Click!90 digital

Click!

Couldn't make the Conference?

Read all about it pg 8 Jo Righetti – gone to the dogs & cats pg 36 Kay Laurence explains CAP pg 33 Susan Friedman – how to get Back in the Black pg 38

Issue 90 Summer 2013

Click! – Issue 87 – Autumn 2013

Contents

Line Shop n O T D P A e h T The new clothing and merchandise is now available and is ready for you to order along with some faithfuls. Prices do not include Order online today postage which is added when you placeat: your www.apdt.com.au order online.

Our 2012/2013 Committee

Features

President: Louise Ginman president@apdt.com.au

News from the APDT Conference APDT Award Winners: Dayna Veraguth – APDT & Black Dog Wear Scholarship 2012 Deb Millikan – The Susan Wilkins Achievement Award AND Trainer of the Year Award 2013 Eve McKenzie – APDT & Black Dog Wear Scholarship 2013 Huge Thank You to the Blue Heelers Reporter Wrap Ups Who is on this year’s Committee APDT Conference Delegates 2013 NSW Companion Animals Amendment Act 2013 changes A Glimpse from the Past Competency Assessment Programme (CAP) Where are they now? Joanne Righetti Back in the Black – Rebuilding a Bankrupt Relationship Susan Friedman Teaching Tigger to Bounce – on cue Watch Me! Dee Ganley Australia-wide Dog Park Survey

Vice-President: Adriana Milne vicepresident@apdt.com.au Secretar: vacant secretary@apdt.com.au

Prices do not include postage which is added when you place your order online.

order online today at: www.apdt.com.au

Treasurer: Nicky Ronalds treasurer@apdt.com.au Publicity/Editor: Rhonda Sclanders publicity@apdt.com.au and editor@apdt.com.au

Education Committee

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$30 Balmoral Polo Shirt Ocean Blue Classic Fit with Embroidered Logo

Adriana Milne Joanne Zerzvadse Gabrielle Wheeler Kathy Reidy Jacki King education@apdt.com.au

Regional Representative Co-ordinator vacant regionalreps@apdt.com.au

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Media Liaison: vacant

Membership Secretary: Jen Daniel membership@apdt.com.au

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12 14 16 16 22 24 29 30 33 36 37 40 41 41

act@apdt.com.au nsw@apdt.com.au nt@apdt.com.au sa@apdt.com.au tas@apdt.com.au vic@apdt.com.au qld@apdt.com.au wa@apdt.com.au

APDT Online Shop From the President From the Editor Wot’s On & Where? eBook Review by Ruth Brookes – Dogs as They Are & Teaching Dogs: Effective Learning When is the Conference in 2014 Committee Rep Messages Regional Rep Messages From Jacky in the Library New and Rejoining Members from Jen Daniels

2 5 6 7 8 9 27 28 37 43

Click! is a magazine of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers Australia Incorporated

Blue Biro

NEW

9

Regulars

Librarian: Jacky Walker library@apdt.com.au

ACT: vacant NSW: Janene Branc NT: vacant SA: Fiona De Rosa TAS: vacant VIC: vacant QLD: Hilary Paull WA: Lesley Lynam

9

Place an order online and we will give you a FREE pen!

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ARBN 088 866 522 ABN 8508 8866 522 Post Office Box 3122 Bankstown Centro NSW 2200 www.apdt.com.au Art Director: Larraine Hall, Balmain Printed by: Farrell Printers, Marrickville

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Magazine of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers Australia Inc.

2013 Association of Pet Dog Trainers Australia Inc. – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

This is Wiz, Vickie Davy's wonderful 13 yr old Koolie and her inspiration to start down the road of positive training which ultimately lead her to founding PetRescue, an organisation devoted to finding homes for rescue pets – 109,000 so far!

Click! 3

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aPDt APDT aims Aims and and Objectives Objectives

Dog Dog Training Training & & Behaviour Behaviour Books, Books, eBooks, eBooks, DVDs, DVDs, CDs CDs & & Nina Nina Ottosson Ottosson toys. toys.

The The Association Association of of Pet Pet Dog Dog Trainers Trainers (APDT) (APDT) Australia Australia is is aa forum forum for for trainers trainers and and anyone anyone involved involved with with dogs dogs to communicate and to communicate and exchange exchange ideas ideas regarding regarding training and training and behaviour. behaviour.

APDT APDT Australia Australia provides provides educational educational and and networking networking opportunities opportunities including including aa eNewsletter, eNewsletter, magazine, magazine, sharing sharing of of resources such as videos and books, resources such as videos and books, an an annual annual Conference Conference and and workshops. workshops. Our Our annual annual Conference features speakers Conference features speakers who who are are experts experts in in their their fields. fields.

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E:info@wagschoolbooks.com.au E:info@wagschoolbooks.com.au

Mission Mission statement Statement The The mission mission of of the the APDT APDT is is to to enhance enhance the the human-dog human-dog relationship relationship by by educating educating trainers, trainers, and and other other animal animal professionals professionals and and the the public, public, and and advocating advocating dog dog friendly friendly training. training.

Vision Vision statement Statement

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All All dogs dogs are are effectively effectively trained trained through through dogdogfriendly friendly techniques techniques and and therefore therefore are are lifelong lifelong companions companions in in aa relationship relationship based based on on mutual mutual trust trust and and respect. respect.

Code Code of of ethics Ethics As As aa Member Member of of APDT APDT Australia Australia Inc. Inc. II shall: shall: •• Perform services to the best of Perform services to the best of my my ability ability within within the the guidelines guidelines of of this this Code Code of of Ethics.

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•• Employ Employ only only humane, humane, dog-friendly dog-friendly techniques techniques in in the the training training of of dogs. dogs.

•• Actively Actively reject reject the the use use of of harsh, harsh, physical, physical, psychological, coercive and psychological, coercive and aversive aversive methods methods in in the the training training of of dogs dogs (including (including the the use use of of electric shock collars and/or pinch/prong electric shock collars and/or pinch/prong collars). collars).

•• Make Make the the welfare welfare of of the the dog dog of of primary primary importance. importance.

•• Be Be honest honest and and trustworthy. trustworthy.

•• Treat Treat all all dogs dogs with with respect. respect.

•• Do Do no no harm. harm.

•• Promote Promote responsible responsible dog dog ownership. ownership.

•• Actively Actively pursue pursue ongoing ongoing education education in in order order to to provide provide aa service service based based upon upon sound sound scientific scientific principles principles and and current current best best practice. practice.

•• Promote Promote aa positive positive human/canine human/canine relationship between relationship between owner owner and and dog. dog.

•• Work Work at at developing developing and and applying applying positive positive methods methods of of dog dog training. training.

