Course Details
"The way the course is run with video and written explanation means it is great for new or experienced owners. It is also suitable for dog trainers that want to join with a puppy. The format allows flexibility for the student to fit it in around life, and join a great community of trainers. The content has really focused on important life skills and has introduced new exercises each week. The delivery is in a very easy to read format, and being able to upload videos is really great for self development. Grisha and the TAs are very helpful and supportive and have done an excellent job in sharing their knowledge. I would highly recommend this course for any level of handler." - Katey A
There are many things that puppy parents, trainers, breeders, groomers, and vets can do to prepare puppies for life with humans. Empowered, choice-based training is the core of humane care in zoos, but this kind of care hasn't quite made it into our homes. By giving puppies the opportunity to learn that their behavior is effective, we can make them more resilient and able to handle the crazy human world.
“Research demonstrates that to the greatest extent possible, all animals should be empowered to use their behavior to control significant events in their lives” - Susan Friedman, Ph.D.
Puppy classes were a big leap forward in the socialization of our dogs, but too much time is still spent on 'obedience.' This course will cover essential skills for puppies and their human families as we socialize and train the puppies to choose to play our silly games like grooming, vet care, etc. Includes BAT for puppies, empowered counter-conditioning techniques, and clicker training, among other things. The dog-geek discussions are primarily meant for professional dog trainers, but the how-to portion will be accessible to 'regular' puppy parents.
Gold level students: you should either have a puppy of your own or have a client/friend/shelter with a puppy that you have access to multiple times per week. If the puppy is not yours, the puppy's owner should be willing to participate in homework and lifestyle changes during the 6 weeks of this course. The puppy should ideally be 6-20 weeks old at the beginning of the course to really get the most out of it, but older puppies, up through 10 months, will be accepted for a working spot.
Gold level participants can earn 21 CPDT CEUs or 20 IAABC CEUs by fully participating. Other levels will not be able to earn CEUs.
This course will be taught by Grisha Stewart, MA, CPDT-KA, KPACTP and the following Teaching Assistants (TAs) who will help Grisha give feedback on videos and answer questions. Both have been Team Leaders at Grisha's 5-day BAT Instructor Courses and are experienced puppy class instructors. Click here for short bios.
- Carly Loyer, CBATI (Ph.D. Student, trainer in Washington) [main TA]
- Kristin Burke, CBATI, CPDT-KA (trainer in California) [as-needed TA]
Registration
Next class starts: February 1, 2015
Registration starts: January 22, 2015 10am PST
Late Registration ends: February 15, 2015 9am PST
Enrollment limits: Gold: 10 students, Silver: 25 students, Bronze: unlimited. If you are interested in bronze level, you can sign up any time during the registration period.
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For answers to commonly asked questions see our FAQ page.
Syllabus
We explore the following topics during this course (subject to change until the course begins):
Lesson 1: Philosophy
- The perfect dog
- Philosophy of Empowerment
- 2-way Communication with your dog, including body language
- Training: Autowatch
- Training: Take treats gently
- Training: potty outside
Lesson 2: Social Skills
- People
- Dogs
- Other species
- Play, conflict resolution, and social consequences
- BAT leash skills
- Training: Touch (nose to hand)
- Training: Name
Lesson 3: Needs
- What does your puppy need?
- How do you know?
- How needs lead to problems
- Frustration Tolerance
- Food puzzles
- Training: Targeting a Post-It or yoghurt lid
- Training: Crate
Lesson 4: Cooperation in Care
- What cooperation looks like and how to get it
- Grooming (nail file, brush)
- Vet Care (syringe, inspection, wrap)
- Going for a walk
- Training: Head through harness
- Training: Restraint
- Training: Shake (paw)
Lesson 5: The Environment
- Surfaces
- Sounds
- Moving objects
- Balance & proprioception
- Parallel play
- Training: Stay / stop
- Training: Targeting head into objects (For example, Elizabethan collar or cone, muzzle, cereal box)
Lesson 6: Problem Solving Skills
- Reminder of where problems come from
- Which skills help with which problems
- Another dose of philosophy
- Training: Bring/drop
- Training: Food bowl
- Training: Recall
Prerequisites and Equipment
Prerequisites:
None, but BAT 101 is recommended (not required) as a prerequisite or co-requisite, especially for dog trainers and behaviorists.
Equipment for Gold Level students:
- Puppy (yours or someone else's, see description for details)
- Treats (variety, from kibble through really good stuff)
- Clicker (using a verbal marker is ok if you'd prefer)
- Interactive toys that the puppy likes
- Food puzzles (toys you can put food into)
- Grooming tools (brush or something like the Zoom Groom for short-haired breeds, sturdy nail file - normally used with people for fake nails, nail clippers and optional blow dryer or dremel)
- Vet and emergency tools (syringe with no needle, cotton balls, ace bandange or tape, cone like the Comfy Cone or Cloud Collar in a size your dog will need as an adolescent, basket muzzle - optional but recommended)
- Various objects for acclimation to surfaces (to be described in the course, we will have options)
- Access to other vaccinated dogs or puppies
- Post-it note or yoghurt lid (for targeting)
- Video camera, a way to film yourself training, and a way to upload your videos.
Required Reading
Please read in advance if possible, but I will be referring to this book throughout the course: "The Official Ahimsa Dog Training Manual: A Practical, Force-Free Guide to Problem Solving & Manners." Gold-level participants will receive a free copy of this as an e-book. Others can click on the name of the book, above, to order (available as an ebook or paperback). It is also available to order in Spanish.
