Hello IACP Conference Participants!
Wish we could all be together in person. But so good to connect any way we can. I hope you enjoyed the conference as much as I did.
I am happy to host a Q&A Session, via Zoom, in which you can get you questions answered. Here is the invitation to join.
You must pre-register to join, as a pre-caution against crazy zoom crashers...So click on the link below and a box will pop up so you can do your pre-registration.
Hi there,
You are invited to a Zoom meeting.
When: Sep 3, 2021 09:00 PM America/Detroit
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0uc-ChrjwsGNVSIbpVaFxlVLHa1py_OWel
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Sex, Drugs, Rock ’n’ Roll & Service Dog Suitability Training
Dogs who are in an urban area are exposed to a lot of chronic stressors. Service dogs, in particular cannot exhibit predatory behavior, be distracted off their work or disturb their person’s balance. The dog must be extremely self-controlled. We know that a part of this is indeed DNA. We must choose the right dog for the job.
But once that choice is made, how do we create such a dog? Not a dog that is rote trained, but a dog who is a true thinking partner?
Is the way to this thinking dog totally positive reinforcement? Should we visit the other 3 quadrants at all? If we choose to do that, which quadrants? Should any punishers be involved?
I will talk about the way I create a dog who does include the handler, regardless of the venue or use of the dog - a thinking partner. I will discuss specific exercises that form the
I will discuss specific exercises that form the foundation for any work or performance venue you wish to do with your dog.
I have 3 different spheres of activity in which I address a dog’s foundation training and this includes what I humorously call the sex, drugs and rock and roll talk with the dog. This includes not just controlling the dogs behaviour, but also to be able to have a conversation with the dog about his or her emotional state.
The Live Recording of this is available from your IACP Conference connection!
Here are the videos in order of appearance in the presentation.
This is my Dressage mentor, and friend, Bettina, discussing how important the relationship between human and animal is. It was so kind of her to share this very personal moment with you. Grif is her Belgian Terveren and Islero is her Lusitano stallion. I realize that an Emotional Support Dog is different from a Service Dog, however, I felt this reflected the comfort and Emotional Support that all Service Dogs have on offer.
This is Liz David, a professional trainer working my Lusitano, Desiderio. In this video she is amazingly, asking for half steps to a single counter-canter depart stride, then back into half steps. This takes an incredible amount of training and finesse to accomplish. It shows the elegance and subtlety of R-. This is not done with hands, but using pressures in your back to communicate in a kind and sophisticated way.
My Lesson with Liz on Desi...also showing, on a much lower level : ) the very communicative "pressure on / pressure off nature of R-. Notice, neither of us pull on the reins or kick with the legs. Instead, according to our Teacher, Bettina, we are working to communicate on an advanced level, using the reflexes and native language of the species we are working with.
My colleague, student and friend, Tara McLaughlin, with the incomparable Cindy Lou, a Standard Poodle. Tara uses the mechanics of the Be Still Protocol with precision and grace. Notice the signals the dog offers to communicate that she is not just receiving the communication and connection offered, but is accepting it, by using signals in her own native language that tell us she is releasing tension and relaxing another notch.
In addition to standing still, the yawn, the lip lick (releasing tension in the jaws), the deep sigh, changes of breathing from shallower to deeper breathing, a cleansing breath, slow, deliberate blinking, all of these tell us the dog is releasing tension, relaxing and trusting our touch.
Notice how sensitive and quick, yet calmly, Tara communicates to Cindy Lou, "I liked that!" The release of pressure works as an Event Marker (think of using the release of pressure where you might "click" the behaviour.)
This is an excerpt from my Book/DVD Puppy Problems? No Problem! This short clip is part of the Be Still with a puppy, from the DVD.
This is an excerpt from my Book/DVD Puppy Problems? No Problem! This short clip is part of the Sit Restraint Tolerance with a puppy, from the DVD.
This is an excerpt from my Book/DVD Puppy Problems? No Problem! This short clip is part of the Down Restraint Tolerance with a puppy, from the DVD.
This is an excerpt from my Book/DVD Puppy Problems? No Problem! This short clip is part of the initial phase of the Teaching Concentration (Eye Contact) with a puppy, from the DVD.
This is an excerpt from my online class The Engaged DogTM. This is one of the videos that discuss Impulse Control.
Here are some Bonus materials for you. Just cuz I love you that much... : )
I hope you enjoy them and realize how important it is to have a systematic and deliberate plan and accompanying protocols to teach your dog how to Be Ready to Learn and how to form a special language of communication with your dog.
This is from a clinic I did in Australia. It is me teaching a student Sit Restraint. This is an excerpt from my webinar: Why Restraint Tolerance?
This audio file discusses aspects of Be Still. This is from my webinar Seven Deadly Sins.
In this video, taken from a clinic I did in Australia, I work with a reactive Border Collie and her mum, to help the dog take her arousal down a notch before beginning some dog on dog approaches, using Be Still.
Also, in Australia, but at a different clinic, I work with a group of reactive dogs, to help the dogs relax in each others presence, using a Down Restraint.
No Travel and at your Convenience!