•• Provide Provide aa service service of of the the highest highest standard standard within within the the limit limit of of my my skill, skill, knowledge knowledge and and ability. ability.

•• Respect Respect the the confidentiality confidentiality and and privacy privacy of of Clients.

Clients.

•• Not Not advertise advertise myself myself as as aa Member Member of of APDT APDT Australia Australia Inc. Inc. without without prior prior approval approval of of the the Association.

Association.

•• Not Not represent represent myself myself as as aa spokesperson spokesperson for for APDT APDT Australia Australia Inc. Inc. without without prior prior approval approval of of the the Association.

Association.

Association of Pet Dog Trainers Australia Inc – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Association of Pet Dog Trainers Australia Inc – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Wow, what am amazing year we have had!

F

irstly, I would like to say thank you for supporting the 2013 conference. From feedback received so far, this year’s conference was a huge success and thoroughly enjoyed by all those attending; speakers, delegates and exhibitors. Our speakers were just fantastic. This was the very first visit to Australia for Pia Silvani and Veronica Boutelle and we hope it won’t be their last. Both entertained and educated those present throughout the three-day program. Our local speakers Deb Millikan, Dr Katrina Gregory and Dr Debbie Calnon were also a great highlight and delivered high quality talks on a diverse range of topics. Check out the summaries provided by some of this year’s delegates. Massive thanks must go to Lynda Alexander from Key Conference Solutions who was a pleasure to work with and created such a smooth flowing and worry-free event.

Thanks also to our Blue Heelers, who were invaluable, and to the Committee for its hard work leading up to and during the conference.

It has been a big year for Committee. We have seen more changes and new initiatives than ever before.

A new line of merchandise was developed that includes coffee mugs, water bottles, polo shirts, tote bags and treat bags. Joanne Zerzvadse has been instrumental in sourcing and developing these new items.

We have also seen a 100% increase in Regional Representative activity around Australia. Adriana Milne has proven herself to be an absolute powerhouse and driving force in creating regional networking opportunities.

Member networking DVD nights occurred in Tasmania, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia. Thanks must go to Hillary COPYRIGHT©

Paul, Jade Fountain, Adriana Milne and Deb Millikan for organising these events.

The Dangerous Dogs seminars in July and August provided a further networking and educational opportunity for our members.

Stalls were held at several community events in Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria including our annual attendance at the RSPCA Million Paws Walk. In May this year, APDT also attended the inaugural Dog Lovers’ Show in Melbourne.

Our APDT newsletter also went through a transformation this year, progressing from a newsletter to a magazine called ‘Click!’ and then to a more professional design, look and feel due to the skills of graphic designer Larraine Hall. Our magazine is a publication that members can truly feel proud of. APDT is utilising paid advertising in each issue to help offset the cost of using a professional designer. Rhonda Sclanders has been instrumental in the upgrade and development of the magazine. Her skill as a technical writer and magazine editor has proven to be invaluable not only for Click! but for the creation of a multitude of documents, handouts, forms and certificates.

This year has also seen a massive increase in the number of e-newsletters regularly going out to our members to inform of APDT events, meetings and other important information. An Events Page has been created on the website so that members can be kept informed of events by being held by APDT, members, and non-members. These advances are courtesy of Brendan Host, our IT guru, who is undeniably one of the hardest working and positive people that Committee has had the pleasure to know.

His positivity was tested when the upgrade of our website to a higher version of Joomla presented challenges.

The database failed to function correctly and a multitude of other issues then arose. Brendan and Jen Daniel have

2013 Association of Pet Dog Trainers Australia Inc. – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

worked tirelessly for months to fix and report these issues to the IT Company. We thank the members for their patience and understanding while all these issues are being resolved.

Looking forward to 2014, Committee has another big year ahead of it. This year will see the formation of multiple Sub-committees to share the great work load that each committee member bears.

As APDT grows and develops, the need for specialised skills n specific areas has become apparent.

Roles such as, but not limited to, IT officer, media officer, marketing and promotions, seminar and workshop co-ordinator, merchandise officer, member liaison and legal advisor all need to be filled by suitably qualified volunteers.

2013 has been a very productive year but it would not have been so without the hard work of a small but dedicated group of Committee Volunteers. It has been pleasure to work with the 2012/2013 committee. Each person has brought their skills and abilities to their roles and while some are leaving us to move onto new projects, the Committee is thankful for the time you have given and dedication you have shown.

Till next time, Happy training Louise Ginman President APDT Click! 5

from the Editor

Wot’s On & Where!

I feel like the white rabbit!

We publish all sorts of events here and on our website – those organised by the

We’re a little late with this Edition but I think you would understand – we wanted to make sure that you read all the news from the Conference.

that you think would be of interest to all members, it can be published here too.

And what a Conference!

Our own Deb Millikan had a lot of us really interested in Competency Assessment Training. So I contacted Kay Laurence who has given permission to reprint information about CAP in our mag. So, if you want to find out how you can become more competent in the use of the clicker, read more on page 33.

Victoria Boutelle is just so enthusiastic in supporting dog professionals with techniques to help grow a business – I don’t know about you but being around positive people is buzz!

Debbie Calnon certainly enlightened us about behavioural issues and as we all know, there are some strange myths and understanding out there. Thanks, Deb, for some great insights!

Katrina Gregory shared her mutual passion for creative training. Have you ever looked at Katrina’s website – simply superb!

Say cheese!

Holly, the 18 month old Chinese Crested, with her best friend and playmate, Poppy, the 9 year old rescue greyhound. Holly and Poppy share the house with Wendy Roydhouse and her small dog family.

Then there is Pia Silvani – what an entertaining speaker who obviously has a great love of teaching and sharing her wide experience across so many dog related fields (under-statement!); did you know she is also a dance instructor?

Pia is also responsible for the quote of the Conference which had everyone laughing!

“You can't expect boys to come inside from the yard after they have had such fun playing with their balls… I can't believe I just said that!”.

The reports on the Conference are different this year. Sprinkled amongst the audience were people who took up the offer to write about the presenter they were listening to.

So I hope you enjoy the fair-minded accounts – they are scattered throughout the mag and make good reading.

As you may know, I am again the Editor of Click! for the next year and like a broken record – I am still looking for people to help with its production.

I need people to source articles and I don’t mean writing them. I mean finding articles that would be of interest to any dog professional or animal lover.

I see many of you on our chatlist and Facebook. Many of you delve in lots of different aspects of dog behaviour, training, medicine, sports, food, legislation, and the topics go on.

I know a lot of you read and source information to keep your knowledge up to date and your minds open.

Would you like to share them?

