International Shelter Programme for Applied Canine Studies (ISPACS)

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Allyson Rodgers
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Positive practices Meeting the needs of Rescue Centre staff and dogs

1 Page 1 International Shelter Programme for Applied Canine Studies (ISPACS) Understanding Real-Life Skills Improving Staff Skills Positive practices Meeting the needs of Rescue Centre staff and dogs Improving Dogs' Skills Unique Dynamic Hands-on Holistic Theory and practical

Page 2 International Shelter Programme for Applied Canine Studies (ISPACS) Understanding Real-Life Skills We are really excited to be able to offer rescue centre / shelter staff an opportunity to

Often bureaucracy, and the daily grind of tasks such as cleaning leave little time for helping animals to improve their skills in order that they can have a better chance to be rehomed.

2 Page 2 International Shelter Programme for Applied Canine Studies (ISPACS) Understanding Real-Life Skills We are really excited to be able to offer rescue centre / shelter staff an opportunity to further their understanding in our cutting-edge approach to Real Life Skills. We understand the problems running a shelter can bring. Often bureaucracy, and the daily grind of tasks such as cleaning leave little time for helping animals to improve their skills in order that they can have a better chance to be rehomed. Along with canine behaviour and psychology, practical handling and Real-Life Skills, we look at shelter practices, making the most of the skills both staff and volunteers can offer, improving rehoming and canine wellbeing. One of our unique features is that we help staff and dogs to develop skills. These are skills for real life: genuine skills that dogs and their handlers need to be able to live more harmoniously within both canine and human societies. Key concepts include awareness, analysis and competence. Unfortunately, there is a current trend to interpret the term Life Skills in a way that translates into a modified form of conventional training. It is a step in the right direction to identify skills and in doing so move away from repetitive exercises. However, there is still a very great tendency to continue society s myth that dogs should deal with absolutely everything that life throws at them no matter what their ability may be, and to learn superficial behaviours that cover over the gaps. Our view is that through understanding, identifying and teaching skills relevant to the individual s character and emotional, psychological and environmental circumstances, the true potential of the individual will develop more quickly. We have distinguished our concept of Life Skills from others by the addition of the word Real : the skills that both dog and owner need for themselves and that are realistic for the individual. The beauty of what we do is in its simplicity. Understanding the basics of key human skills such as awareness and handling along with key concepts can empower staff and owner alike to make a difference in every aspect of daily life.

Page 3 Using a combination of strategies, the handler has the best chance of helping their dog and

This consists of management and handling, which includes awareness, space and time teaching which

Handling Skills Problem Solving Skills Rescue Shelter Rehabilitation Stress reduction Rehoming and

develop a good understanding about its application in daily life.

3 Page 3 Using a combination of strategies, the handler has the best chance of helping their dog and others in any situation. This consists of management and handling, which includes awareness, space and time teaching which includes choices and boundaries, opportunity and consistency Social Skills: pairing & grouping Staff Handling Skills Problem Solving Skills Rescue Shelter Rehabilitation Stress reduction Rehoming and aftercare The ISPACS is an opportunity for you and your staff to take this knowledge further and to develop a good understanding about its application in daily life. This course is not currently accredited. However, there is a possibility that an independent accreditation could be arranged if so desired. Participants must be prepared to actively participate in practical sessions during the course.

Page 4 International Shelter Programme for Applied Canine Studies Programme of Study Area 1: Reading dogs: Body Language & Communication An introduction to ethology and instincts Canine observation

physical & mental health Getting back into balance Area 3: Applied Life Balance for dogs in your care (Study type: mixed) Practical application of how to achieve, maintain and evolve life balance

4 Page 4 International Shelter Programme for Applied Canine Studies Programme of Study Area 1: Reading dogs: Body Language & Communication An introduction to ethology and instincts Canine observation Understanding the escalation towards signs of fear, defence & aggression Area 2: Life Balance Theory The physiology of stress Recognition and causes of health & behaviour issues Influences on physical & mental health Getting back into balance Area 3: Applied Life Balance for dogs in your care (Study type: mixed) Practical application of how to achieve, maintain and evolve life balance Steps to reduce stress within shelters Considering an individual approach for stress reduction for specific dogs Area 4: Life Stages & Dogs Needs (Study type: mixed, practical with case studies) Puppies, adolescents, mature dogs, and older dogs and associated issues Social and behavioural development Programmes for quality socialisation Area 5 Practical Handling Skills (Study type: Practical bias) General handling and awareness Lead work Handling for problem solving Understanding and working with challenging behaviours such as displays of aggression & defence

Page 5 Area 6 Kennel Management & Enrichment Understanding enrichment and how to use it Examining kennel routines for efficiency Prioritising handling within the kennels for

