.

A Simple Two-step Approach to Solving Most (Non-medical) Behavior Problems in Pets
Length: 1-1.5 hours

Description:
In this presentation, attendees will learn the basic approach behaviorists use to solve most behavior problems. By identifying and removing the rewards for undesirable behaviors, and rewarding desirable behaviors instead, most problem behaviors can be turned around quickly and easily.

Summary:
With up to 87% of owners complaining that their dogs exhibit at least one behavior problem and a majority of pet owners who relinquish their pets to animal shelters blaming behavioral issues, it is inevitable that veterinary staff members are asked about behavioral issues on a daily basis. Because of the seemingly infinite number of problems and vast number of suggested training techniques, offering advice on even the simplest questions can seem overwhelming. Fortunately, it turns out that the solution to most behavior problems in pets is simple. So simple that they can be solved in a two-step approach. Find out what's rewarding the inappropriate behavior, remove that reward, and preemptively reward an alternate appropriate behavior. In this presentation, we will use video and case studies that span many species, so that attendees will learn to apply this information to many different types of species and situations. By the end of this session attendees should be comfortable answering the myriad of simple behavioral questions that owners ask their staff on a regular basis.

Rapid Reversal of Dangerous Behaviors in Animals (overview)

Summary:
While most people approach behavior problems by asking how they can stop bad behaviors, a better approach is to control the environment so that the bad behaviors can't happen and instead focus on rewarding good behaviors. In this presentation I show a series of videos of animals ranging from dogs and horses to goats and giraffes to provide an overview of how positive reinforcement can be used to rapidly improve handling of animals.

Dominance Vs. Leadership: Why Wolf Behavior and Dominance Theory are Poor Models for Understanding Behavior in Dogs.

Description:
This presentation will arm you with answers for the client who has heard he must dominate his dog in order to be the leader. I expose the myths about dominance and canid behavior, provide an overview of social dominance theory, and highlight the related misconceptions on which force-based methods are based.

Summary:
Whether treating separation anxiety, fear aggression, or general unruly behavior in dogs, virtually every veterinary behaviorist, applied animal behaviorist, and dog trainer agrees that the solution to better behavior involves teaching the owner to be a good leader. But does learning to be the leader mean that owners must dominate their dogs? Twenty to 30 years ago, social dominance theory and ideas about wolf behavior in the wild guided dog training methods, which focused on punishing bad behaviors by using choke chains, pinch collars, and electronic collars because wolves in the wild appeared to gain higher rank through force. Since then, the understanding of dog behavior in relation to wolf behavior has become clearer, and the science of learning has provided a better understanding of why animals behave as they do and how their behaviors can be modified. While veterinary behaviorists, applied animal behaviorists, and some dog trainers have updated their techniques accordingly, much of the general public is still in the dark.

In this presentation I use video, case studies, and synopses of the scientific literature to 1) highlight the misconceptions on which traditional force-based methods are partly based 2) define dominance and show how scientists study dominance hierarchies 3) explain why dog behavior should not be based on wolf behavior or animal dominance models 4) clarify the difference between leadership and dominance 5) show how leadership can be achieved (even with aggressive dogs) using non-confrontational methods.

Teaching Dogs to Learn to Earn: A Quick, Safe and Fun Alternative to the Alpha-Roll and Force.

Description:
This presentation shows the techniques for gaining leadership without force or coercion. I use video following cases step by step from unruly or unmanageable to well-trained. Through these exercises the dogs develop emotional self-control and learn to look to their owners for guidance.

Summary:
In this presentation I show the one exercise—automatically say “please” by sitting—that can change a dog from bossy and unruly, even anxious and needy to calm, attentive, and happy to please, overnight. I show how to execute the technique with in a way that makes the message clear to the dog. We then use the exercise as a foundation making focusing on the owner fun for the dog and we apply the exercise to many different situations involving many different resources that the pet values. This version of teaching dogs to learn to earn teaches Rover that he can have what he wants, he just has to sit calmly and look to you for leadership. It's a way to teach Rover emotional self-control and to teach humans how to be clear and consistent so their dog learns to look to them for guidance.

Three Simple Methods of Modification for Modifying Most Hospital or and Home-related Fear and Aggression

Description:
Veterinarians see unmanageable pets on a daily basis. Failing to address these issues in the vet hospital can make the pets worse than when they entered, possibly making them untreatable for future medical problems. Communicating with clients, implementing one basic counter-conditioning technique, and making a few small changes in the way we handle our patients, can drastically change the course of the animal's future visits.