Already some of you have and you have entertained and informed us. But I would really like to see more stories from some of the 800 odd members we now have in the Australian APDT. Can you take up the challenge? Or can you help with sourcing new material for Click! Would love to hear from you!

APDT Committee, those organised by APDT Members and if you hear of an event Simply contact education@apdt.com.au with all the details.

24 February

NSW Get your Certificate IV in Companion Animal Services at Richmond TAFE NSW – contact kathy.reidy@tafensw.edu.au

3 & 4 May

NSW Attend a two-day seminar with Suzanne Clothier – In NSW – contact Margaret Keast at jigsawdogs@bigpond.com The APDT endorses this event organised by APDT members

10 & 11 May

Vic In Vic – contact Jo-Anne Hamilton at joandbenton@bigpond.com The APDT endorses this event organised by APDT members

24 & 25 May

WA Attend Turid Rugaas’ two Seminars on Canine Calming Signals – book online at www.turidrugaasdownunder.com or phone 0417 787 933

Book Review ‘Dogs as They Are’ and ‘Teaching Dogs: Effective Learning’

By Eric Brad Review by Ruth Brookes Eric Brad is a certified professional dog trainer. He writes regular articles for the “Life as a Human” website: www.lifeasahuman.com.

These two e-books are compilations of some of these articles. The books can be downloaded from Canine Nation: www. caninenation.ca for $5 each or $6 for both.

‘Dogs as They Are’ is 66 pages long.

It explores topics such as our responsibility to train our dogs, the ‘alpha dog’ scenario and dogs’ emotions, social interactions, humour and communication. Brad describes his own journey into rewardbased training and relates a heartwarming story of the rehabilitation of a puppy mill dog.

‘Teaching Dogs: Effective Learning’ is

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Association of Pet Dog Trainers Australia Inc – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

He asks: “Who’s training who?” and gives two words of advice – “Stop Helping!”

I like his “Four Ideas for a Happier Life with Your Dog”: • Catch your dog doing something right • Play with your dog • Get out and about; and

1 February 2014

Cheers Rhonda Sclanders Editor, Click!

6 CLICK!

62 pages. The first chapter is an introduction to reward-based training; chapter two talks about using a marker.

Other chapters are about dealing with incorrect responses and the importance of failure. Brad explains why good training is both an art and a science and that training is never finished.

• Think before you act.

The books are well-written and enjoyable to read.

They offer another viewpoint on dog behaviour and training for the experienced trainer and a clear and persuasive primer for the novice. Brad says: “Reward-based training has helped us to see our dogs in new ways. We see the opportunities we once overlooked and we see the possibilities we never realised were there”.

Each chapter has a number of interesting and useful hyperlinks and the URLs are given at the end of the books.

If a reader did no more than read these books and explore the links, they would gain a comprehensive education in reward-based dog training.

Not bad for $10.

is the closing date for articles for the next Magazine: Issue 91 Autumn Edition COPYRIGHT©

2013 Association of Pet Dog Trainers Australia Inc. – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Click! 7

News from the

APDT Annual C0nference 2013

The 2013 Annual APDT Australia Conference was held in Melbourne, Victoria, at the beautiful Bayview Eden Hotel.

And here’s the question everyone is asking…

When is the Conference in 2014?

Well, it is on 24, 25 and 26 October.

Block out the dates in your diary so that you don’t double up with other events.

Otherwise, you will miss out!

We’re still finalising exciting speakers so what this space!

We already have some.

Will I tell you?

Nah! I’ll just keep you guessing! Ed. lnon

!

Ca Deb Thanks says ail

. I saw the em ’s conference ar ye the is th at thank you to a speaker Hi Everyone to say a huge it was to be ort e re lik pp su su so ea al le pl ib ld a u what every poss well. I wou ng ri em fe th of h is d I can’t tell yo ly w and t smooth . to detail an w committee erence) wen nf eir attention co th e r th fo a about the ne of nd all part s) to the mittee and Ly ite a few lead only a very sm h qu ug nd outgoing com ho (a (t ho rs s lla d dog co my friend w presentation rs to give to ho contribute lla w to ensure my e co to os d of th an gs s to r spirit large ba r thank you . I had three to brighten he re ul nt rf Also , anothe Ce de ue on sc w it was og and Cat Re es herself. So Kho Samui D ory e health issu m erence. ff so di g a in g er It is a long st ff in dson’s card. has been su way to mak r Ju or ei y e th nn er Je on th e it ed llars ar ho sign not find know the co ose of you w r f – and could th he of to ot e e an ov ak dr nd m d se ology to the car an uld do was of co of I ro trial st e e I have an ap be th on e it on that th it was a say I placed I am so sorry ishes. I think e. w ain! nu ag od r ve go e ca but suffice to y th ur ith staff at e roof of m ssing on yo w th pa s d ie on ir an us qu p io en ha ec after that pr e the mis t something some who ar nny know of and to meet won’t ever pu card letting Je I le you – hi e e w m se a r r to fo fo rience t seen . I hope ners I haven’ learning expe ring for them ai ca tr le h it op w pe up e and th to catch cated to dogs So wonderful y just as dedi rl ea cl d an e new to m ar. ence next ye tIVTC at the confer T-P DipTAA Cer tIVTAA DipVE er C r) ou vi ha al Be Debbie ANZCVS(Anim n BSc BVMS M no al C e bi eb t D Dr viouris d Animal Beha Veterinarian an

8 CLICK!

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Association of Pet Dog Trainers Australia Inc – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Dayna Veraguth Winner of the 2012 APDT and Blackdog Wear Scholarship My trip to the USA for the 2012 APDT conference (as part of the 2011 APDT/Blackdog Wear Scholarship)

O

n 23 September 2012, I boarded a QANTAS plane at Sydney airport for Dallas/Fort Worth USA. The next five weeks would be a blur of dogs, amazing people, foreign never-beforevisited cities, domestic flights, dogs, hire cars, helpful strangers, a few horses and cats, more amazing people, the familiar voice of the GPS set on ‘bogan’ regularly stating, “Where do ya think you’re going turn around”, dog training, youth and healthcare facilities, COPYRIGHT©

Above: Dayna Veragouth, winner of the APDT & Blackdog Scholarship 2011, letting us know about her resource package developed for trainers promoting positive reinforcement training.

Left: One happy puppy owner after visiting the conference tradeshow.

Right: “New leash on life” Event – Fundraiser walk hosted by Zumbro Valley Mental Health Centre and Paws and Claws animal shelter, Rochester, MN

2013 Association of Pet Dog Trainers Australia Inc. – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Click! 9

News from the accent guesses… and more dogs.

