Step into My Behavior Consultant Shoes: Solving Aggression Cases

Michael Shikashio

Course Type: Learning Lab
Skill: All Levels
Topic: Aggression & Behavior Management, Science, Shelter & Rescue, Teaching Others

Participant Notes:
Spots are limited to the room capacity, spotlight participants will be chosen during the Learning Lab. You may participate or you may attend as an observer. This Lab is for people; no need to bring your dogs—let them rest! The focus will be on trainer skills.

Description:
Step into the role of a behavior consultant and prepare to engage your problem-solving skills in an exciting and interactive Learning Lab with Michael Shikashio. This course invites you to delve into the captivating world of aggression cases, where together, we will explore a variety of challenging scenarios.

Under Michael's expert guidance, you will gain valuable insights into the intricacies of aggression, both in dog-to-dog and dog-to-human contexts. Through the examination of several real-life case studies, you will have the opportunity to analyze and comprehend the complexities of aggression issues in depth.

Attendees will actively collaborate with Michael, navigating every critical step involved in addressing aggression cases. From the initial history-taking process to ensure a comprehensive understanding, to safety protocols and effective management strategies, and finally, to the implementation of appropriate behavior change techniques, this enlightening opportunity will equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to tackle a wide range of aggressive behaviors.

Join this enlightening Learning Lab where Michael Shikashio will empower you to approach aggression cases with confidence, providing valuable insights and practical tools that are vital to achieving successful outcomes.

You Are Not Uncoordinated! (Just Not Fluent—Yet)

Laura VanArendonk Baugh

Course Type: Learning Lab
Skill: Foundation
Topic: Business, Skill, Teaching Others

Participant Notes:
Spots are limited to the room capacity. You have the option to either actively participate or attend as an observer. Please note that this Lab is specifically designed for people, so we kindly request that only service dogs be present in the room during the event, while non-working dogs can enjoy a well-deserved rest as we engage in practice sessions.

Description:
On the surface, clicker training appears simple! Just click and hand out a treat. How hard can it be? However, when you start considering accurate timing, juggling a leash or lead, managing treats and a target stick, assessing evolving criteria, and even incorporating training while walking... Suddenly there is the possibility of delayed clicks, slow or dropped treats, inefficient target placement, and a host of other “coordination” issues that impede or frustrate simple training.

We know that skills must be learned, so let's teach them. In this Learning Lab, we will focus on developing the essential motor skills necessary for technically proficient training. Our objective is to handle target sticks, leashes, and clickers simultaneously while delivering treats with precision, akin to training superheroes! Participants will learn techniques for accelerating their own training progress and getting up to speed more efficiently.

Please note that this Lab is exclusively for people; only working service dogs are permitted to attend. The emphasis of this Lab is on building human skills, rather than training dogs.

Click to Calm: Dog Reactivity and Aggression Toward People

Emma Parsons

Course Type: Learning Lab
Skill: All Levels
Topic: Aggression & Behavior Management

Participant Notes:
We will have approximately six (6) dog/handler teams. Dogs should already understand the click/treat relationship, be comfortable with normal handling, and be able to work in close quarters with other dogs and people. Dogs that participate in or attend this Lab (and ClickerExpo generally) should not be aggressive towards other people or dogs; the skills and behaviors are easily demonstrated with any dog.

You may participate with your dog or you may attend as an observer. Observers should not bring their dogs to the Lab.

Description:
Join Emma Parsons for this Learning Lab and experience a critical piece of her process for working with dogs that are reactive or aggressive towards people. One of the most valuable techniques included in her book The New Click to Calm: Solutions for All Dogs in a Challenging World is treating dogs with reactivity/aggression issues towards people. In this Learning Lab, we will explore the three phases of the process presented in Emma's book. These three phases, Familiarize, Investigate, and Meet, help dogs realize that they hold the key to improving their lives with humans, rather than being forced by humans to do so.

