ENRICHMENT FOR FEAR, ANXIETY, AND AGGRESSION Emily Strong • LIVE We often emphasize the importance of setting up enrichment plans tailored to meet the needs of the animal learner in front of us. But how does an enrichment plan work when the learner faces unique challenges like fear, anxiety, and aggression? Is enrichment alone sufficient to address maladaptive behaviors? Moreover, …
Nail Care Alchemy with Debbie Martin
NAIL CARE ALCHEMY Debbie Martin • LIVE Nail care can be the most challenging routine husbandry procedure for pets. This Session will delve into the anatomy of the nail, including individual variations. A variety of techniques for trimming nails and training pets to willingly participate in nail care will be discussed and demonstrated via video. Often overlooked, a key component …
10 Tips To Help You Teach All Night Long (Vocally, At Least) with Camilla Chu
10 TIPS TO HELP YOU TEACH ALL NIGHT LONG (VOCALLY, AT LEAST) Camilla Chu • LIVE There’s a school of thought that says you should be able to use your voice indefinitely. If actors and singers can perform for many days on end, surely we dog trainers can teach all our classes in one evening—multiple nights in a row—without losing …
Getting to YES! Why No Is Not Enough with Susan G. Friedman, Ph.D.
When caregivers heed these signals, animals get what they want, such as space by stepping back, or even ending the training session. This is good, up to a point. But what comes next? How do we transition from respecting the “no-don’t” to enabling the “yes-do”?
Training Cues-Use Them, Then Trade The, with Michele Pouliot
TRAINING CUES: USE THEM, THEN TRADE THEM Michele Pouliot• LIVE When training most behaviors, handler cues and/or environmental cues for that behavior are created (intentionally or unintentionally). It might be a single cue or a combination of several “training cues”that prompt the goal behavior. Training cues may be trainer movements, trainer words, location of reward, physical props (i.e., platforms, barriers, …
Practice Perfect. How To Create Super Practice Sessions with Emma Parsons
Proper planning is crucial for a successful training session. Choosing the right criteria and delivering the right reinforcement at the right time and in the right way is essential for completing clean training loops.
Distraction Training for TRAINERS! Wait, What? Sports Edition with Emelie Johnson Vegh
DISTRACTION TRAINING FOR TRAINERS! WAIT, WHAT?- SPORTS EDITION Emelie Johnson Vegh• LIVE (virtual) As good dog trainers, we work systematically and methodically through the challenges that stand in the way of fluent performance, including both routine environmental and novel distractions. However, our dogs aren’t the only ones involved in the training process—we are, too, facing similar challenges! Join Emelie Johnson …
Puppies Just Want to Have Fun: Designing Themed Classes for People and Puppies
In this interactive session, participants will discover how to design and deliver exciting lessons that bring fun and educational experiences to both puppies and their caregivers. Chirag will guide you through the process of planning and implementing themed classes that create laughter, joy, and valuable learning opportunities.
We Know About Start Buttons: How About “Continue Buttons?” with Peggy Hogan
WE KNOW ABOUT START BUTTONS: HOW ABOUT “CONTINUE BUTTONS?” Peggy Hogan • LIVE (virtual) Cooperative care, choice, control, and Start Buttons have become hot topics, even in the horse world. In a dialogue with our horses (learners), a Start Button is a first step in that conversation, and Continue Buttons are the second. In this Demo-OH!, Peggy Hogan will be …
Reinforcement Systems-Looking at Reinforcement Under The Microscope with Mary Hunter
REINFORCEMENT SYSTEMS: LOOKING AT REINFORCEMENT UNDER THE MICROSCOPE Mary Hunter • Chicago In some situations, trainers experience slow rates of progress, persistent unwanted behaviors, and low levels of learner engagement, even when they have what should be an effective reinforcer. What is often missing is a reinforcement system. While it is convenient to think of reinforcers as “things,” reinforcement involves …