Travel is so personal: It's hard to quickly summarise how it was meeting and connecting with so many new people and dogs; driving on open roads, repeating “lefty-loosey, righty-tighty” at each turn of a corner to ensure that I remained on the correct side of the road; staying at a hostel in Brooklyn with 24 other people from all over the world under the one soaring loft ceiling; and, above all, the inherent kindness of the many individuals who shared their friends, families (animals included) and homes with me.

There's so much emotion and excitement wrapped up in these experiences; it's a challenge to make them fit into small sound bites.

Regardless of where I was the one common thread was a shared passion for animals and behaviour. There were also common hopes and fears within each person’s story for the world of dogs in general.

Although oceans apart the similarities were obvious when it came to issues such as differences in values relating to training methods, training tools, puppy farms, dog over-population and the general gap and lack of understanding of dog behaviour that exists within the wider community.

About the 2012 APDT USA conference The APDT conference was held in Cincinnati, Ohio. It commenced with a ferry ride down the beautiful Ohio River, followed by five days of captivating involvement in hands-on workshops, poster presentations, round table discussions, demos and lectures delivered through 37 sessions, by 20 awesome speakers such as Sue Sternberg, Susan Garrett, Steve White, Dr. Rise Van Fleet, 10 CLICK!

APDT Annual C0nference 2013 implement Plan A in the not too distant future. While visiting the other cities I had the opportunity to both observe and present on the clinical application of Pet Therapy at Cook County Juvenile Centre in Chicago, and numerous hospitals and healthcare facilities in the other cities.

I also attended, Camp Dogwood, a holiday camping experience in Chicago for dogs and their owners.

Left: Venue for Playful Pooch’s Animal Assisted Play Therapy Workshop (Rochester, MINESOTA) Above: Street Art in Brooklyn, NYC – advocating for dog owners to pick up after their dog.

Below: Halloween decorations, UTAH

Sussanah Charleson, Pia Silvani, Robin Bennett, Gail Fisher… and the list went on.

As you can imagine the hardest part was choosing which sessions to attend.

Some of my favourites included, Sue Sternberg’s presentation of the backend work she did on creating the Ipad app Dog Park Assistant. The presentation was carried out in true Sue Sternberg style with loads of video footage collected from dog parks across the USA and was an insightful and in-depth look at off-leash interactions between dogs. The app is an excellent resource for pet dog owners should they be thinking of taking their dog to an off lead area.

I also loved the message that came through in Susannah Charleson’s presentation on the World of Canine Search and Rescue. Although referring to her journey on becoming involved in this field, a sentence that resonated with me was, “It is possible to mute a great dog in our human pursuits, whether we want it too fast or too much”.

Excluding all the newly acquired inspiring and practical tips from the various sessions, a highlight of the conference was definitely the silent auction and skit evening where any of the talented speakers, committee and association members could easily launch into a burgeoning career in comedy.

Any person attending the APDT USA conference for the first time receives a yellow ‘Conference Puppy’ tab on their COPYRIGHT©

Above: Bomb detection dog, Manhattan, NYC (Some have flat collars, some do not…)

Right: Group Photo at Camp Dogwood Below: “Bandit” – Works with youth and young adults.

Accredited through Therapy Dog Incorporated

name badge, alerting others to the fact that you may not know many people and thereby assisting with your general socialisation to the association and the conference in general. There is also a separate session just for ‘conference puppies’ and the opportunity to take part in a competition. I found the friendship and support extended to me as a result of my ‘conference puppy’ tab, and by fellow Border Collie volunteers (equivalent in Australia to our Blue Heeler volunteers) could not have been paralleled. Above all the welcoming hospitality of Bill and Nancy, the Volunteer Coordinators, and the APDT committee in general was astounding and so very much appreciated.

Other things I did while in the USA: Plan A was to spend the additional four weeks in Sequim undertaking an internship with Terry Ryan at Legacy Dog Training. However Plan A was not to be and Plan B had me visiting the following cities: Minnesota, Utah, Chicago and New York City. I hope to one day return and Association of Pet Dog Trainers Australia Inc – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Additionally I was fortunate to have participated in an Animal Assisted Play Therapy workshop facilitated by Dr Rise Van Fleet and Tracey Faa-Thompson through Playful Pooch in Minnesota at the facility of Horses and Heroes.

Differences I observed in the USA: • Common use of prong and/or electronic collars • Ear cropping – (Great Danes especially) • The high number of Greyhounds in puppy classes and no muzzle laws for them.

• The prevalence of the Australian Shepherd breed (in Chicago), also the percentage of people who thought they were from Australia.

• APDT Conference speakers using shelter dogs for their presentations and COPYRIGHT©

2013 Association of Pet Dog Trainers Australia Inc. – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

practical workshops.

• The APDT USA Association welcoming people from all schools of thought regarding training methods yet only promoting positive reinforcement methods through the speakers and content of the various education events they offer and endorse.

Heading off on a plane to another country is a lot like starting high school.

It’s exciting. It’s exhilarating. You see new things, make new friends and with a bit of luck don’t get so lost that you can’t find your way back.

Travelling to the United States was one of the best experiences I have ever had. I know that on occasion a smell or sight will send me back to my time there: be it a dog that looks like one of the shelter dogs used in a demo at the conference; cinnamon scrolls from the breakfast at various Super 8 Motels around the country; hot apple cider in the barn of ‘Horses and Heroes’; or lanterns in the sky from around the camp fire at Camp Dogwood.

Thank you APDT and Blackdog Wear for the opportunity.

Click! 11

News from the

Deb Millikan Winner of two awards: The Susan Wilkins Achievement Award AND Trainer of the Year Award 2013 How long have you been working with dogs?

In 1976 I had a dog with severe resource guarding issues – although I didn’t understand that at the time.

I was also pregnant and when Benny decided to resource guard the bed and attacked me when I went to make it, I decided it was time to learn about dog training. Long story short, I started at the local club and then decided, three years later, to start my own dog training club, Klever Kanine, because I didn’t like what was happing in the clubs i.e. too many dogs in class and even then, too much rough handling. I competed in obedience and conformation and became an obedience judge. In 1999 I moved overseas and was fortunate enough to come across positive training dog books in the UK. The rest is history as far as working positively with dogs. Having crossed over, even though it was only in theory as I had no chance to undertake practicalities at that time, I could not cross back.

12 CLICK!

APDT Annual C0nference 2013 viewing the videos of Bruno. I didn’t realise just how clever he was until I started putting my talks together.

Do you currently have any pets?

Tell us about them.

Sadly within a two year timeframe I lost both my Griffons to ill health. Deciding that as this might be the last time I will be capable of having large dogs again (age has its downfalls), I decided to get another Bouvier – Mace – who is now two and a half and just a joy to be with – unless we are out on a walk and he sees another dog. Long story but due to circumstances he is on lead reactive – but we are working on it. Naeve is an 8 month old Irish Red and White Setter – am I crazy?

