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List 2 behaviors you want to train your dog to perform. Carolyn will suggest
solutions, map out a training strategy to meet your goals, and help you
practice. You will be given specific, supervised instruction, as well as the
opportunity to practice on your own— if you and the dog seem to be able to
benefit from independent practice. This clinic will go into more complete
detail than the other two clinics regarding the impact various training tactics
probably have on the dog’s natural physiology and brain neurological networks;
therefore attendance is required both days.
The workshop will feature training exercises around livestock as well as
training exercises that involve no livestock. No previous herding or obedience
training is required.
Although all shepherds start herding dogs by allowing them to chase livestock,
dogs are only “chasing,” not herding, if they continue to ignore their
handlers. However, if a dog is totally focused on the handler but ignores
livestock, that dog is also useless as a herding dog. At this clinic, owners
will learn secrets of shepherds about training. Owners will learn how to use
and modify a dog’s predatory behavior circuits to gain calmer, more
controllable, more obedient dogs—in herding and at home—regardless of venue or
distraction—in other words, to “shepherd the Buddha in the beast.”
The workshop will feature training exercises around livestock, with and without
dogs, as well as training exercises that involve no livestock. Positive
reinforcement--operant and associative conditioning techniques will be
emphasized. Positive reinforcement, toys, food, leashes, long lines, sight
cues, aural cues, and sight barriers, physical and pens and fences will be used
as appropriate to train animals/prevent them from harm.
Owners will be taught techniques and exercises to elicit calm, appropriate
canine behavior and focus for performance venues (and also for teaching their
pets to be good at home), how to teach directional cues, how to establish fast
lie down/stand stay behaviors and increase their durations, how to get strong,
(reliable, and fast) recalls from dogs. If any dogs are advanced in their
herding training and are experiencing a herding weakness, training suggestions
about how to deal with that specific issue will be made.
This workshop is open to owners and dogs (dogs should be at least 6 months of
age) of all breeds. No previous herding or obedience training is required. A
memo about what to bring and how to prepare for the clinic will be provided one
week before the clinic.
Whereas participating dogs might be somewhat reactive towards other dogs,
people, livestock, and/or moving objects, dogs with a recent history of serious
aggression problems should attend Help!!! My Dog Is
Aggressive!!! or the equivalent. Please contact
Carolyn Wilki if you have questions.
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Shepherding the Buddha in the Beast
Clinic Dates 2008 |
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Register Here
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Session I. Apr 12 - Apr 13. Sat - Sun. 2-day session, 9am-5pm.
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