Daily living with animals results in many behaviors that develop through that animal’s experince of living with us. Often, this learning is not intentionally structured by us, leading our learners to exhibit desired or “”good”” behaviors, as well as the unwanted or “”bad”” behaviors, and someties even behaviors that are challenging for us to live with, the “”ugly””ones. Frequently, we need to retrain and/or manage our way out of the bad and the ugly!

Advanced training is just the basics done really well…or is it? Ken Ramirez thinks so, but Dr. Susan Friedman disagrees. Can she change his mind? Or vice-versa? Join them at ClickerExpo in Chicago as they discuss this idea and find out!

Join Chirag for a practical, hands-on Lab where he will teach participants how to develop component skills that can be used to create more complex behaviors. In this interactive workshop, Chirag will work with up to three dog/handler teams, allowing participants to explore this topic in a practical way.

Delivering quick wins in the very first session is crucial for gaining client trust and commitment to your training plan. This ultimately boosts business success through testimonials, referrals, and renewals. However, it’s essential to distinguish between genuine quick wins and illusory progress, akin to a “”magic wand”” fix. How can we ensure the victories we deliver are tangible and sustainable, setting the stage for long-term success?

There’s a misconception that the skills needed for teaching obedience or tricks and those required to improve reactivity or aggression are completely different. However, both undeniably require a strong foundation in observation, timing, and reinforcement delivery.

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”?

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.

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.

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 …

YOU’LL DEFINITELY WORK IN THIS TOWN AGAIN: LEARNING ANIMAL ACTING  Melissa Millett • Chicago  Performing in a commercial or movie may seem simpler than it actually is. Animal actors face numerous challenges, from working with unfamiliar actors to adapting to cameras and navigating high-pressure, distracting environments. Join us as we recreate scenes from real movies, TV series, or commercial shoots …