Summary:
Veterinarians see unmanageable and aggressive dogs and cats on a daily basis and we do what we can to provide the best medical services given the behavioral difficulties. Regardless, the fact is, if we don't recognize and address fear and unruly behaviors within the veterinary hospital we could be sending pets home with worse behavior than when they entered. Our failure to address the issues could leave the owner without a clue that progression of the behavior can often be halted early on whereas ignoring the signs may lead to inability to treat for future medical problems and could even result in euthanasia down the road. Additionally, lack of action on our part during the animal's stay can result in a pet that becomes increasingly difficult to manage and even dangerous on repeated visits. One might think that such problems are beyond the scope of general practice; however, a few simple modifications in how we regularly handle our patients plus the use of one basic counter-conditioning technique both in the hospital and for clients to practice at home, can dramatically improve the pet's behavior and experience.

Then Why Does it Work for the Trainer on T.V?

Description:
Punishments ranging from a stern “no” to physical force are commonly used by trainers featured on T.V. To the general viewer, punishment seems effective. In this presentation I discuss why it may be effective sometimes, at least temporarily. Then by showing what's involved in using it correctly as well as showing video of potentially serious adverse effects, I provide the attendees with the tools to help clients make better decisions regarding and when and what types of punishments are appropriate for their individual situation.

Summary:
Punishment is commonly used as a first-line tool by the general public and traditional dog trainers for both every-day problems as well as life-threatening situations. These range from seemingly benign verbal reprimands to physically painful pinch collar or electronic collar corrections. While punishment can be very effective in specific contexts for some individual animals, it is commonly associated with mild to serious adverse effects. These adverse effects can put both the safety of the pet and of the person administering the punishment at risk and they can worsen the dog's behavior. In this presentation I use video, case studies, and evidence from the deep body of scientific research to illustrate the potential adverse effects of punishment. I show specifically what is required to make punishment (including electric shock) work as intended and how, even when everything is performed correctly, the results may not be ideal. By understanding what is involved in making punishment work effectively and knowing how to recognize the adverse effects, attendees will be able to point out such effects to clients in a manner that will allow clients to make their own judgments regarding the appropriateness of using such techniques. Lastly, I will address an alternate non-force-based solution for handling the majority of behavior problems. Note: I will also discuss the AVSAB position statement on punishment.

Putting Training Methods to the Test.

Description:
Is it faster to train a verbal cue alone or when paired with a visual cue? Does tossing treats to a barking dog teach him to be more aggressive? Why does treat delivery speed matter if you're using a clicker? This presentation takes attendees through the Treat&Train scientific study which has set the foundation for how dog training experiments can be run. I then reveal the ancillary surprise findings that affect every-day training.

Summary:
Whether a trainer uses pinch collars, choke chains, or purely positive reinforcement, each trainer is adamant that her training methods work best. Generally such arguments are solved by a side-by-side comparison. But with animal training one hurdle must first be overcome. Small variations in the shaping steps can lead to big differences in results. Before a scientific comparison of different training techniques can be made, the individual shaping steps for the method used must be described exactly and performed in a repeatable, measurable, and systematic way. Then the effectiveness of the method can be shown. This presentation details a positive reinforcement study (published in the Journal of Applied Animal Behavior) that sets the foundation for how such experiments can be run. Attendees will be intrigued not only by the process but by the many surprise findings along the way. They'll learn whether it's better to teach verbal and visual cues together or individually, how location of the food reward affects training, how giving food to barking dogs does not train them to be more aggressive, why treat delivery speed matters even if you're using a clicker, what owners need to hear and see in order to perform the training correctly, and more.

Barking in Dogs: Noise or Communication

Description:
In this talk I present my published research on barking as vocal communication in dogs. Attendees will be introduced to the studies in chickens, vervet monkeys, and ground squirrels that paved the way for the study on communication in dogs.

Summary:
Ask any dog owner why his or her dog barks and you'll get a plethora of answers. Because he is hungry. He wants to come inside. He can't stand strangers on his property. With so many uses for one type of vocalization, is barking just a nuisance by-product of domestication or could barking serve some specific communication functions? In this talk I present my published research on barking as vocal communication in dogs. Attendees will be introduced to the studies in chickens, vervet monkeys, and ground squirrels that paved the way for the study on communication in dogs. They'll learn how better interpret their own dog's vocalizations and gain an understanding of how their actions influence their dog's vocalizations. For more information link to www.nerdbook.com/sophia/barking.html.

