International Dog Trainer School course syllabus:
The course is based on the latest research and science of dog training and behaviour.
- Dog development, history and ethology
- Dominance and leadership: facts or fiction?
- What is positive training?
- Learning theory dogs
- Positive reinforcement
- Classical and operant conditioning
- Calming signals and body language
- Science based positive dog training
- New findings in dog science and research
- Dog-to-dog communication
- Dog social organization
- Reward-based dog training
- Stress in dogs
- Puppies, adolescent, mature dogs
- Social developments
- Critical periods and hormonal influences
- Pulling on leash/walking on loose leash
- Desensitization
- Behaviour problems:
- Fear:
- Separation anxiety
- Fear of objects and sounds
- Social fears
- Motivation
- Conditioning - dogs with bad experiences
- Solving conflict
- Aggression: dog-dog, dog-other animals, dog-human
- Dogs and childeren
- Dogs and cats
- Re-homed dogs
- Breed characteristics
- Health and nutrition
- Training techniques
- Prevention of aggression
- The instructors role
- How to design courses
- Pedagogy for instructors
- How do adults learn?
- Counseling individuals
- Instruction and observation techniques
- Motivating owners (and yourself)
- Build confidence as a public speaker
- How to make a good seminar
- Course evalutation
- Puppy classes
- Adolescent dog classes
- Mature dog and obedience classes
- Speciality classes and social classes
- Social walks
- How to plan and arrange behavior consultations
- Observation of dog and client
- Making a questionaire and form for consultations
- How to hold consultations: visiting clients or office?
- Starting and running a small business:
- Marketing
- Making your own businessplan
- Economy
Practical training:
Observation of body language and calming signals
Loose leash walking
Passing other dogs and humans nicely
Group work: problem solving of behavior problems
Group work: making a businessplan and marketingplan
Making forms for consultations
Interactive learning with class discussions, films, practical training, cases studies: problem solving, observation of dogs and behaviour. Group work and individual assignments.
The course will be taught in English, and all reading materials and assignments will also be in English.
The course syllabus may be subject to small changes.