No. My first dog in the obedience ring was an Irish Setter and I know just how smart they are. Naeve is proving this and I am having to think on my feet to keep up with her. Both dogs will be my trick training dogs for the trick trainers’ qualification that I am currently undertaking.

Have you completed any recognised training?

In 2004 I completed the Delta CGC Instructors Course (Cert IV in Dog Behavioural Training) and followed that up with two diplomas from the Companion Animal Sciences Institute (Dip Animal Behavior Science & Technology and Dip Dog Training and Behavior Consulting).

I also have CAP1&2 and, until Bruno passed away was working well towards CAP 3. This is now on hold.

What do your family and friends think about you working with dogs?

Crazy dog lady! No, seriously I think they respect the work I do but just don’t understand how come it takes so much of my time. I must say my husband, Arnold, is very supportive.

What has winning these awards meant to you?

This is an opportunity to formally thank the wonderful volunteers at Canine

Quality, Natural and Convenient

What is your favourite breed/ specific dog you have really liked?

For many years I had Bouviers des Flandres and Griffons Bruxellois together – the sublime and the ridiculous of the Belgian dogs. The Bouviers are gentle, thinking dogs who are loyal and despite their ability to be quite ferocious guard dogs are sensitive and very clever. They have been used in Europe as police dogs and during the first and second world COPYRIGHT©

Tell us something interesting about yourself I spent 3 years in a motorhome travelling around Europe from 1999-2002.

Congratulations Deb.

“My HealthRolls are naturally balanced to support excellent health and long life.”

Dr Bruce Syme BVSc (Hons) Founder of Vets all Natural

• High quality meaty rolls • Freeze or refrigerate • Easy to serve • Pasteurized to keep the goodness in • No fillers or preservatives • Complete balance

Sandy Lack on behalf of Akuna Care (sponsor) presenting Deb Millikan with her award for Trainer of the Year 2013 wars were used as carting/ambulance dogs – almost to their detriment in that so many were killed. Griffons, the little monkey dogs, are a big dog in a cobby little body who just make you laugh. They are smart and generally not barky – unless you let them be. Very trainable as those who are at the conference will see when Association of Pet Dog Trainers Australia Inc – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Behavioural School who have supported me since I became head instructor there in 2008. They have bravely taken on the challenges presented to them and without their support I could not have achieved the goals that I have set for myself and the School.

The example that the School now is has been influential in aiding cross-over clubs to transition to pet dog and force free training.

It is sometimes hard to meet the challenges of trying to show people how much dogs’ lives can be improved with force free training methods and these awards act as positive reinforcement for me which, as we know, will keep the behaviour strong. It is both a humbling and invigorating experience.

Call 1800 628 838 or visit vetsallnatural.com.au COPYRIGHT©

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Click! 13

News from the

APDT Annual C0nference 2013 a whole different level.

I find that this type of work can be very draining and emotional at times.

Sometimes I can get burnt out and need a break so I do things I enjoy, like spending time with my own animals.

Eve McKenzie Winner of the 2013 APDT & Black Dog Wear Scholarship

Well I use to be, probably not that much anymore.

Dog training is not my day job so it’s hard to juggle my day job with dog

People sometimes ask me how I got into helping animals. I tell them I had no choice. It’s in my soul; it’s part of my being and who I am. It’s my destiny.

I know that sounds corny but I am sure there are others out there that know exactly what I mean.

My husband always says I was adopted.

No one in my family is an animal lover; we were not allowed to have animals.

Yet, even at the age of 4, I was bringing home all sorts of animals that I would find wandering. I was never allowed to keep them but that didn’t stop me trying.

I eventually persuaded my parents to get me a dog. I remember the day, it was about 23 years ago and we drove to the local RSPCA and came home with a 4 month old German Shepherd cross.

We named him Bruno. He was an amazing dog.

I guess I felt that helping animals would be a hobby for me, so after school I went to University and got a degree. I entered the corporate world and tried to ‘ignore’ 14 CLICK!

I think the risk of being a dog trainer is that you can sometimes forget your own animals. I make a real effort to give them the attention they deserve. I also try and have a sense of humour because I am naturally serious.

training. I do a lot of volunteer work for a rescue group and that is very rewarding.

I am also a Greenhound assessor and I really love seeing a Greyhound with their Green collar and no muzzle!

My animals are each so individual and have taught me so much. I have a Border Collie and three Ginger cats and each of them have some issues but it’s definitely made me a better trainer. I have met some amazing trainers who have helped me personally with my own animals and also professionally and I am forever grateful to them.

I admit I am a behaviour junkie. I can’t get enough information and knowledge.

I always want to know more, always curious. Behaviour fascinates me.

My husband is a great support. He is my sounding board and he is very objective and rational, and passionate as well. People always say, how does your husband cope with you being a dog trainer, I tell them he is just as obsessed about animals as I am. I don’t think I could live with someone who wasn’t.

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I was very emotional when I found out I had won the scholarship because I knew my project would help so many people and their dogs. The idea came because of a need I had and I thought this would be a great project. Basically, it’s the creation of an APDT YouTube channel where I will be asking APDT members all over Australia to submit a video on particular training subjects. The APDT member gets a chance to contribute their video, whilst also advertising their business and helping people and their dogs around Australia and the world. It will be free to everyone including rescue groups and their foster carers as well as the general dog owner.

It can also be a resource for any APDT member and their clients. There is so much information out there, some good and some bad. I wanted a video resource where people can get information from professionals who promote positive reinforcement methods. The project is big, a little daunting but extremely exciting.

I am so looking forward to it.

“My tasty Omega 3 boosted mini Training Treats are the perfect healthy reward.”

Dr Bruce Syme BVSc (Hons) Founder of Vets all Natural

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my calling. But it came and found me in the form of a Border Collie called ‘Kippa’.

‘Kippa’ has several issues and the journey he took us on changed our lives forever.

I undertook the Delta course because of him and finished in 2005. The course blew my mind. It opened my eyes up to a whole new world of training, a much better one. After that, I was hooked.

