This two-day workshop is broken down into 4 components and designed to walk participants through the process of developing and implementing a Canine Behaviour Enrichment program within a shelter or kennel environment. Canine Foundations is proud to offer 20.5 CCPDT (Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers) and 20.5 IAABC (International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants) Continuing Education Credits for this course.
Day One
Canine Enrichment – Building a Foundation
This course is an introduction to developing Canine Behaviour Enrichment programs within Animal Shelters and foster homes. During the first half of the course participants learn about the effects of long-term kenneling, common behaviour problems observed in shelters, warning signs of escalating behaviour, and how to evaluate quality of life. In the second portion of the class participants learn how to develop a canine enrichment program to improve quality of life, reduce stress, and promote a calm, relaxing living environment for the dogs in care.
Topics to be covered include:
- Minimizing Stress Through Environmental Control
- Introducing Environmental Enrichment
- Goal Setting & Program Tracking
- Basic Learning Theory & Humane Training Practices
Canine Behaviour Enrichment – Phase 1
This course provides environmental enrichment suggestions, designed to increase the dog’s mental stimulation, promote the development of healthy coping mechanisms and provide a constructive energy outlet. The practical portion provides students the opportunity to put the knowledge gained in the theory portion into practice. Participants will work, under the guidance of a Behaviour Consultant, to sharpen their skills in implementing the first phase of the program.
Topics to be covered are:
- Utilizing motivators as rewards in positive reinforcement training
- Principals of capturing and shaping positive behaviours
- Introduction of classical conditioning to cage approach and leashing
- Teaching bite inhibition & respect for personal space
- Implementing loose leash training
- Shaping calm behaviour to access attention
Day Two
Canine Behaviour Enrichment – Phase 2
This course will teach participants how to promote healthy dog to human play skills using fun, command and boundary building games in addition to building the dog’s command repertoire. The practical portion of this course allows participants the opportunity to put the knowledge gained in theory portion into practice, by working with the dogs in care. Participants will work, under the guidance of a Behaviour Consultant, to sharpen their skills in implementing the second phase of the behaviour enrichment program. This course includes a homework outline.
Topics to be covered are:
- Facilitating safe, structured play with humans
- Mentally and emotionally stimulating command building games
- Introduction of the SETTLE command to calm aroused play
- Teaching the command LEAVE IT & TOUCH
- Building on loose leash manners & Conditioning an attention cue
- Teaching SIT and STAY with distractions
Canine Behaviour Enrichment – Phase 3
Participants build on; healthy dog to human play skills, building the command repertoire and implement a gradual exposure and desensitization program to novel items using play and positive rewards. The practical of this course allows participants the opportunity to practice their new skills with the dogs in care. Participants will work, under the guidance of a Behaviour Consultant, to sharpen their abilities in implementing the fourth phase of program.
Topics to be covered are:
- Desensitizing to motion & Desensitization to novel items
- Introduction to home living
- Additional command building games
- Building on leash manners
- Teaching the DOWN & STAY command
- Introduction to body handling
Dates & Locations
For information on ordering a private course, please contact our Corporate Training Manager at (647) 284-7584