The program does not rely solely on the dog achieving this and puts the sole onus on the handler, removing the genetic factor of dog dysfunction. This teaches the handler to work within the dog’s specific responses based on its temperament spectrum.
The other target and the main area of concern is the issue of shelter dogs with the consensus of understanding the dog in order to avoid having to surrender it. It puts those in rescue and fostering into a more effective and efficient role of solving a dog’s problems or development obstacles. The program teaches people to understand how the program of fostering, with good intentions, could in turn create a dog with more troubles than it originally came in with.
Through the course, we work with getting persons participating to reach the goal of understanding the responsibility we have towards the dog, our families, neighbors and friends; we should not force them to suffer the repercussions of our misgivings when it comes to lack of understanding.
The course consists of The Concept of The Whelping Box Theory.
The importance of individualization, building trust and respect, food drive and its physiological impact on the dog’s behavior, handler’s troubles with dog and with themselves, crating, and socialization spectrums, indirect, direct, and confrontational stimuli, human or animal. The difference between indirect training (behavior failure), direct training, and management (success through positive self esteem with both dog and handler). The four initial environments on a weekly progression (indirect presence).
How to create new habits and remove habits of accommodation and fearful behavior of the handler. How these behaviors spark fear, insecurity, and anxiety in your dog. The understanding of benevolent leadership as opposed to forced submissive acceptance, or handlers showing submissive apologetic behavior. These issues are the number one cause of dog-handler turmoil. The discussion of conflict in the relationship. Introduction of Indirect stimuli, dog and human. Covering decisive nature in the dog and indecisive submission on the handler’s part. Dealing with separation anxiety; how it is created and how to cure it. Creating a time-management training schedule according to the lifestyle of each individual participant. Leaving the home, preparing for the walk will also be addressed.
This is where we begin to discuss the issue of MY DOG WILL LOOK AT ME WHEN I AM WORTH LOOKING AT. The Concept of focus, praise timing, and acknowledgment. Teaching the dog the concept of "It’s none of your business." Understanding aggression, causes and cures. Seeing where we are at with our relationship and working out the kinks. Increasing handler dominance emotionally. The issue of direct stimuli and socialization, human or animal.
The maturation out of food drive and progressing on to the adolescent stage of the relationship. Prey drive, how it works in your favor or how it can cause a lot of trouble. Achieving focus and concentration in dog and handler while under stressful conditions. The concept of "get on with it, it doesn't matter." Defusing impatient anxiety. A look at rescue and fostering goals, helping rescue's structure a successful and efficient program, open discussion and participation. "What can make a rescue stand out from the rest?"
Discussion on multi-dog relationships. Multi-dog households successes and failures. Should there be an ALPHA dog? For rescue and foster, the Ambassador Dog and the concept behind it. Advanced prey work, removing the reliance on food and focusing on prey training and why. Dealing with possession, food and toys. Advanced prey training. The embrace and surrender of object to the handler. Dealing with direct stimuli and training in moving crowds with or without dogs present. Assessing dogs for rescue intake. Moving to advanced environments, dogs and people present.
Dogs see things in lines and squares. An Alpha is always on top of the game: learning how to predict an incident before it happens. How to control the environment you are walking into. Use your dog’s senses to benefit yours. Do you really know your dog? Working in the 3 squares, understanding and applying this concept in all environments. A discussion of the dog parks, asset or liability? Moving form Prey Drive to Pack Drive.
Working in distractive environments. Testing handler stability and confidence. Epitomizing confidence and trust in your dog under any and all circumstances. Training in distraction, loose dogs, joggers, people on bikes, etc. Introduction to keeping kids safe. Teaching your dog to come to you under stress and finding a way out as opposed to reacting wrongly, handler and dog. Group works together with all dogs present and distractive. Control in prey drive. Testing leash tension and handler error.
Cleaning up the issues, finding strength and weaknesses in both handler and dog. Learning the concepts of off-leash work. Learning to use our voice effectively, staying calm and assertive as opposed to impatient and fearful. Group to participate in directing each other - testing for advice or training direction to persons needing help. Video dissection of Wolf Behavior - In captivity (human contaminant) or in the wild (natural primitive state.) How does it apply to our dog’s instincts? All Obedience commands in various unpredictable staged environments while looking for handler response and resolution. Cleaning up timing. Testing recall with a lunge line on the ground.
Where this will lead you and your dog. Rescue and foster: discussion of foster home programs. Seeing your dog’s limitations and virtues and respecting them for a successful life of freedom. Each group members will assist the other with the exercises (testing instructional capability).
Testing certificates and grade sheets. The answer to these questions:
Do you know what your dog knows?
Does your dog know you know?
Do both you and your dog know who you are?
Contact us for a free phone consultation.
We offer training year-round at our 50 acre facility in Beeton, Ontario. For an additional fee, when scheduling permits, we can also travel to you.