I attended APDT conferences, read as many books as I could, went to as many COPYRIGHT©

Warren Townsend of Black Dog Wear presenting Eve McKenzie with the APDT & Black Dog Scholarship 2013. workshops as I could afford. Last year I did the Susan Friedman course, which was excellent, and this year I am undertaking the James O’Heare course. It’s brilliant and I encourage each and every one of you to consider doing it. It’s extremely challenging and takes your knowledge to Association of Pet Dog Trainers Australia Inc – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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New Training Treats join our existing Health Chew range • Joint Support • Skin Support • Multivitamin (with Prebiotic) Click! 15

public A HUGE e th thanks to am of te wonderful rs that le e e H e lu B is year. we had th

News from the

w in y were fe While the y were huge on e number th n and an absolute o ti u ib contr ith. to work w pleasure ks to n So big tha ey-Tennyson, rv e H emp, Angela athleen K ns, K , ll u a P ie Re Hilary mmer, Ed a H s e c n Fra lop and Tricia Dun rke. o Colleen R

g

A Reporter Wrap Up from…

Silvani – Raising Pu Eileen Metherell on Pia ding a Bite and Kids Together: Avoi

16 CLICK!

e hostin rzvasd e Z e n Joan rds DT Awa the AP

Jarianne Cox on Deb Millikan

om… fr p U p ra W r e rt po e R A ppies w to deal with Pia made the issue of ho together seem ed rais ng kids and dogs bei e time Pia left us so simple but at the sam very serious side to in no doubt about the Parents prevent p hel it and how we can ement of their dog bites and mismanag Parents. puppies by educating the y cleverly ver a Pia took us through es showing tur pic of ion ect sought out sel s in behavior the uncanny similaritie kids as they go between puppies and ent stage. The pm elo through this dev able but the point ark rem re we similarities t puppies and Pia was making was tha

APDT Annual C0nference 2013

t procedure for demonstrated the correc s thi it’s and e s was very amusing Kids aren’t the sam kids to kiss puppies thi two the en we bet or avi impressed with beh y difference in and we were also ver to dogs ds lea bly suggestion was vita ine The t m. tha s specie the actors in the s ent Par the to up it’s t raising puppies biting children. Tha to have parents who are ave beh to w ho en following ldr the to teach the chi and kids together see the puppy to ch tea .com/kids. Pia to og and ilyd ely am riat approp website www.thef d mil e som te era tol in this subject so I learn to like or at least has spared my interest s very wa Pia ed. gg hu ng restraint i.e. bei will be buying her book. funny when she sting and articulate and extremely The talk was very intere kids shouldn’t y wh giving us the ut on abo ed ing end talk and s wa informative of fits in us had she d un o consideration carry puppies aro main points to take int be funny. to ing try n eve ut baby into the ho laughter wit before bringing a new h children and wit eos vid g/s already lives. us do d ily we fam sho a Pia home where eos vid se the of e On dog actors in them.

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Association of Pet Dog Trainers Australia Inc – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Deb Millikan’s talk ‘Keeping It Fun’ began with a simple revelation: a trick is defined as something that is not a natural behaviour and therefore all behaviours we teach our dogs are tricks. This includes everything from sit and drop, to play dead and dancing. So if everything we teach is a trick, why do we make it such serious business?

Deb showed us a variety of games that can be played in classes that help teach, reinforce and proof the tricks (skills/ commands) we teach our dogs. It was also explained that these games must have rules and clearly defined goals. You might have to explain why you are playing the game to your more serious clients. How do you define winners and losers in the game? How do you deal with a class that is becoming too competitive? And what is the most important aspect to keep an eye on while playing games? The dog’s wellbeing. This can mean making it clear that guardians can leave the game at any point if their dog is becoming stressed, or asking guardians to leave and reiterating to them the stress signals.

Deb finished her talk by showing videos of Spot, a little Jack Russel who stole the hearts of New Zealanders as the star of Telecom TV adverts in the 1990s. The tricks shown by this clever dog endeared him to the public, and when Spot passed away Telecom aired a tribute advert for months. It showed the power of tricks, and the bond it can foster between humans and dogs. The YouTube video can be found by doing a Google search for ‘adios amigo Spot the dog’.

And for those not in the know — Pat Robards, one of our founding members, owned and trained Marsbar (aka Spot) for that advertisement. If you have issue 85 of Click, you can read about him there.

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Ioan Lang, the National Business Development Manager, Marsh Insurances (sponsor), presenting Deb Millikan with The Susan Wilkins Achievement Award.

Pia Silvani who is Vice President of Training and Behaviour at St Hubert’s Animal Welfare Centre in Madison, New Jersey – we certainly enjoyed her presentations!

2013 Association of Pet Dog Trainers Australia Inc. – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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rom… f p U p a r r W A Reporte r Katrina Gregory

m… o r f p U p Wra r e t r o p e A R utelle on gs o B a c i n o do Ver

all on D Sue Dingw y Training dr on Husban

s already Many of u t? ve t e th aching, bu a visit to g in our te us lin f d o n a g h in e iv d forg inclu to be very our more?

Dogs tend uld we do en we have co ft o w o h ce: espite would it m!

For instan humans d how hard itts on the – m s g n in n ie a in p a s hand, o sa es wa • Target tr ppy/dog to touch a large Hom osen speci ch r to e u u o p ch if a d a t n ro arou th ur app But wha be to teach move them gorilla? O ur r o ld o u d n n co a lio e t; t, w n so that elephan ry differe ould be ve l on table; consultati handling w the animal’s natura ts to fully ss f g our clien o re in st ss tt e e d n n G a re

a • e aw guag ed; , body lan d their bre ’s body to careful understan behaviours in about dog n e k m e ta th e ry b g ve in ld a u ch o e a b w Te • levels would in nd on or there looks like killed! nguage; a e la considerati b ld u what stress e co , is e d n n w g a co s ce n l n re rly sig • To n anima high cha see the ea t to s to Gregory, a . How to g oss specie them wha o Dr Katrina cr d w a o a s sh rk o , to w e y, o lif tl h f n se o w a e y rt st o e th alit more imp behaviouri ve their qu hen they se eir dog w dies help impro u th st h it se w ca o f d positively ly o dless supp by using elps. Like signs. had an en now able, little bit h re ry e le nts ve w d e n rs a r e e h p gorys’ clie g, to Rememb where kee le, Dr Gre ent trainin te . if m n e le r, ie rc ib cl ve ss fo e r o u in w p o o red im ers. H many of positive re sly conside erfect train nd e u a p o th vi m ys r e a re fo p th lw is f a ls re o focus aren’t anima ask for mo ’s primary the the people continually Dr Gregory eading in D e h N w A re l a a e im h w n it , a ss W e e . n th m re f e raise awa welfare o ing with th e, as ion. nd interact ld w u co w right direct working a o h in mind, e t w h y g a u w o e th this prove th r ainers, im eir dog fo positive tr prepare th to ts n ie cl r u teach o

lp more rpe on e o h h T o i t d w u r o T h ourselves d he Sale – undersell phone an • Not to Making t l on the ke contro nd a

• To ta eaker a tersation t GREAT sp u a o s b the clien a a w g the conv a in d k a in le th aid to lose ; and ll Veronic a fr a s u e t b o g atch time angles!

