Course curriculum

  • 1

    Welcome!

    • Message from the Instructor - Welcome!

    • Course Structure
  • 2

    A Discussion about reactivity

    • Reactivity in Dogs

    • Establishing Realistic Expectations

    • Identifying when to manage or modify a behaviour

    • Body language of fear in dogs - a small poster

    • Counter-Conditioning and De-sensitization

    • Why using only positive-reinforcement techniques is crucial

    • Useful training tools for reactive dogs

    • Keep training sessions short

    • Be selective about who you choose to work with a reactive dog

    • Why are dogs reactive?

    • The physiology effect

    • The Stress Bucket - What is it?

    • De-sensitization, Counter-Conditioning and Thresholds

    • Why we need this information

    • Management of the reactive dog

    • Let's talk about punishment

    • Discussion on Reactivity
  • 3

    Foundational Concepts

    • Ditch the Bowl - What Do We Mean?

    • Ditch the Routine - What Do We Mean?

    • Use a Head Collar?

    • How To Introduce The Head Collar

    • Introduction to Event Marker Training

    • Turning on the Event Marker Word "Yes!"

    • Video Demo - Turning on "Yes!"

    • What Counts as a Reward?

    • Reinforcer Ideas

    • Food Fun Games - Creating MORE Reinforcers Through Food Play

    • Video Demo - Food Fun Games

    • Toy Motivation - Creating More Reinforcers Through Toy Play

    • Video Demo - Toy Motivation

    • Things to Remember When Training Your Dog

    • Newly adopted dog? This eBook will help

    • Summary on Foundational Concepts
  • 4

    The Calmness Triad

    • Introduction to the Calmness Triad

    • What is the Calmness Triad? - a discussion

    • eBook - Calm

    • How to Stuff a Kong and Make it Progressively More Difficult for Your Dog

    • Boundary Games

    • Introduction to Release Words - "Break!"

    • eBook - Boundary Games

    • Demo Video - Boundary Games (Early Stages)

    • Down

    • Demo Video - Down

    • Sit for Everything - Building in a default behaviour

    • Demo video - Sit for Everything
  • 5

    Week 1 - Let the training begin

    • Starting With the Basics - The Attention Game

    • Demo Video - Attention Game (Early Stages)

    • Demo Video - Attention Game (What it Will Eventually Look Like With Practice, building duration)

    • Foundational Concept - The Name Game

    • Demo Video - The Name Game

    • Collar Grabs - being proactive

    • Demo video - Collar Grabs

    • Find it!

    • Demo video - Find it!

    • Mighty Middle

    • Demo video - Mighty Middle

    • Magic Hand

    • Demo Video - Magic Hand

    • Demo Video - Magic Hand - what it will look like once your dog learns it

    • Week 1 Training Checklist
  • 6

    Week 2 Training Games and Concepts

    • Week 2

    • Discussion

    • The Calmness Protocol - promoting more relaxation

    • Boundary Games Steps 7 to 11

    • Demo Video - Boundary Games Steps 7 to 11

    • N.B.N Tips eBook

    • Preparing for outings

    • D.M.T.

    • Demo video - D.M.T.

    • DMT - a deeper look

    • D.M.T. - Review

    • Name Game - adding distractions

    • Name Game with distractions

    • Attention Game - adding distractions

    • Demo Video - Attention Game with challenges

    • Find it! - Review

    • Mighty Middle - increasing skills

    • Demo Video - Middle with distance

    • Magic Hand - building skills

    • Demo Video - Magic Hand - Stage 1

    • Demo Video - Magic Hand - end behaviour

    • A to B - step 1

    • Demo video - A to B - Stage 1

    • Door manners

    • Demo video - Door Manners

    • Demo video - alternative door exercise

    • Week 2 Training Checklist

    • N.B.N. Gamechangers EBook
  • 7

    Week 3 Training Games and Concepts

    • Week 3

    • Boundary Games - remaining steps from eBook

    • Demo Video - Remaining steps in Boundary Games eBook

    • The Mouse Game

    • A to B - Stage 2

    • Demo Video - A to B - Stage 2

    • Demo Video - Magic Hand - adding gentle rocking

    • Middle - adding distance and angles

    • Hand Targets

    • Demo Video - Hand Targets

    • Week 3 Training Checklist
  • 8

    Week 4 - more games for better focus and calmness

    • Week 4

    • The Cone Game

    • Demo video - The Cone Game - using a bowl

    • Demo video - The Cone Game - using a coffee mug

    • Demo Video - The Cone Game - Pylons (traffic cone) - Stage 1

    • Demo Video - The Cone Game - final behaviour

    • Hand Targets - introduce the opposite hand

    • Demo Video - Hand Targets - adding challenge

    • Orientation Game

    • Demo Video - Orientation Game

    • Two Feet Up

    • Demo Video - Two Feet Up

    • Figure 8 walking - Introduction

    • Demo video - Figure 8 Walking - Stage 1

    • Demo video - Figure 8 walking - stage 2

    • The Off Switch Game

    • Demo Video - The Off Switch Game

    • De-sensitization schedule - One year goals

    • Week 4 Training Checklist
  • 9

    Alternative Exercise options - for those days your dog SHOULDN'T go for a walk

    • The Whip it! Game

    • Demo Video - The Whip it! Game

    • The Canine version of Equine Lunging

    • Demo Video - Canine Lunging - beginning stages

    • Demo Video - Canine Lunging - making the circle bigger

    • Demo Video - Canine Lunging - Advanced

    • Figure 8 walking in the backyard
  • 10

    Course conclusion

    • Where to go from here?