Positive Solutions to Barking in Dogs

Description:
In this talk I discuss a number of solutions for dealing with barking in dogs.

Summary:
Excessive barking is one of the most common behavior problems in dogs with up to 33.4% of owners complaining that their dogs bark excessively. While the immediate response to barking is to ask “How do I stop the barking!” and consequently focuses on punishment devices such as electronic shock collar, citronella collar, and ultrasonic devices none of these devices has a high success rate. A number of studies on the incidence, nature, and modification of excessive barking are beginning to emerge. Such studies reveal that many of these dogs bark when their owners are away, but a majority of these dogs bark excessively when the owners are home with the dogs. Thus the barking should be amenable to modification involving positive reinforcement initiated by the owners. In this presentation I discuss additional findings from a 2002 survey on excessive barking in dogs, discuss the causes of excessive barking, and then go over scientifically studied solutions, including the two studies on the Treat&Train Dog Training System: a remote controlled, automated treat dispensing device and multi-step shaping protocol for teaching dogs to lie down quietly in the face of major bark-eliciting distractions.

Feuding Fidos: Understanding and Mending the Rift Between Household Hounds

Summary:
Having multiple pets can make for an ideal home; however many multi-pet households are far from the peaceable kingdom. Whether it's a one-species problem or a spat between dog and cat, such quarrels can puzzle and stress the owners. And they can lead to injury and relinquishment. In this presentation, attendees will learn why family pets fight and how a carefully and consistently devised plan can often lead to a sudden truce. The presentation includes case studies with video.

Canine Criminals: How Dogs Become Aggressive to Humans and What We Can Do to Prevent or Reverse It

Description:
Any dog can bite, whether it's a pitbull, Pomeranian, or poodle. Many people fail to recognize the early warning signs of an aggressive dog because it isn't on the “dangerous breed” list. In this lecture, I show the early warning signs of aggression, the ways in which people make it worse, and then give examples of how to reduce aggressive incidents with the animal.

Summary:
Over 750,000 dog bites leading to emergency room visits are reported annually and approximately 16 lead to fatalities. A large percentage of these bites are due to the pitbull or rottweiler cliche; however, Golden retriever, Labrador, Cocker spaniel, and Pomeranian are on the list too. While many people want to believe that it's primarily the breed that is to blame or that these dogs were specifically abused or trained for fighting, the fact is that many pet lovers have four-legged time bombs living in their own homes. In this lecture I show examples of how aggression begins and progresses (video, slides, case studies). I discuss the process by which the owners accidentally reinforce aggressive behavior and then show examples of how to counter-condition the aggression. I also discuss the importance of dog parks and off leash play for dogs at a young age.

Fidos and Felines: training them to get along

Summary:
Having multiple pets can make for an ideal home; however many multi-pet households are far from the peaceable kingdom. Whether it's a one-species problem or a spat between dog and cat, such quarrels can puzzle and stress the owners. And they can lead to injury and relinquishment. In this presentation, attendees will learn why family pets fight and how a carefully and consistently devised plan can often lead to a sudden truce. The presentation includes case studies with video.

Kitty Kindergarten and Socialization Class: A tool for changing the public's image of cats

Description:
In this presentation you'll see how a kitty class can be run and the easy exercises that can be performed. A good socialization class can create cats that are the new, improved dog!

Summary:
Have you ever visited a home where the cats immediately ran away or hid when you entered? Or talked to a friend whose cat couldn't cope with the tiniest stressors? Perhaps a schedule change or out-of-town visitors was enough to bring on anxiety-based urine spraying. Or a cat sick cat that you're unable to medicated? Believe- it or not these are issues that could have been prevented through early socialization and handling. In fact early socialization classes for kittens can help shy, cranky kittens blossom into outgoing, laid-back cats. In this presentation you'll see how a kitty class can be run and what can be trained. A good socialization class can create cats that are the new, improved dog!

