Each 8-week mentorship provides mentees with ongoing online chat, video exchanges, documentation, links, and scheduled weekly live chats via video meeting. Mentees can discuss their own cases or any others, ask questions about application and theory, ask for tips and advice on overcoming specific challenges, and be guided toward even higher levels of professionalism and effectiveness. The mentors are there for the mentees, and offer all help and discussion that each mentee finds useful. Shelter dogs face special challenges and skills both in the shelter and once placed into homes. Trish McMillan Loehr, MS, CDBC, ACCBC, CPDT-KA, offers a mentorship for people working with those dogs, even in the most challenging cases, both in the shelter and in the home. Trish's extensive experience working for the ASPCA in hoarding and fight busts and as an international consultant to shelters, along with her work in training and behavior as a private consultant will allow you access to one of the most qualified experts in the field to help you with your own work. Week 1 · Good welfare for shelter dogs – what does it look like? · Dog body language • Basic body language • Signs of stress • Signs leading to aggression • Handling and leash work • Concept of low-stress handling • Leashes and walking equipment • Getting dogs in and out of kennels • Teaching leash manners in shelters Week 2 · Intake • Stray intake • Owner surrenders • Cruelty cases · Behavioral assessments • The good, the bad and the ugly • Food guarding • Fast tracking • Alternatives to battery style assessments Week 3 · Enrichment • In-kennel enrichment (food and otherwise) • Out of kennel enrichment • Training walks • Sniffy walks • Group walks · Working with volunteers • Volunteer training • Involving volunteers in b-mod • Talent show Week 4 · Playgroups • Advantages of playgroups with shelter dogs • Who should play? • Introducing dogs • Working with play problems in playgroups • Working with other issues in playgroups · Breaking up dog fights • Fight kit materials and how to use • Avoiding fights • Slash n dash type fights • Gripping type fights Week 5 · Behavior modification • Overaroused dogs • Jumpy/mouthy dogs • Reactive dogs · Defensive handling • Dog on leash trying to bite • Dog off leash trying to bite • Safety equipment for kennels Week 6 · Behavior modification • Shy/fearful dogs • Separation anxiety • Food guarding · Foster programs • Fostering for assessment • Fostering for b-mod • Adoption Ambassador programs Week 7 · Adoptability criteria-setting • Defining "adoptable" in your community • Defining "adoptable" in your shelter • Setting a timeline for b-mod • Other alternatives · Euthanasia decision Week 8 · Adoptions • Working with adopters • Making great matches • Adding dogs to homes with other pets • Returns · Final wrap-up

Sponsor:International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants
Speaker(s):Trish McMillan Loehr, MS, CDBC, ACCBC, CPDT-KA

Contact: International Association of A
 Email: courses@iaabc.org
 Web: https://m.iaabc.org/courses/