Lectures, Workshops & Masterclasses
with Sarah Whitehead
BA(Hons), MSc, Member of the APBC, APDT (156)
Inspiration, motivation, knowledge and experience
Come to a Masterclass or Practical workshop on a specialist subject – led personally by Sarah Whitehead or an invited tutor. These one-day courses are the perfect opportunity to meet Sarah, focus on a topic of choice, and discuss the latest thinking in behavioural understanding and training techniques.
Places are limited so book now!
Adolescent Dogs & Impulse Control Masterclass
with Sarah Whitehead
Date: Friday 24th Feb 2012
Venue: Chobham, Surrey
Maximum 22 participants
For all those who find themselves dealing with highly active or overactive dogs in classes, consultations, welfare or at home! Impulse control, management and owner motivation for these special-needs dogs.
The Masterclass will look in-depth at emotional, mental and physical needs and how such dogs' activity can be channeled in appropriate ways, through games, tricks and mental exercises.
Sarah will also be exploring how clicker training can be risky with high-drive and reactive dogs – and what to do about it!
The cost is £145 per person, to include refreshments and a light lunch. Book now! To book your place on this masterclass please complete the application form
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The Character of Breeds and NLP for trainers
with Sarah Whitehead
Date: Friday 23rd March 2012
Venue: Chobham, Surrey
Maximum 22 participants
Morning session : Breed Characteristics. What were Samoyeds bred to do? How can you motivate a Dachshund? What makes HPR’s unique? It’s all very well understanding that different breeds have different hedonic needs, but just how well do you
know and understand the most popular (and not so common) breeds and first-crosses that we see in classes and for consultations? Join Sarah to find out about breed characteristics and their ‘hard wired’ drives.
Afternoon session : NLP for dog people! Come and have fun with an afternoon of basic Neurolinguistic Programming to inspire and motivate you when dealing with the human end of the lead! Sarah is a qualified Master Practitioner, and has been using NLP techniques in her behaviour practice for over 20 years.
- Get on track with your clients
- Improve client confidence
- Clarify your strategies
- De-clutter your consultations!
- Discover what you need more of to get where you are going!
- Achieve your goals and help clients to achieve theirs too
The cost is £145 per person, to include refreshments and a delicious light lunch.
Book now! To book your place on this masterclass please complete the application form
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Dog-Human Aggression Masterclass
with Sarah Whitehead
Date: Friday 27th April 2012
Venue: Chobham, Surrey
Maximum 22 participants
This workshop will look at assessment, intervention and management of aggression problems in dogs. We will explore dog-to-human aggression using a range of case studies and visual material.
Up-to-the-minute ideas and techniques will be discussed along with real-world practical tips and methods to transform your behaviour consultations and increase successful resolutions.
Book early! This Masterclass was over-subscribed last year!
The cost is £145 per person, to include refreshments and a light lunch. Book now! To book your place on this masterclass please complete the application form
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Think Dog! Practical
with Sarah Whitehead & Stella Bagshaw
Date: Thursday & Friday 3rd and 4th May 2012
Venue: Chobham, Surrey
Maximum 14 participants
This two-day PRACTICAL canine handling and training course is designed to help those who have some theoretical knowledge learn modern handling and training techniques in a supportive and enjoyable atmosphere. We assess and train dogs in a rehoming centre, to maximise handling and training experience with unknown dogs.
This course is designed to provide intensive instruction over two days, covering:
- Understanding canine body language
- Assessing temperament and training needs
- Training dogs using positive reinforcement & clicker training
- Practical handling and training with multiple dogs
- Teaching transferable skills that last
The cost is £375 per participant, to include refreshments and a light lunch. Book now! To book your place on this masterclass please complete the application form
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Beyond Behaviour Therapy Masterclass
with Rachel Casey, BVCS, MRCVS
Date: Friday 25th May 2012
Venue: Chobham, Surrey
Maximum 25 participants
Rachel Casey is a well-known veterinary behaviourist. She is Senior Lecturer in Companion Animal Behaviour and Welfare at the Department of Clinical Veterinary Science University of Bristol and RCVS & European Specialist in Veterinary Behavioural Medicine.
'As a non-vet behaviourist does this case need anything beyond behaviour therapy?'
This may be a question that we often ask, but making an objective assessment of the 'tools' - including non-prescription 'treatments' that are available to owners can be a minefield.
This Masterclass will focus on how to judge what is worth using to aid behaviour therapy, including how to assess the value of clinical research (or the absence of clinical research in some cases!).
Essential for all non-vet behaviour practitioners.
The cost is £145 per person, to include refreshments and a light lunch. Book now! To book your place on this masterclass please complete the application form
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Chase Recall Masterclass
with Stella Bagshaw
Teaching a chase recall needs to be strategic, methodical and motivational - for both dog and owner. With unique understanding and first-hand experience of successfully teaching remarkably effective chase recalls, Stella Bagshaw will show you how to teach this important skill step-by-step, including:
- What signals to use - when and how
- Equipment, including line handling
- Theory versus real life!
- Motivation - what it really means to the dog
- Handler commitment and motivation.
- Prey - what the dog considers prey
- Environment - where you walk your dog and why it matters
Practical demos included. Everyone should do this course! Don't miss it!
The cost is £145 per person, to include refreshments and a light lunch.