Can Doggie Daycare be Detrimental: Allowing Inappropriate Play

Summary:
Exercise and playtime with other dogs is frequently touted as the cure to all problems. But if so, why do so many dogs who are regulars at doggie daycare, pooch parks, and dog walks end up seeing the behavior specialist? In many cases the type of social interaction is inappropriate and undesirable behaviors are unintentionally trained. This presentation goes over case studies to illustrated the early indicators of problems. Attendees will learn how to recognize potential problem behaviors and how to work with the owner to handle the issues before they progress.

Cats: Thinking Outside the Box (Feline elimination disorders)

Description:
90% of male cats will urinate outside the box and 10% of spayed cats will potty outside the box. This presentation goes over the many reasons cats can soil inappropriately and presents the material in a memorable way. Attendees will learn how to systematically approach the problem.

Recognizing Brewing Aggression Problems in Dogs and Cats (in the hospital or grooming setting).

Description:
In this presentation I show videotapes of seemingly innocuous behavior and show what it can progress to within months to years. I also show what hospital, grooming and shelter staff do to accidentally make the behavior worse.

Summary:
Veterinarians and groomers see brewing behavior problems on a daily basis and often consider the behavior to be normal in that setting. By failing to recognize or address the brewing problem hospital and grooming staff can make the problem worse. Our failure to address the issues could leave the owner without a clue that progression of the behavior can often be halted early on whereas ignoring the signs may lead to inability to treat for future medical problems and could even result in euthanasia down the road. Additionally, lack of action on our part during the animal's stay can result in a pet that becomes increasingly difficult to manage and even dangerous on repeated visits. One might think that such problems are beyond the scope of general practice; however, a few simple modifications in how we regularly handle our patients plus the use of one basic counter-conditioning technique both in the hospital and for clients to practice at home, can dramatically improve the pet's behavior and experience. In this presentation I show videotapes of seemingly innocuous behavior and show what it can progress to within months to years. I also show what hospital, grooming and shelter staff do to accidentally make the behavior worse.

Reversing Brewing Behavior Problems in Dogs and Cats.

Description:
Brewing behavioral issues in dogs and cats are easy to treat before they develop into recognizable problems.

Summary:
In this presentation attendees will learn: 1) How their body language and action affect the behavior of their patients. 2) How to interact appropriately in order to keep their patients calm and avoid rewarding inappropriate behaviors. Then they will learn two techniques that they can use with all dogs and cats to help prevent or treat a myriad of behavior problems including resistance to handling procedures, overall anxiety, general unruly behavior, and fear aggression.

Recognizing and Reversing Brewing Human-directed Aggression Problems in the Grooming Shop, Kennel and Veterinary Clinic.

Description:
Animal care staff deal with difficult pets on a daily basis. Failing to address the behavioral issues within the hospital or work setting can lead to a pet that's becomes more difficult and often untreatable. Communicating with clients, implementing one basic counter-conditioning technique, and making a few small changes in the way we handle the pets, can drastically change the course of the animal's future visits.

Summary:
Veterinary technicians, groomers and kennel workers frequently see unmanageable and aggressive dogs and cats on a daily basis and we do what we can to provide the best medical services given the behavioral difficulties. Regardless, the fact is, if we don't recognize and address fear and unruly behaviors within the work setting we could be sending pets home with worse behavior than when they entered. Our failure to address the issues could leave the owner without a clue that progression of the behavior can often be halted early on whereas ignoring the signs may lead to inability to treat for future medical problems and could even result in euthanasia down the road. Additionally, lack of action on our part during the animal's stay can result in a pet that becomes increasingly difficult to manage and even dangerous on repeated visits. One might think that such problems are beyond the scope of the work situation; however, a few simple modifications in how we regularly handle our patients plus the use of one basic counter-conditioning technique both in the hospital and for clients to practice at home, can dramatically improve the pet's behavior and experience. In this presentation I show videotapes of seemingly innocuous behavior and show what it can progress to within months to years. In part 2 I show the specific techniques for preventing and reversing these behaviors.

Low Stress Techniques for Managing Fractious Animals in the Veterinary Hospital (overview)

Description:
In this presentation, using extensive video clips I show how to recognize early signs of brewing problems and then show how to modify each interaction from the initial greeting, to the physical exam, to the restraint for blood draws, to getting animals from one place to another and in and out of cages for maximal safety, time efficiency, and comfort of the animal. Examples focus on how to modify techniques based on the behavioral response of the cat or dog.