During this Learning Lab, we will go through each step of these phases, one by one, with your dogs in the lab. You will learn what to do with anxious dogs who are afraid of people for various reasons, as well as those dogs who become over-stimulated when meeting new people. We will also cover important foundation behaviors, as they are the building blocks for creating a dynamic where the dog can choose to venture forward (to meet) but also have the option to withdraw at a moment's notice.

Join Emma in this special Learning Lab to learn and experience a core part of the new Click to Calm process.

It's All Connected: Interlocking Dog and Handler Skills for Seamless Leash Walking

Kiki Yablon

Course Type: Learning Lab
Skill: All Levels
Topic: Aggression & Behavior Management, Science, Skill

Participant Notes:
We will have approximately four (4) dog/handler teams. Dogs should already understand the click/treat relationship, be comfortable with normal handling, and be able to work in close quarters with other dogs. Teams should have their dog on a harness (preferred), flat, or properly fitted martingale collar and bring a 6-10-foot leash and a treat pouch. Dogs should not have any issues with guarding food. You may participate with your dog or you may attend as an observer. Observers should not bring their dogs to the Lab.

Description:

Many pet guardians and trainers still perceive "loose leash walking" as a repetitive task: a dog walking attentively by your side on a 4-6-foot leash. However, a more modern, dog-centric understanding considers walking as a complex set of interlocking skills for both the dog and the handler. It involves navigating through an ever-changing environment, which can be seen as either distractions or enrichment opportunities, depending on your perspective. The good news is that these skills can be identified, broken down, taught separately, and then linked together using the logic of chaining. This process is akin to improvising a freestyle routine or planning an agility run. This approach also incorporates a built-in system for transitioning from relying heavily on food rewards to utilizing naturally occurring reinforcers.

Join Kiki Yablon for this detailed Learning Lab that will introduce you to this new approach to leash walking. You will have the opportunity to practice the dog and handler skills that are often the "missing links" in such sequences. Let's get interconnected!

Right on Cue: How to Develop and Clarify Cues

Sarah Owings

Course Type: Learning Lab
Skill: Foundation
Topic: Competition, Skill

Participant Notes:
We will have approximately four (4) dog/handler teams. Participants should have beginner-level or higher experience using a clicker and food reinforcement. Dogs should be comfortable with standard handling and be capable of working in a crowded environment in close proximity to other people and dogs. A week or two prior to ClickerExpo, participants will be assigned simple homework that focuses on teaching a basic behavior, ensuring that everyone arrives at the conference prepared to delve into the process of adding a cue. You may choose to participate with your dog or attend as an observer. However, observers should refrain from bringing their dogs to the Lab.

Description:
Teaching with a marker signal and reinforcement is often described as a three-step process:

• Step One: Get the behavior.
• Step Two: Put the behavior on cue.
• Step Three: Achieve stimulus control over the cue.

However, those who have experienced these steps can attest that adding cues to new behaviors and consistently eliciting reliable responses to those cues is not always as straightforward as it may seem. Animal learners sometimes find themselves uncertain about when to exhibit a particular behavior or confused about which behavior will yield desired outcomes in a given moment.

This confusion arises because the cues we believe we have taught do not always function as clear and relevant indicators for reinforcement. In this foundational-level lab, we will delve into the process of incorporating cues into simple behaviors, such as nose targeting, going to a mat, or spinning, through the employment of four methods: "cue slides" for shaped or captured behaviors, "cue THEN move" for behaviors involving prompts, "red light / green light" to teach waiting for cues, and cue roulette.

Join Sarah in this informative Learning Lab to unravel the intricacies of cues and cueing.

