North Coast Dogs Presents Deconstructing the Growl: Perspectives on Canine Aggression Dr. Sophia Yin, MS, DVM and Sarah Kalnajs, BA, CDBC, CPDT
North Coast Dogs Presents Deconstructing the Growl: Perspectives on Canine Aggression Dr. Sophia Yin, MS, DVM and Sarah Kalnajs, BA, CDBC, CPDT DATES & LOCATIONS March 6,7: March 27, 28: April 24, 25: May 15,16: May 22,23: September 25, 26: October 9,10: Tucson, AZ New Orleans, LA Ft Lauderdale, FL Charlotte, NC Riverside, CA Minneapolis, MN Portland, OR
SESSIONS Saturday Deconstructing the Growl: Perspectives on Canine Aggression Saturday Morning, 9 12:30 Dr. Sophia Yin Saturday Afternoon, 1:30 5:00 Sarah Kalnajs What Giraffes, Dogs, and Chickens Have in Common: Training Techniques that Work for All Creatures Understanding how pets learn and think: this is the science of training. Learning how to reward the right behavior at the right time: this is the art of training. Combine the two, and you ll be able to successfully modify behavior in your dog or cat as well as a horse, your housemates, or hippos. Recognizing Brewing Aggression Problems in Dogs Have you ever wondered if you were seeing signs of aggression in a dog? In this session, you ll learn the canine body language that shows signs of fear and anxiety, how seemingly innocuous behaviors can quickly progress to aggression, and what behaviors to avoid so that you don t make the dog s behavior worse. Where Did It All Go Wrong? Have you ever wondered just what happened to make that dog the way he is today? In this session, you ll learn which factors in a dog s life, environment, and sensory system contribute to the development of aggression. With case studies and videos, Ms. Kalnajs shows the inappropriate body language that humans use that exacerbate fear and aggression; the early warning signs in puppies that let you know a problem behavior is forming; and the types of modification that can appear to work in the moment but can actually make the dog s behavior much worse. Almost everything in a dog s world affects his behavior learn what you can do to make his life and his relationships with humans happy and healthy. Rapid Reversal of Brewing Aggression Problems in Dogs Flooding, desensitization, classical counterconditioning, and operant counterconditioning: these are must-have tools of the trade! Dr. Yin will discuss the pros and cons of each method; how to address a dog s underlying emotional state in order to rapidly reverse brewing aggression problems; and the common mistakes in behavior modification plans and how to avoid them.
SESSIONS Sunday Deconstructing the Growl: Perspectives on Canine Aggression Sunday Morning, 9 12:30 Sarah Kalnajs Sunday Afternoon, 1:30 5:00pm Dr. Sophia Yin Fixing What Went Wrong The first rule in evaluating an aggressive dog is to keep yourself safe. Learn how to safely enter a home, watch for signs that suggest you may be in danger, and teach pet owners how to set up safe zones for the dog. Video clips of dog evaluations in shelters and homes lay the foundation of knowledge you ll need to do it right. Ms. Kalnajs will then discuss the five foundation behaviors that are essential for modifying aggressive behavior in dogs. With video clips, the instructor demonstrates how to use the five behaviors in difficult cases, such as when a dog-aggressive dog sees another dog. After this course, you ll feel prepared to face even the most difficult aggression case! Dominance vs. Leadership: Why Wolf Behavior and Dominance Theory are Poor Models for Understanding Behavior in Dogs Whether treating separation anxiety, fear aggression, or general unruly behavior in dogs, most trainers believe the solution to better behavior involves teaching the owner to be a good leader. But does leading require dominance? No. In this session, you ll learn what leadership and dominance really are and will see a simple, structured way that humans can be leaders without bossing animals around. The Many Faces of Fear and Aggression: Taking Your Techniques to the Next Level Have you ever had a dog that was perfectly fine greeting one dog or person but became a growling monster when greeting another? In this session, you ll learn how fear can manifest in different ways, with different dogs, and in different contexts. Take away a variety of refined techniques to address fear and aggression issues in dogs. If Punishment s So Bad, Why Does it Work for Trainers on TV? Whether or not you feel punishment has a place in training it s important to be aware of the many unintended negative effects. With video clips, case studies, and a deep body of scientific research as evidence, Dr Yin will explore the potential adverse effects of punishment. In addition, attendees will learn what factors to consider prior to using punishment and how to determine whether it is working appropriately or making the situation worse.
Speaker Bios Deconstructing the Growl: Perspectives on Canine Aggression About Sophia Yin, DVM, MS Sophia Yin is a veterinarian and applied animal behaviorist who has made a long-lasting, positive impact on the world of animal behavior through her teaching, writing, and research. She received her veterinary degree from the University of California at Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and earned her master s degree in animal science from the same university. Dr. Yin has served as researcher, university instructor, award-winning pet columnist for The San Francisco Chronicle, and the author of dozens of articles on animal behavior. When she s not training her Jack Russell Terrier and Bengal Cat to be amazing companions, Sophia makes behavior-consultation house calls, works at San Francisco Veterinary Specialists as an applied animal behaviorist, writes for several veterinary and pet-owner magazines, writes and publishes her own books, and lectures internationally on animal behavior. For more information, visit www.drsophiayin.com About Sarah Kalnajs, BA, CDBC, CPDT Sarah Kalnajs is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant and Certified Pet Dog Trainer with more than ten years of experience working in canine behavior, training, and research. She is the owner of Blue Dog Training & Behavior in Madison, Wisconsin, where she provides behavior counseling, pet sitting, and dog training services. A popular speaker and freelance writer, Sarah presents seminars nationwide on topics relating to dog training and behavior. She is the producer of the popular and highly praised DVD series, Language of Dogs and Am I Safe. When she s not writing, teaching, volunteering, or working with pet owners, Sarah loves to relax at home with her eight dogs and two cats. For more information about Sarah, visit her website at www.bluedogtraining.com
Sign Up & Contact Informatiom Two ways to sign up On the web: Via phone: 216-221-DOGS (3647) Registration Both days: $240.00 Single day registration: $150.00 Registration fee includes lunch CEUs CCPDT, IAABC (13 CEU s), possibly RACE. More Information For questions, call (866) 353-DOGS (3647), visit, or email ed@northcoastdogs.com