Summary:
Regardless of whether an animal presents for routine vaccinations, chronic dermatologic problems, or a sudden onset of inappropriate urination, one issue pervades among all patient visits—behavior. That is, the clinician and staff must deal with animal behavior every time they interact with an animal. While some animals are clearly difficult on their first visit, others develop into “caution” animals with repeated visits. Hospital staff frequently contribute to the deterioration of the hospital behavior and consequently increase their risk of injury by failing to recognize the signs, using out-dated handling techniques, and failing to adjust their techniques based on the animals' response. In this presentation, using extensive video clips I show how to modify each interaction from the initial greeting, to the physical exam, to the restraint for blood draws, to getting animals from one place to another and in and out of cages for maximal safety, time efficiency, and comfort of the animal. Examples focus on how to modify techniques based on the behavioral response of the cat or dog.

From the Real World to the Research Lab and Back

Description:
Training is filled with questions—like how best to teach a cue, and which shaping plan works best. We can spend a lifetime of trial and error seeking answers or we can uncover them rapidly by taking them to the bench. In this presentation I use the research and development of one dog training system to illustrate the scientific process and show how it can yield invaluable findings directly applicable to every-day training.

Summary:
While many training programs and training products exist, few are developed using a scientific approach. As a result, they are not implemented in a standardized fashion and cannot reliably be compared and changes cannot systematically be tested in order to improve them. In this presentation I discuss the scientific research process that went into developing the MannersMinder dog training system. The presentation discusses factors considered in developing a training protocol for the general dog owner as well as the surprise findings about cue discrimination and learning theory brought to light during the pilot study. Then I discuss the laboratory study and clinical trial and the factors the clinical trial revealed were important in teaching owners how to perform the training. Lastly, I show how these findings are directly applicable to a myriad a training situations ranging from general household manners to serious behavior problems (This last part will be extended if a 3 hours slot is chosen).

Are You Seeing What You Think You're Seeing? Applying the Scientific Method to Studying our Pets

Description:
Is the dog who greets with head and tail high trying to dominate? Does comforting a fearful dog really make him worse? Is the dog who intervenes between others playing serving as a referee? Like a crime scene where the bloody glove is a red herring the real answers to animal behavior questions often lie hidden beneath the conspicuous decoy. Find out how to systematically pry open the answers to your behavior questions using the methods practiced by scientists.

Summary:
In order to gain answers to behavior questions trainers must learn to make objective observations, devise reasonable hypothesis with appropriate predictions, and then test our ideas. This presentation, first developed for undergraduate animal science students, focuses on showing trainers how to methodically get at the answers to their animal behavior questions by following the scientific method. We will go over how to develop observations into questions, hypothesis and predictions. We will cover methods of observing behavior objectively and practice making such observations. Then I will show how incorrect observations can lead to inappropriate conclusions, whereas careful, systematic observations can unlock surprising answers and give rise to many more intriguing questions. In doing so, this approach opens up a whole new world of behavior and will renew any waning passion about animal behavior and what can be learned. (Longer time slot of 3 hours involves more hands-on practice watching video and systematically making observations).

Your Mouth's Telling Them One Thing but What is Your Body Saying?

Description:
To train effectively we must be aware of every physical movement we make when interacting with animals. In this presentation I show many examples of how small unconscious differences in our body posture, the way we walk, the way we give a signal, and even the way we deliver a treat leads to big differences in how the dog responds.

Summary:
While humans communicate best with spoken language, dogs communicate best visually. Given this difference it's imperative that we are aware of every physical movement and stance we take when interacting with animals. In this presentation I show many examples of how small unconscious differences in our body posture, the way we walk, the way we give a signal, and even the way we deliver a treat lead to big differences in how the dog responds. Attendees will learn how attention to body language can help them handle unfamiliar fearful dogs more effectively, get dogs in and out of kennels efficiently, keep dogs focused longer and more intensely during training sessions, and provide better overall guidance and leadership their pets.

Social Learning in Animals

Description:

Summary:
Since dogs evolved in groups it would be advantagoues for them to be able to learn by observing others. While it's clear that dogs and other animals are influenced by others in their group, whether they can imitate each other is debatable. In this presentation I review the scientific definitions used to describe different types of social learning and social influence then give an overview of the methods used to determine which type of learning process is occurring. Attendees must have a good understanding of basic operant conditioning in order to understand this presentation.

