Is your dog amazing at home and in class, but shuts down at a trial? Does your dog perform with enthusiasm in class or at small local trials, but slows down or leaves at the bigger shows? Does your dog sniff or zoom around the ring if you make a handling error? Does your dog leave the course and run to where you left your food or toy reward outside of the ring? Then this workshop is for you! There are many reasons why a dog might be able to perform in one context and not another. In this workshop, we will begin to uncover the gaps in your dog’s understanding and by way of training and behavior modification, begin to fill them. These gaps could be a result of training plans that skipped steps that your dog needs, environmental stressors, lack of impulse control, or even fear. By examining your dog’s performance and discussing how you have trained with your dog thus far, we will be able to create a plan specific to your team’s needs. You will learn games and exercises that are designed to bring your dog’s focus back to you while building enthusiasm and drive, regardless of venue or level of show. This workshop was originally geared to agility dogs but can and has been applied to dogs in any sport that stress in the ring. In this workshop, you will begin to: Learn to identify stress in your dog and adjust accordingly. Have a better understanding of your dog’s triggers and how to manage thresholds. Build focus and connection in your dog, even when things go wrong on course. Build impulse control in your dog, even in the face of stressors and distractions. Learn about self-control depletion and prevent the practice of it. Expand the toolbox of exercises to support you in decreasing your dog’s anxiety. Build confidence in your dog at the bigger shows. If you have taken this workshop or similar workshops before, we will build upon what you have already learned. Even in this workshop setting, exercises and games will be customized based on your dog’s feedback in the moment.

Sponsor:Dog Training Club of Chester County
Speaker(s):Bobbie Bhambree, CDBC, CPDT-KA, Certified Behavior Consultant

Contact: Nancy Schilling, CPDT-KA
 Email: 3barkingmad@gmail.com
 Web: https://dtccc.dogbizpro.com/public/registration/events.aspx?event=5336