1 - Understanding the basics -
This stage will provide you with basic knowledge about canines.
It is important as a Dog Obedience Instructor to have an understanding
of dog breed characteristics, developmental periods, proper socialization,
basic health routines, disease prevention and canine communication.
This will serve as a foundation of knowledge about normal canine
behavior. Having a clear understanding of normal canine behavior
can help you clarify to your clients the difference between normal
canine behavior occurring at inconvenient or inappropriate times
and abnormal canine behavior.
2 -LEARNING THEORY
This stage provides you with a strong understanding of the scientific
principles of how animals learn. You will learn that animal training
is most successful if it follows the basic principles of behavioral
theory. This stage is designed to teach you these principles along
with many specific training strategies, including, classical conditioning
and operant conditioning.
3 - Tools/Techniques
This stage is designed to introduce the student to many types
of dog training tools that are available. These include; clickers, collars, leashes,
housetraining aids, chewing deterrents, interactive toys, and
safety equipment. Students will learn that positive reinforcement and praise is the key to successful training and which tools are helpful or hurtful...as well as why..
4 - TRAINING BASICS
This stage begins by reviewing the history of dog training and
the differences between obedience training, behavior modification
and problem solving. This stage is packed with information that
is designed to help you identify specific genetic behaviors and
characteristics in dogs. This knowledge will be an invaluable
tool when you begin training dogs on your own.
5 -EFFECTIVE PROBLEM SOLVING
This stage is designed to teach the student how to effectively
treat the most common behavioral problems in dogs, e.g. housebreaking,
house manners, puppy nipping, chewing, digging, jumping, excessive
barking, and begging. This stage further explains how to set up
a treatment plan using positive reinforcement of alternate behaviors
and management. As a professional dog trainer, your clients will
ask you for solutions to a wide variety of behavior problems shown
by their dogs. This stage will give you a library of solutions
to offer along with the ability to convey these solutions in an
effective and clear manner.
6 - SAFETY -
This stage teaches the students how to recognize the precursors
of dog aggression, how to avoid it and handle such aggression.
It will also discuss owner aggression and indicators of frustration
in the owner when working with their dog. An instructor knowledgeable
on how to take proper precautions will be able to conduct safe
and stress free lessons with their clients. This goes a long way
in creating a positive learning environment for all involved.
7 - PUBLIC SPEAKING & TEACHING GROUP CLASSES -
During this portion of the class, you will be given information on how to conduct group
classes. It is important as a Dog Obedience Trainer to be able
to effectively speak and motivate people. Since you are studying
to become an instructor, the manner in which you speak and how
you organize your instruction is crucial. During this stage, you will attend one of our group classes with a dog of yours, or we can supply one.
8 - BUSINESS Essentials-
During this stage, the student will learn about the essentials of getting started with a business of their own. This will include, business cards, naming the business, trademarks and tradenames, website development and advertising. It will also cover information that may be necessary to determine such as amount of money to charge and details of programs.
9 -Hands on -
During this stage you will attend one of our 6 week group training classes with our lead trainer if you live in the Phoenix area. .
10 -Graduation-
During the stage, you will answer questions on a final exam or write an essay (owner's choice). This is determine readiness for graduation. ***Please note that items may be added to this syllabus at any time.