The Golden Touch: The Power of Cooperative Bodywork

Lori Stevens

Course Type: Learning Lab
Skill: All Levels
Topic: Aggression & Behavior Management, Equine, Health & Wellness, Other Species, Shelter & Rescue, Skill, Veterinary

Participant Notes:
We will have approximately four (4) dog/handler teams. Dogs should already understand the click/treat relationship, be comfortable with normal handling, and be able to work in close quarters with other dogs. If your dog doesn't like to be touched, this is the right Learning Lab for you, but you may not want to be a highlighted participant team. For the dog/handler spots, a mat that your dog is comfortable with will be useful. Teams will be brought up one at a time for hands-on work, followed by a working session at the end of each tutorial for all observers. You may participate with your dog or you may attend as an observer. Observers should not bring their dogs to the Lab.

Description:
Join Lori Stevens for our immersive Learning Lab where you will delve into the art of touch to enhance your relationship with animals and achieve a range of objectives. In this course, Lori will guide you through informal and intentional forms of touch, equipping you with a diverse set of techniques, including fundamental massage techniques.

We all aspire to make touch a positive experience for our animals, whether it is for handling, stress relief, training, or medical care. However, touch is not always inherently reinforcing for animals, and most of us are not consciously focused on building touch as a reinforcer. By approaching touch with intention and recognizing its potential and richness, we can profoundly impact the lives of our animals. Lori will help you understand how to discern if touch is reinforcing for your animal, establish trust around touch when your animal is uncomfortable, utilize touch to induce calmness or energy, and foster cooperative care through touch as a foundation. Throughout the course, Lori will cover a range of essential topics, including:

Assessing readiness for touch:

• Effectively gauging if your learner is prepared for touch
• Identifying signs of reluctance or disinterest (Lori will provide video examples of "not now" behavior)
• Approaching sensitive areas with care (e.g., addressing past ear infections)
• Managing situations when strangers need to interact with the animals in our care

Navigating the body:

• Understanding areas of discomfort and those that are generally more receptive to touch
• Building trust through gradual touch progression
• Recognizing the establishment of trust and determining when touch becomes reinforcing
• Preparing for successful touch sessions:

Creating an optimal environment for touch:

• Essential considerations for a fruitful session, including the comfort of both learner and practitioner
• Observing your learner's cues, such as tension and body language
• Attending to your own technique, including breathing, pressure, and wrist position
• Techniques for calming the nervous system and energizing the nervous system

Interactive feedback and technique demonstration:

• Mastering the stroking technique (with video demonstration and feedback)
• Exploring the circular technique (with video demonstration and feedback)

Immerse yourself in this active Learning Lab with Lori Stevens and discover the power of the Right Touch for your animal companions. Expand your understanding of touch, foster trust, and elevate the well-being of the animals in your care.

An Immersive Separation Anxiety Experience

Terrie Hayward

Course Type: Learning Lab
Skill: All Levels
Topic:  Aggression & Behavior Management, Skill, Teaching Others

Participant Notes:
We will have approximately five (5) Animal/Handler Spotlight Teams. Dogs do not need to have separation anxiety to participate in this Lab; the skills and behaviors are easily demonstrated with any dog. Handlers should bring a treat pouch and a clicker. Dogs and their handlers should have some basic clicker skills, and your dog should be comfortable in a public space around people and other dogs. No other prerequisite skills are required since participants will be working through a protocol collaboratively and replicating steps that might be necessary for dogs with very little training experience. You may participate with your dog, or you may attend as an observer. Observers should not bring their dogs to the Lab.

Description:
Join Terrie Hayward as she presents a background introduction to separation anxiety and then delves into an interactive protocol. Audience participants will engage in a live consult while exploring a variety of case studies.

During this Lab, the audience will have the opportunity to brainstorm through a transition task assignment, while Terrie "sets the stage" to reflect an example of a virtual home visit consult. Individual participants will work through the steps of the protocol, which includes physically moving through the home, discussing next steps and specific environmental factors, and practicing communication skills documentation. Terrie will also share a data collection document on the big screen to aid in this process. Finally, Terrie will guide participants through a series of behaviors that can positively contribute to separation anxiety cases, which they can work on outside of specific separation anxiety protocols. Terrie will review how and why these adjunct behaviors will benefit the overall process. 

