DunbarAcademy.com

Barking Up the Right Tree: Results-Based Reward Training
(Full Day Seminar)

Learn the quickest and most effective ways to teach your dog verbally-cued responses, to increase and maintain reliability, and to resolve misbehavior and non-compliance, using only non-aversive means, i.e., by teaching dogs ESL (English as a second Language) and by using your voice, softly, for clear instructions prior to task, and for instructive guidance to get dogs back on track when they err.

This seminar provides a valuable toolkit for dog trainers and insatiably curious dog owners, comprising simple, fast, and powerful methods that will transform your training skills and those of your clients. Objectively quantifying ease, speed, and effectiveness of training is an integral part of the process that makes training science-based. 

CLICK HERE for more information about Ian's Results-Based Reward Training seminar.

Fun & Effective Dog Training  
(90-Minute Lecture)  

Learn how to teach your dog: to eliminate on cue, so you can teach when and where; to Settle Down promptly, quietly, and happily, with a food-stuffed chewtoy, so your dog learns what to chew; to Shush on cue, so your dog learns when to stop alarm or recreational barking; to Jazz-up & Settle Down on cue, so your dog gets the opportunity to occasionally let of steam, when and where appropriate for you; and to greet visitors and unfamiliar people and dogs in an appropriate fashion. Who would have thought that dog training could be this Easy and so much FUN?

Peace in the Pack : The Development of Canine Social Hierarchies
(Full Day Seminar)

Dr. Dunbar spent ten years researching canine sex differences in behaviour. Obviously, differences in mating behaviour but also, secondary sex differences, such as urination postures (of which there are a good dozen), social rank, and dog-dog aggression. At the time, 'dominance hierarchies' were a hot topic. The UC Berkeley dog study searched for instances of physical 'domination' and 'alpha dogs' but instead, observed lots of insecure, growly, middle-ranking, male dogs, numerous short squabbles, but hardly any dog fights. Growing up together (with next to no human intervention), the dogs developed an extremely sophisticated social structure and by and large, lived in group harmony. True 'top dogs' are cool & confident and seldom threaten or fight, they don't need to.

Resolving Dog-Dog Reactivity: The Missing Parts of the Puzzle (with video demos)
(Full Day Seminar)

When dogs are involved in a scuffle, scrap, or fight, owners often lay blame on the other dog and owner, and sometimes on their own dog. However, it takes two to tango, or in this case four: your dog, the other dog, the other owner, and you. When two dogs and their owners approach each other, dogs and owners often become increasingly anxious, stressed, fearful, and in extreme cases, downright scared. If one of the four reacts, all four will erupt, causing the original dog to erupt more and so, create a vicious circle. Owners often feel helpless because they feel there is nothing they can do to change or stop the other dog’s behaviour. But there is, and they can.

This seminar delves into assessing bite history, selecting the best training method for the individual dog, how classical and operant conditioning can work together, turning toys into mega reinforcers, teaching dogs to become less threatening to others, and preventing reactivity appearing in the first place.