• Not to e right m es or lot of the entirely different the sale not be th ted to lower pric g y a m in k o m a fr it m s t p u m o thing b te e a n e pho was all • Don't b d swer the This talk romises. ctured an king. te you an o u o in b m t n ke comp e e a li y well stru a lot of c ll m a e re th s g a - from th in w ad The talk n to mak Selling eronica h right dow such things as “ d ve and V e si ctical and e n n e ra h p 't re d sn th p e e com was bo t a ese It address nd that selling do r th a e le re ic futu th a ade it c good adv are say in corporated d ourselves” fortable. She m I r d e n ff a o e in com ice to valuable ns, will b to be un able serv S! mendatio g techniques! tacted U ve a valu m n a o o h c c e re y w e t tha that th was wn sellin seminar member into my o and to re one of this entire d n a s lve The overt t in ourse st: confiden u g m in e e b w t e u c abo r instan o F ., o d what we

Veronica Boutelle, founder and co-president of Dog*tec – helping us to put our business where our hearts are!

Dr Katrina Gregory, our homegrown highly qualified and experienced applied animal habeviourist and animal trainer.

A Reporter Wrap Up from…

Stepanie Shaw on Veronica Boutelle on Marketing 101 for dog professionals Veronica Boutelle is a fabulous speaker, and her marketing talk was as polished, professional and informative as all her other talks over the weekend.

She brought up some fabulous points, and I am sure I a'm not the only one who had an "aha!" moment or two.

She started off talking about target markets (mostly women, as I'm sure we could tell from the demographics of the conference!) and the difference between describing your services and a marketing message: "we cover loose lead walking" is not as enticing as "enjoy walking your well- behaved dog".

18 CLICK!

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Association of Pet Dog Trainers Australia Inc – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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2013 Association of Pet Dog Trainers Australia Inc. – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

She Veronica discussed how to do successful community marketing by offering people something they want rather than just being one more person handing out brochures. Giving free talks to groomers or shelter staff, providing informative newsletters, emailing monthly tip sheets to past clients and so on. Let people know that you're helpful, and they'll turn to you when they need help.

Finally the fun part, Veronica showed us a variety of logos and websites so we could compare the differences between the hilariously terrible marketing and genuinely effective marketingpromotion.

Click! 19

News from the

APDT Annual C0nference 2013

A Reporter Wrap Up from…

ani Hilary Paull on Pia Silv e on Getting really reliabl behaviours and making them stick

ly to toys, and emotional response ear many for r ine tra g do a in the first n Pia has bee by teaching tug early i.e. a is s thi of e n be used to aus the bec can s years and week of class, thi she rds wo er oth tor when “crossover” trainer. In prevent the boredom fac ck che and g inin tra e es. Pia reminded has used aversiv doing repeated exercis re. mo motivators can no w t ho chains, bu us to be aware of tch on ent varies. nm iro env Pia was a pleasure to wa change as the . ted ma ani lly ica com behaviours s stage as she wa When teaching operant h wit de ma ll uisition we acq re the we Her slides distinguish between them without on ge of a n sta atio nce orm inf ena int ent ma suffici stage and the ; uch po at tre a vice use t no a it to clutter. She does no behaviour. Pia likened fading s like dis run she en t gre tha a is m her reasoning skier going straight fro in pockets ats t how tre no is res s sto thi , She run ts. nd promp to a black diamo on big t no nd o als fou What I or containers. Pia is most of us do things. nts. Instead she from this talk g stin ere int giving homework to clie and le valuab nge their cha to nt clie have the the to rs get tries to was for us as traine orate training orp inc to clients what r as ou so ch le sty tea to life confidence gs. After all we into life. we do with our own do hand in go n tio tiva mo dogs and that and r ou Learning live cohesively with ndations but fou od go to do. ild nt bu wa nts and d clie han is what most classical do not be afraid to use conditioned conditioning. Create a

A Reporter Wrap Up from…

Marlene Cott

A Reporter Wrap Up from…

A Reporter Wrap Up from…

Jean Purvis on both presentations by Debbie Calnon I had been looking forward to Debbie Calnon's presentations and I was not disappointed.

As usual Debbie's style was down to earth and sensible. With very little allotted time available, she managed to present us with medical, physiological and behavioural information using easily understood language and life examples.

Debbie held our attention as she addressed – Is the problem behavioural or medical? It's both! Debbie explained that the brain can change itself and that there is a definite interconnection between behavioural and physical health. Chronic stress can lead to other physical illnesses and, for example, a dog suffering from separation anxiety may injure itself with broken teeth, torn nails and lacerations, 20 CLICK!

leading to additional stress.

In conclusion Debbie stated – 'The brain does not work in isolation from the rest of the body. There is interplay between behaviour and physiological well being where one influences the other.

Techniques to reduce anxiety include slowing breathing rate and inducing muscle relaxation. Even at this basic level the interconnection between behaviour and physical responses is recognised.

It is in the best interests of any of the dogs we interact with to consider this critical interaction.'

It is always difficult to choose between the 'concurrent sessions'. One was Debbie's presentation on Common myths about dog behaviour.

Debbie related that myths can lead to COPYRIGHT©

on Pia Silvani

This interestin g seminar on Feisty Fidos was able to co nfirm that the first year of a dog’s life is th e most import ant. During this time, sens ory and develo pmental experiences im pact heavily on the dog’s future behaviou r.

The best way is to allow the puppy to stay with thei r mum initially to allow dog-to-dog so cialisation and to allow them to experie Fiona De Rosa on Veronica Boutelle – nce a loving en vironment and to learn th e body langua Rethinking Dog Training Classes ge so important as th ey get older.

Pia mentioned contributing fa as it gives people the skills and scaffolding

This was my first APDT ctors relating to be haviour includ to problem solve for themselves rather conference and what a diverse line up of e traumatic experiences, la ck of socialisa than following a strict recipe. In addition, speakers. The speakers’ topics ranged tion (both same species and human) fo learning is contextual and applied to from the theory of how dogs learn, to the llowed by isolation espe cially when th everyday situations. practical aspects of husbandry training, ey are young and removed from their mot Besides the learning theory, Veronica implementation of C.L.A.S.S. and running her too early.

Environmenta l issues includ also explored different delivery formats a business including strategies for ing fenced yards and elec tronic fences such as: situational-based (e.g. field trips) marketing and time management. can also impact on the nature of the activity based (e.g. sport) and topic The conference also opened my eyes to dog.