Practical bias) Improving and consolidating staff handling Practical application of enrichment, how best to use it, and its function in helping dogs to gain a variety of

Social Skills, Walking Dogs (Study type: Practical bias) Introduction to skill building whilst walking dogs Individual walks Social walks Area 9 Intro to Real-Life Skills

5 Page 5 Area 6 Kennel Management & Enrichment Understanding enrichment and how to use it Examining kennel routines for efficiency Prioritising handling within the kennels for staff safety and progression of the dog rather than management Ensuring dogs needs are met (follow on from Area 4) Area 7 Enrichment: Practical & Handling (Study type: Practical bias) Improving and consolidating staff handling Practical application of enrichment, how best to use it, and its function in helping dogs to gain a variety of Real-Life Skills Area 8 Intro to Real-Life Skills part 1. Social Skills, Walking Dogs (Study type: Practical bias) Introduction to skill building whilst walking dogs Individual walks Social walks Area 9 Intro to Real-Life Skills part 2. Social Skills, Pairing & Grouping Analysis of canine interaction Introduction to Project Dogs Optimising pairings and groupings Area 10 Applied Pairing & Grouping: practical analysis and application (Study type: Practical bias) Initial canine introductions Analysis of specific pairing and groupings

Page 6 Area 11 Problem Behaviour & Rehabilitation Understanding problem behaviour Rehabilitation plans Implementation of rehabilitation, how to achieve this and who to involve Area 12 Rehoming &

6 Page 6 Area 11 Problem Behaviour & Rehabilitation Understanding problem behaviour Rehabilitation plans Implementation of rehabilitation, how to achieve this and who to involve Area 12 Rehoming & Aftercare Examining effective rehoming practices. Assisting new owners; help and advice Aftercare Area 13 People Skills & Involvement of Volunteers Optimising people s strengths; improving skills Quality of volunteers Ongoing training and supervision of volunteers Area 14 Project Dog Presentation Individual review of Project Dogs Building on Project Dogs

Page 7 ISPACS: Course Tutors Sheila Harper BA, BEd Sheila Harper is a professional teacher of canine behaviour, a behaviour counsellor and therapist.

Netherlands. Sheila has a large amount of handling and behavioural experience as well as theoretical knowledge and has worked with dogs in a professional capacity since the late 1980s.

7 Page 7 ISPACS: Course Tutors Sheila Harper BA, BEd Sheila Harper is a professional teacher of canine behaviour, a behaviour counsellor and therapist. Together Sheila and Winny teach the International Programme for Applied Canine Studies, which has been accepted for independent accreditation by the OCN in the UK, Austria, Switzerland and the Netherlands. Sheila has a large amount of handling and behavioural experience as well as theoretical knowledge and has worked with dogs in a professional capacity since the late 1980s. She has lived with a variety of rescue dogs where management, rehabilitation and skill-building have been essential, and she has a great deal of hands-on experience of problem solving both individually and within a group. She taught in a middle school for over 20 years, bringing many skills to her work with dogs. Sheila has practical experience of many dog-related problems including aggression, destruction, stereotypic behaviours, and is particularly knowledgeable about fear and stress. A large part of her experience has been with problem dogs, mainly those of a nervous or fearful disposition or those showing aggression (or defensive behaviour as she prefers to call it). She has regularly taken on dogs from rescue kennels, often from Border Collie Trust GB, and usually those with the most severe problems. These dogs have often lived with her and her own dogs as part of the family, usually for several months. Sheila has spent a great deal of time rehabilitating dogs and teaching them life skills in order that they may be re-homed more quickly. In recent years Sheila has found herself becoming increasingly involved in aspects of health aspects and complementary therapies, and is qualified in Applied Zoopharmacognosy and canine Emmett therapy. As so many behaviour problems are health related, these are vital additional skills. Sheila is an international speaker lecturing extensively in a variety of countries, and reaching audiences in Austria, Denmark, Germany, Holland, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the USA where she was a speaker at the APDT conference in Kansas City, also speaking regularly for the PDTE. Brief history of membership of canine-related organisations: In the late 1990's Sheila became an associate of Turid Rugaas. She was also a founder member of the Pet Dog Trainers of Europe (PDTE), having been granted honorary membership in Her membership of various organisations have included the UKRCB (now TCBTS), APDT, NADOI and the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants.

Winny has worked through numerous problems with rescue dogs, rehabilitating them to aid their life quality.