Bad Behavior: Is it in the Genes?

Description:
In this presentation attendees will gain an overview of how genes affect behavior. They'll see what other factors can effect even early behavior, and learn how scientist determine whether behaviors are hereditary.

Summary:
All behaviors are a combination of genes and environment—products of both nature and nurture. But what exactly does that mean. For instance, if a puppy is already aggressive to dog or to people at 8 weeks of age, does that indicate the behavior must be hereditary? If not what other factors could influence behaviors prior to this age and how do you tell if a behavior is hereditary? In this presentation attendees will gain a basic understanding of genes and how they affect behavior, see what other factors can effect even early behavior, and learn how scientist determine whether behaviors are hereditary.

Behavior Modification Lab (dog + kitten under 16 weeks of age)

Description:
In this wetlab, attendees will learn the foundation exercise for teaching dogs and kittens (if it's summer or fall) to behave calmly at home (and later out in public) and to look to their owners for leadership. Through games both with and without the animals, attendees will work on improving their timing, body cues, and consistency and they will see direct improvements in the animals as a result. Lastly, we will counter-condition animals to common procedures such as toe nail trims, ear and eye examinations, injections, and receiving pills.
 Kitty Kindergarten Lab and Lecture (3 hr)
 Puppy Preschool Lab and Lecture (3 hr) (3 hr)

Kitty Kindergarten and Socialization Class: A tool for changing the public's image of cats.

Description:
In this presentation you'll see how a kitty class can be run and the easy exercises that can be performed. A good socialization class can create cats that are the new, improved dog!

Summary:
Have you ever visited a home where the cats immediately ran away or hid when you entered? Or talked to a friend whose cat couldn't cope with the tiniest stressors? Perhaps a schedule change or out-of-town visitors was enough to bring on anxiety-based urine spraying. Or a cat sick cat that you're unable to medicated? Believe- it or not these are issues that could have been prevented through early socialization and handling. In fact early socialization classes for kittens can help shy, cranky kittens blossom into outgoing, laid-back cats. In this presentation you'll see how a kitty class can be run and what can be trained. A good socialization class can create cats that are the new, improved dog!

Low Stress Handling and Restraint in Difficult Dogs and Cats.

Description:
Are you still routinely scruffing cats, stretching them out for venipuncture, and grabbing for the leather gloves to transport them from cages? Do you allow dogs to flop when repositioning them, struggle with those that are hyperactive, or find dogs that can't be muzzled? Attend this lab and you will 1) see the newest low-stress techniques for handling even difficult patients in a calm, efficient manner; 2) Practice 8 toweling techniques, non-scruff holds for venipuncture, and safe ways to capture aggressive cats; 3) learn how to control dogs better through subtle changes in your approach and handling techniques and through tools such as head collars.

Summary:
Are you still routinely scruffing cats, stretching them out for jugular venipuncture, or using leather gloves when they're hissing at the back of the cage? Do you sometimes allow dogs to flop when repositioning them, get dogs who are so hyperactive they're out of control, or find dogs who won't let even their owners muzzle them?

This lab will show participants the newest low-stress techniques for handling difficult dogs and cats in a calm, effective and efficient manner. Participants will learn why the standard head and neck restraint methods for dogs can cause them to get bitten, how little modifications in how they move a dog into position can affect whether the dog remains calm or fights to get loose, and how restraining both dogs and cats in a more relaxed manner will result in pets that willingly allow procedures.

The lab will incorporate powerpoint and video presentations as well as exercises involving stuffed animals and human participants prior to practicing the techniques on live dogs and cats. Participants will practice 8 toweling techniques for cats, 2 toweling techniques in dogs, use of head harnesses and leash muzzles to allow minimal contact with fearful dogs, new non-scruff holds for venipuncture in cats, how to use food and other motivators effectively instead of accidentally making the pet more hyperactive or anxious, and more.

Circus School for Dogs

Summary:
Have you ever wondered how dogs on TV learned to be so smart? Turns out that tricks are really easy to train quickly if you go in a stepwise fashion. In this workshop we train several basic behaviors—target, step (foot target), and down. Then we use these basic behaviors to help train tricks such as beg, play dead, ride skateboard (bring your own skateboard), roll over, wave, high five, cross your legs. Jump through the hoop. We can also work on more advanced tricks such as placing toys in a basket, hand-stand and somersault.