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WORKSHOP ONE : Who am I ?

Assessment and Preparation for Training/Rehabilitation
Whether your interest lies in Companion Dog Training, Competitive Dog training or Canine Rehabilitation, before any form of training can begin, you need know who you are going to teach. All owners are different and so are their dogs!
This workshop is dedicated to assessing and preparing dogs and their owners for training. Using specifically designed exercises, Who am I? demonstrates how to ascertain the dog's learning and coping ability, which is essential, before any successful training/rehabilitation can begin.
Canine Communication is one of the first aspects covered. When you understand how dogs communicate with each other, communicating with and understanding them is so much easier! How the dogs learns to communicate canine, from the nest through to developing social skills as an under-socialised adult is shown through video footage.
Who am I?, offers delegates the opportunity, with the aid of rescue dogs kindly 'donated' for the workshop, to learn from 'the real thing'! Between eight and twelve dogs are worked over this weekend. Emphasis is placed on the assessment of each individual dog, regardless of their problem, which can range from basic control to severe aggression.
Probably the best description of this workshop comes from delegates who have already attended :
'Thank you for such a wonderful, informative workshop. All the talks in the world can not demonstrate that almost imperceptible signal, that some dogs give, that they are going to take action. You can not learn that from books or talks – you have to see it, feel the emotion, and recognise for yourself what the dog is trying so hard to tell you.’
 
 

WORKSHOP TWO

Rehabilitation Exercises & ‘Stooge’ Dogs

Rehabilitation -

'To restore to a 'normal' life through training'
What is 'normal' ? As each case is so indiviual, we feel that the term 'normal' has no place in Canine Rehabilitation. It is more appropriate to describe Canine Rehabilitation as - to restore to a 'mutually acceptable' life through training. Whilst Line Training is an essential element of Canine Rehabilitation, there are also several other exercises that can be used to develop a Rehabilitation Programme to it's fullest potential.
 
Self-control exercises such as - The Static Retrieve, The Chase Recall, Give and Take. Exercises such as : The Hide, The Go See, The Answer Back, T-Training. Originally developed specifically for the dog with anti-social behaviour towards people, these particular exercises can be adapted for other anti-social behaviours. Exercises designed to ascertain the dog's learning & coping ability such as : Can't Cope,Won't Cope?
 
The Rehabilitation Exercises Workshop demonstrates the teaching and application of these exercises within a Rehabilitation Programme. It also demonstrates how to adapt each exercise to suit an individual dog/owner's needs and how to address problems that may occur when teaching the 'more difficult' pupils!
 

What is a ‘STOOGE’ dog?
In Canine Rehabilitation, the term ‘stooge’ dog is used for a dog who is ‘used’ to draw out the anti-social behaviour of subject dogs in a safe and controlled situation. Each stooge dog will have different qualities. That is, some dogs are excellent ‘ice-breakers’ but lack tutoring skills. Other dogs excel in tutoring skills but are not strong enough to work as ‘ice-breakers’.
Stooge dogs play an essential part in the Rehabilitation Support Group and have to be chosen carefully. This workshop covers all aspects of working and ‘training’ stooge dogs. From care of the stooge dog, assessing their limitations and individual skills to choosing the best Rehabilitation Support Group for each individual dog.
 
 

WORKSHOP THREE

The Rehabilitation Support Group
The Rehabilitation Support Group is a natural progression from one- to-one training within the Rehabilitation Programme. At the Rehabilitation Support Group each person is encouraged and supported by the other members. Having a dog with, or having had, a problem makes you one of the majority not one of the minority!
 

The whole concept of the Rehabilitation Support Group is just that - to offer support.
 
This workshop covers all aspects of forming a Rehabilitation Support Group. From care of the ‘core group members’, assessing their individual skills through to forming the ‘core group’ itself.
 
Delegates will be invited to bring their own dogs with them. On assessment your dog will have the opportunity to work with trained ‘stooge dogs’ in a ‘Support Group’ environment.
 
You will also have the opportunity to observe an established Rehabilitation Support Group with dogs who have worked together previously. You will be able to witness how, when the right ‘team,’ is chosen the group work together when the ‘subject’ dog is introduced.
 
 

Naughty but Nice ! Workshops

Not all dogs are suited to working within a normal Pet Dog Training environment so how do you help the dogs with special needs? The Naughty but Nice workshop is offered to Pet Dog Training Clubs around the country and offers advice for individual difficult cases.

From training problems to dealing with anti-social behaviour, these workshops offer advice not only to the owner but also to the trainers in how to employ the suggested rehabilitation programme within their own facilities.
 

One of the most important aspects of working with the public is just that – the public!
Each dog and owner is an individual and should be treated as such. At The Naughty but Nice workshop delegates will have the opportunity to observe these special needs dogs and their owners.
Delegates will be offered the opportunity to invite their own clients to attend with their dogs if they would like advice on any particular case. Very often, simply having another trainer reiterate what you have already advised your client can have an astounding effect!

Full support is given to both client and trainer after the workshop until the problem is resolved.
 
 

Rehabilitation Support Workshops
 
Based around Clicker Training principles, these workshops are run on a monthly basis. Any dog from those with minor training problems to those dogs with severe anti-social behavioural problems. Handler places are restricted to twelve, thus enabling each dog and handler to gain full benefit from the day. Spectators are welcome. Dogs with training problems are welcome to attend without private assessment. Dogs with anti-social behavioural problems are assessed on an individual level before attending. The day itself is very informal and gives owners the chance to share their experiences with other people who also know how it feels to be the owner of a canine delinquent!
 
 

Training Days for Rescue Organisations
Angela has been involved in dog welfare for over twenty years. Her main area of expertise is in aggression problems. Whilst running her own organisation she worked with dogs due for destruction because of severe behavioural problems. Over 350 dogs were accepted, rehabilitated and rehomed within the five years she operated. She now works closely with several National Rescue Organisations, assisting staff at the centres with their more difficult residents.

These workshops teach kennel staff members how to successfully apply rehabilitation programmes in a rescue kennel environment. With one national charity 75% of their long term dogs were rehomed within four months of her Staff Training Programme!

The emphasis on these days is to develop the skills of the rescue centres own staff in assessing, rehabilitating and rehoming their more difficult dogs. Angela is always available, by telephone or E-mail for free advice to any dog rescue organisation.
 
 

An Introduction to Clicker Training
A practical day designed to introduce Clicker Training, the benefits of, how it works and how to apply it. Angela has already run these workshops for The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association at five of their main centres. She also runs follow up workshops on 'problem solving' based on Clicker Training principles, tailored to suit the specific needs of Guide Dog Training.

Angela believes that actions speak louder than words, hence the day is run very much on a practical level. Each element of Clicker Training is demonstrated rather than just described. Up to five dogs with training problems are worked on the day. Working with dogs who display anti-social behaviour are not worked on the day due to the nature of the workshop.