The takeaway skills from this interactive separation anxiety Learning Lab will include:

• Understanding consult contents
• Structuring client meetings
• Devising and navigating a comprehensive plan

Terrie is excited to share this interactive experience with you and to provide a first-hand look at what walking together through a few separation anxiety cases might look and feel like!

Stimulus Control, Duration, and Other Impossible Dreams

Laura VanArendonk Baugh

Course Type: Learning Lab
Skill: Foundation
Topic: Competition, Skill

Participant Notes:
We will have approximately six (6) dog/handler teams. The dog should have 4-5 behaviors on cue (perfect stimulus control is NOT expected!). Dogs should be comfortable with normal handling, and be able to work in close quarters with other dogs. You may participate with your dog or you may attend as an observer. Observers should not bring their dogs to the Lab.

Description:
Join Laura Van Arendonk Baugh in an insightful exploration of stimulus control and duration. These two concepts may initially appear straightforward but require a deeper understanding for effective training outcomes. In this course, Laura will unravel the complexities associated with these concepts, dispelling misconceptions, and providing practical strategies to simplify and enhance their application.

Laura will demonstrate the interconnection between stimulus control and duration, highlighting how a comprehensive grasp of both concepts contributes to more efficient and effective training practices. Participants will learn to recognize the broader scope of these seemingly simple concepts and develop techniques to enhance clarity for their animal learners.

Throughout the Learning Lab, attendees will have the opportunity to work directly with dogs, identifying gaps in understanding and developing improved skills in both stimulus control and duration. By the end of the Lab, participants will have acquired valuable habits and approaches to refine their training methods, ensuring better comprehension and performance from their animal companions.

Enhance your understanding of stimulus control and duration by joining Laura Van Arendonk Baugh in this important Lab for anyone learning the science and practice of animal training.

Please note: This course was originally presented virtually at ClickerExpo LIVE and has been reimagined and reinvented for the in-person environment. 

Balance Matters: Explore How Balance and the Movement Cycle Produce Better Outcomes

Alexandra Kurland

Course Type: Learning Lab
Skill: All Levels
Topic: Aggression & Behavior Management, Competition, Equine, Health & Wellness, Other Species, Science, Shelter & Rescue, Skill, Teaching Others, Veterinary

Prerequisite Session:
Balance Matters

Participant Notes:
To maximize the benefits of this Lab, it is recommended that you attend the prerequisite Session, Balance Matters. Active participation is encouraged for all Lab attendees. Please note that spots are limited to the room capacity. The primary emphasis of this Lab is on people; no need to bring your dogs—let them rest!

Description:
Balance matters. When we work with animals that are not well balanced, or in way that does not faciltate balance, we put extra wear and tear on their bodies. Think about the way the tires on a car wear out faster when they are not properly balanced While we can replace our tires, we can’t give horses or dogs new legs, so balance matters. Balance is very much like gravity. It influences behavior whether we are paying attention to it or not. When we ignore balance, things begin to fall down.

Sound balance makes use of movement cycles. A movement cycle is a series of behaviors that are performed sequentially, with a distinct beginning and end. A movement cycle is complete when you are in position to repeat the behavior. When training, many people solely focus on the desired outcome, driven by results. However, when balance becomes a core criterion, the emphasis shifts to initiating movement rather than solely achieving the outcome. We start the movement cycle in balance.

In this Learning Lab, participants will gain a physical understanding of this important concept by experiencing the changes in their balance while focusing on initiating movement and creating small loops. Participants will learn a chaining procedure known as reversibility, which explores balance, builds new skills, and enables the transfer of this experience to animal learners. Additionally, this Learning Lab aims to enhance participants' observation skills, enabling them to spot finer movement details and introduce teaching strategies for clean skill beginnings.

All Lab attendees will have the opportunity to participate.

Join Alex for this easy to do movement exploration where you will discover the beauty and intricacy of balance and acquire skills that can greatly benefit your animal learners.