The Academy for Dog Trainers offers a comprehensive distance learning and personal video coaching program for applied dog behavior practitioners in training, behavior modification, and client counseling. The program is divided into four sequential Levels (Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior), each with a 6-month deadline for completion following student admission and registration. This course description covers the content and requirements to complete the Junior Level. Video Training Requirements: Physical training skills are taught via audio-video presentation, then actively coached through student video submission. Academy coaches deconstruct technique and provide detailed feedback for skills development through the use of positive reinforcement of successive approximations of clearly defined target behaviors. At this level, students are encouraged to submit casework videos for food and object guarding protocols, case mentoring, and training technique check-ups. Written Assignments: Students demonstrate further mastery of training plan design and client communication skills by submitting: 1) a final written training plan to desensitize and counter-condition a fearful or aggressive dog to a particular stimulus and create positive associations; and 2) a final written set of clear, accessible training instructions for clients. Preparation includes course study, webinars, and practice plans. Knowledge Test: Students study and are tested on 4 in-depth modules covering: Fear and Aggression including diagnosing, counseling and resolving dog aggression; in-depth discussion of Critical Thinking and its importance in science-based training; best practices for Client Counseling and communication; and a review of Psychotropic Medications as prescribed by veterinarians and veterinary behaviorists for behavior modification, plus discussion of their role in treatment and case management. Modules cover 400+ presentation slides, 30 video clips, academic handouts and client intake forms. Students also study and are tested on 34 webinars designed to expand on modules content. Each has an average viewing time of 1 hour: Adapting Standard Plans to Behavior Cases; Behavior Modification Scenarios & Quiz; Body Handling Problems; Bullying Behavior; Canine Compulsive Disorder; Case Work-up Efficiency Pointers; Case Studies for behavior problems (4); Client Compliance and Counseling with CED Checks; Cognitive Biases and Applied Behavior; Counseling Review & Quiz; Counseling Scripts; Counter conditioning Without Desensitization; Critical Thinking Review & Practice; Day Training; Dog-Dog Case Histories; Dog-Dog On-Leash Problems; Dog-Dog Play Skills Case; DRI Splits Review; Ease of Modification; Food Guarding Case Pointers; Generating Counseling Scripts; Latest Cognition Research; Leash Reactivity DRI Case Study; Mechanics Coaching for clients; Motivational Interviewing for clients; Play Style Problem Case Study; Resource Guarding Case Studies; Senior Dog Behavioral Wellness; Video Review & Quiz for Upset Dogs; Working with Families; Unusual ‘Zebra’ Case Studies. All course content is accessed through the Academy’s state-of-the-art, interactive, online learning platform “The Dog Scientific”, which provides extensive recorded lecture presentations rich in audio-visual elements, plus both live and recorded webinars, extensive case studies, active discussion forums, study tools, video case analyses, multiple quizzes, practice exams, and ongoing client case mentoring. All Academy practices are based on the latest evidence-based models with training plans and methods that have been field-tested on thousands of dogs. The recommended minimum weekly study time for this course is 12 hours per week or approximately 300 hours over a 6 month period, though many students opt to spend more time. The additional hands-on hours required to complete video submissions and written assignments are significant and will vary by student. For further details on the Academy's program and a complete course syllabus, please visit the Academy’s website.

Sponsor:The Academy for Dog Trainers
Speaker(s):**Jean Donaldson

Contact: The Academy for Dog Trainers
 Email: info@academyfordogtrainers.com
 Phone: 510-655-5760
 Web: https://www.academyfordogtrainers.com/index.html