8 Page 8 Winny Boerman B.AppSc A research analyst in molecular biology, Winny is also a qualified Veterinary Nurse. She has been working with dogs since the late 1980 s, spending several years as the manager of a rescue shelter in the Netherlands. Winny has worked through numerous problems with rescue dogs, rehabilitating them to aid their life quality. With a deep understanding of the canine species along with a naturally empathetic and compassionate view, and handling skills second to none, Winny systematically applies herself to practical situations. She is completely committed to the ideals of living the philosophy inherent in Real-Life Skills that she has developed together with Sheila. Dogs recognise and relate to her calm, gentle and unassuming manner and she is a role model to all. Winny s particular interests are in handling, health and healing, problem solving and working with natural abilities. She encourages dogs to regain skills through confidence building and quality socialisation in order to help them better fit into society. She is qualified in Applied Zoopharmacognosy and Canine Emmett, regularly improving the health and well-being of all kinds of dogs through the use of herbs and essential oils. Much of Sheila and Winny s knowledge has come through observing the interactions of the dogs around them and learning how they deal with difficult situations themselves. They use this knowledge and the dogs own language to help resolve conflicts as they them both, and they tackle problems with an underlying consideration of emotional needs. By regularly working in a practical way with students, clients and their dogs they keep their feet on the ground in the real world. Winny and Sheila have been working together since They regularly travel to deliver the independently accredited International Programme for Applied Canine Studies, and the International Shelter Programme for Applied Canine Studies in the UK, Austria, Switzerland and the Netherlands as well as delivering seminars in a range of European countries. They are currently working towards completion of a DVD on handling skills, along with the foundation of a membership organisation: the International Association of Ethical Canine Professionals.

Page 9 International Shelter Programme for Applied Canine Studies Tuition Group PowerPoint presentations Group, team and paired discussion Individual coaching Group, team and individual help with

flexibility to deal with requests and to meet individual student s needs Achievements within Animal Shelters Sheila and Winny have been working on an ongoing consultancy basis with animal shelters in

9 Page 9 International Shelter Programme for Applied Canine Studies Tuition Group PowerPoint presentations Group, team and paired discussion Individual coaching Group, team and individual help with case studies Handouts Suggested reading list Practical homework designed to improve the life quality of specific rescue dogs relevant to each rescue organisation representative Personal approach, flexibility to deal with requests and to meet individual student s needs Achievements within Animal Shelters Sheila and Winny have been working on an ongoing consultancy basis with animal shelters in Austria since 2011, and have been teaching the ISPACS to nine animal shelters within the area of Lower Austria. They are also involved with rescue organisations within the UK, including Millstream Animal Shelter, Border Collie Trust, RSPCA, and Rudi s Rescue. Endorsements from key shelters could be provided upon request. Results have been remarkable, amongst them: High levels of stress reduction through management, screening and improved staff practices, resulting in dramatic reduction in veterinary fees Improved handling practices Guiding rehabilitation, support with working through behaviour issues Improved rehoming practices

10 Page 10 Improved rehoming figures, including successfully rehoming all long-term dogs (those in the shelter longer than 5 years), when 75% of the existing dogs were long term

11 Page 11 Hosting the ISPACS There are three options: 1. As a rescue organisation, you can host us for an in-house ISPACS, and you can choose how many students you wish to be a part of the ISPACS, up to a maximum of 15. Some elements of our curriculum may be negotiable depending upon your individual needs. 2. You may prefer to host us and invite students from other rescue organisations throughout the UK and abroad. In this case, we would ask a fixed fee, but would leave it up to you to decide upon the course fees for each attending student. 3. A shared hosting may be preferable for you. For this option, please contact us at sheila@sheilaharper.co.uk Sponsorship Several rescue centres request sponsorship from within their local business community, and there are many websites which can help you to target appropriately. or may be a good starting point.

12 Page 12 Venues for the ISPACS Each area of study normally takes place within the hosting rescue shelter. However, if this is not a viable option, it may be necessary for the hosting shelter to make arrangements for the use of a suitable local venue: seminar room hall, for example. For further details of what kind of venue would be deemed suitable, please contact us: sheila@sheilaharper.co.uk During some areas of study, it will be necessary to ask for the presence of one or more rescue dogs. This needs careful discussion to ensure that the dog(s) concerned are suitable, dependent upon the dog s state of health and resources. All handling is kind and gentle, and each dog will be taken into account as an individual. For practical blocks, it may be necessary to use a larger, enriched area than the hosting shelter may have available. Suitable natural environments should ideally be located as close as possible to the hosting shelter s premises.

KCAI Scheme Online Assessments: Criteria

KCAI Scheme Online Assessments: Criteria 1 Welfare, care and needs of the dog This assessment tests your knowledge and understanding of canine welfare, care and needs of dogs in relation to their life stages from puppy to adult. the physical