To book your place on this masterclass please complete the application form
Dog-Dog Aggression Masterclass
with Sarah Whitehead
Date: Friday 13th July 2012
Venue: Chobham, Surrey
Maximum 22 participants
We will explore dog-to-dog aggression using a range of case studies and visual material. Up-to-the-minute ideas and techniques will be discussed along with real-world practical tips and methods to transform your behaviour consultations and increase successful resolutions.
The cost is £145 per person, to include refreshments and a light lunch. Book now! To book your place on this masterclass please complete the application form
Dog Olympics Practical Workshop
with Stella Bagshaw
In honour of the Olympic Games, Stella will present a range of practical exercises and imaginative games perfect to play in classes at any time.
- Team games
- Individual games
- Competitive games
- Collaborative games
All designed to will increase motivation in owners, create a fun and supportive atmosphere, and teach new skills.
Plus, for once, the chance to have fun with your own dog, learn new tricks and even win prizes!
Handler - only 16 places! £145 Non-handler : £115
Please note: humans will be expected to have a good understanding of positive reinforcement basics. Dogs need to be social and able to cope with quiet times during the day when their human is working.
To book your place on this masterclass please complete the application form
Sex and Hormones Masterclass
with Sarah Whitehead
Date: Friday 17th Aug 2012
Venue: Chobham, Surrey
Maximum 22 participants
No sex please?! Whether we like it or not, our dogs (and bitches!) are influenced by sex hormones. This raises many questions about behavioural development
during puppyhood and adolescence, the impact of testosterone, the role of neutering, and the (many!) functions of mounting behaviour.
This Masterclass will dare to go where none has gone before, and look at the importance of sex and hormones, and the implications for understanding them in the context of other canine behaviours, such as aggression.
Prepare yourself for a fascinating day! No practical demos (!), but video and case histories instead!
The cost is £145 per person, to include refreshments and a light lunch. Book now! To book your place on this masterclass please complete the application form
The Building Blocks to Advanced Canine Training & Companionship
with Emily Larlam, from the USA & Sweden
If you have seen any of Emily's fabulous 'Kikopup' clicker training videos on YouTube, you'll be sure to want to come and see her in person. Emily is the most creative clicker trainer that I have seen for years. Her teaching style and imaginative methods are both inspirational and motivational.
Just take a look at her packed outline itinerary, and this is just the first day! For the full list please see: www.thinkdog.org
Day One
Training using Progressive Reinforcement
- How to train without using intimidation
Training Treat Deliveries, Capturing, Free Shaping & Luring
- Treat Deliveries (so that the delivery is not punishing or confusing)
- Capturing ("Do it again", "try something else.")
- Free Shaping (when to begin and end)
- Luring (pointing, targeting)
Backwards 'Luring Lab' & rear end awareness
Combining methods for faster, precise and more reliable results.
Free Shaping Games
Impulse Control Games
Default Behaviours for training situations & real life
Situational Cues
- No mugging / Leave it / Settle / What to do between training/ Loose leash / Default social behaviors
Communication and learning through primary reinforcers, secondary reinforcers, voice & touch
Lowering arousal using handling and massage
Preparation for massage exercises
Building a calm foundation
Reading dogs - for signs of too much stress
How much stress is too much? Too little?
Anthropomorphism and opinion versus scientific evidence
Chin rests and Advanced targeting
The 'Crazy Tricks Laboratory'
Book now! To book your place on this weekend workshop please complete the application form
Note: Sorry, non-handler places only now available
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Think Dog! Practical
with Sarah Whitehead & Stella Bagshaw
Date: Thursday & Friday 4th and 5th October 2012
Venue: Chobham, Surrey
Maximum 14 participants
This two-day PRACTICAL canine handling and training course is designed to help those who have some theoretical knowledge learn modern handling and training techniques in a supportive and enjoyable atmosphere. We assess and train dogs in a rehoming centre, to maximise handling and training experience with unknown dogs.
This course is designed to provide intensive instruction over two days, covering:
- Understanding canine body language
- Assessing temperament and training needs
- Training dogs using positive reinforcement & clicker training
- Practical handling and training with multiple dogs
- Teaching transferable skills that last
The cost is £375 per participant, to include refreshments and a light lunch. Book now! To book your place on this masterclass please complete the application form
Puppies - Are we doing enough? Masterclass
with Sarah Whitehead
Date: Friday 23rd Nov 2012
Venue: Chobham, Surrey
Maximum 22 participants
This interactive Masterclass will explore assessment, behaviour modification and prognosis in puppies that present behaviour and training issues in classes, one-to-one training or handling, the vet practice and in the home. We will be looking at whether the 'accepted' puppy class structure really gives them what they need, and the pros and cons of controlled off-leash play in classes.
Sarah's vast experience in this area will be presented using video footage, case histories and research - making this an essential Masterclass for anyone involved with puppy training, puppy classes or puppy or care.
The cost is £145 per person, to include refreshments and a light lunch. Book now! To book your place on this masterclass please complete the application form
Behaviour Intensive: with Sarah Whitehead
Venue: Windsor, Berkshire
"The most valuable training I have taken for years!" said one happy participant!
Sarah schedules this Masterclass to suit the participants, so please let us know if you wish to attend and we will offer a date to suit. This Masterclass content is individually tailored to participant needs, but includes case histories, video material, and latest thoughts and findings on both canine behaviour and the human end of the lead, helping you to become even more effective with your clients. Please register your interest asap. Dates are arranged to suit participants.