Pia mentioned that Steve Lind orientated classes (e.g. LLW). the diversity and professional backgrounds sey books were very good reference and On a final note, a big thanks to all the that people bring to this industry. resource material. organisers for a great conference.

For example, Veronica Boutelle has a People also ha ve to be awar For more information on Veronica background in education and curriculum e as to what they wan t from their do Boutelle and her resources see development, and she highlighted a gs. Do they want a pet do g or one that http://dogtec.org/cd_basic.php different teaching model – a constructivist protects their property? Th ey also need to approach which focuses on: be able to read the signa ls their dog is • Developing curriculum that is giving and understand th e best way to authentic and engaging train their dog is with positiv e reinforcemen • Learning that is contextual and has t and not with punishm ent. real world application The best result is to have a do • Embracing risk and failure as part of happy, with a g that is sparkle in thei a learning process r eyes and a great big smile on their face.

• Allowing students to explore and Let’s continue to tr ai n dogs the best problem solve (i.e. they select from the way, with positive reinfo rcement. tools they have been taught in class).

For me, this approach made good sense

bad things. For instance some dogs die because of misconceptions regarding such things, as ‘There are no “bad” pets, only “bad” owners. This unfortunate myth can lead an owner to feel very 'guilty' about their dog's behaviour which may keep them from seeking help. Each myth was presented and dissected in a manner which rated this presentation top class!

In winding up Debbie stated that 'This paper has reflected on some of the more common myths around dog behaviour. While this might seem like a frivolous topic, it can have significant welfare implications for pets and the choices their owners make in choosing and looking after their pet's wellbeing.'

Within a terrific conference, a fantastic presenter!

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2013 Association of Pet Dog Trainers Australia Inc. – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Click! 21

Who is on this year’s Committee I t is great to see that the Committee has at least one new person this year. Thanks Gabrielle! New thoughts and experience are always welcome and we will help you get up to speed with what has gone before.

However, we are still

without a Secretary – a most vital position that needs filling.

President: Louise Ginman Vice President: Adriana Milne Treasurer: Nicky Ronalds Secretary: Vacant Librarian: Jacki King Publicity, Click! Editor: Rhonda Sclanders Education Committee Members Adriana Milne Gabrielle Wheeler Jacki King Joanne Zerzvadse Kathy Reidy

This is what you need to have: • Understanding of the aims and objectives of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (Aust).

• Experience in, or ability to learn, the organisation and conduct of meetings.

• Knowledge of, or ability to learn, meeting procedures.

• Knowledge of EEO, OH&S and cultural diversity principles.

• Demonstrated ability to exercise discretion and judgment.

• Demonstrated ability to set priorities, meet and monitor set deadlines.

• High-level interpersonal, communication, organizational, planning and liaison skills.

• Ability to work as part of a team and support and encourage its development.

• Strong client focus, requiring integrity high level customer service, adherence to ethical practices, flexibility, initiative and perseverance • Experience with a range of software packages, such as Excel and Word.

• Internet and email knowledge and experience.

And this is what you need to do or have: • Thorough knowledge of the APDT Constitution and an understanding of Committee’s responsibilities.

• Ensure that all corporate governance

3 ee 12/1 13 Committ 12 to 20 0 2 r fo e e Committ Outgoing

requirements are being met and maintained, particularly as required by the NSW Department of Fair Trading and the APDT Constitution.

• Ensure that the Public Officer is provided with all necessary documentation as requested and required in order to fulfil legislative requirements and in accordance with the APDT Constitution.

• Thorough knowledge of the APDT Constitution and an understanding of the Secretary’s responsibilities outlined.

• Prepare a list of contact details for all Committee members within one month of the AGM and distribute it to Committee members and the Public Officer.

Gabrielle Wheeler ll the dogs in my life, A from the Scotch Terrier of my early childhood, Collie, Cross-breeds, GSDs, Boxers, Samoyeds, Poodles and more, have taught me that I don’t know it all – and definitely never will.

My cats add to that lesson and keep me searching for answers creating many more questions than those resolved.

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meetings and ensure that all required documentation is available at the meetings, ie agenda, minutes of the previous meeting, correspondence, attendance register, etc.

• Circulate the attendance register at all meetings.

• Prepare and finalise all minutes of meetings within agreed timeframes - draft within 7 days of the meeting, finalised within 2 weeks of the meeting and promptly uploaded to APDT Yahoo Groups.

• Ensure that all reports required for General and Annual General meetings are prepared and received within agreed timeframes.

Introducing your new Education Committee Member

When Beau, a 12 month-old, bouncing, robust, entire, kennel-raised Boxer came to live with me some years ago, a training course was imperative and, according to the trainer, a choke chain was a must.

It didn’t seem to work; ‘just pull harder’, Beau said. It still didn’t work 22 CLICK!

• Prepare a schedule of all meetings for the year and distribute to the Committee.

• Process all incoming correspondence, including verification of invoices, and despatch to the Treasurer for processing.

• Maintain an up-to-date Membership Registrar.

• Arrange booking of meeting rooms and ensure rooms are set up to ensure the meeting commences on time.

• Liaise with the President and Committee regarding the preparation of meeting agendas, Motions and correspondence in accordance with agreed timeframes.

• Attend and take minutes at all

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me to focus on dogs, and their people training. I live in Charleville with two stunning dogs, Coco and Piaf, along with a kitten, Quinn, and a handicapped Burmese cat Tessa, owner of a big attitude.

because Beau could haul me around the ground with ease. But food did work; so that’s what I used, way back when choke chains were all the go, so began my switch in thinking. A Delta course reinforced and enhanced the change and led to many more tools and choices in training and to my membership in APDT. A move to outback Queensland, from Manly NSW, some years ago has allowed

2013 Association of Pet Dog Trainers Australia Inc. – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

I promote the Yellow Dog Yellow Ribbon campaign and volunteer as puppy trainer with the local, recentlyformed obedience and agility club where the other trainers promote choke chains and dominance concepts; puppies thankfully can be free of such tools and I can gently introduce other methods.

I am both excited and nervous in my first term on the education committee and hope that I can contribute at a high level. I am sure, however, that I will learn a vast amount.

Click! 23

QLD

APDT Conference delegates 2013

tives from r representa

Ou

 VIC

Our repres NSW dam Janice A ams d A lie Ju Alleyne r e if Jenn derson n A Helen Aukett Shelley Brun e n n u S rke la C Peta Cubitt Therese ll g Sue Din mbroski o D th a C es Lindy Eyl n Ferguso Pauline n a m in G Louise erman Agnes H g in K i ck Ja ndy Lack kins Cara Lu n ackinno Jodie M e zi n e Eve McK

entatives

etherell Eileen M Moore lie ta a N ewman Louise N k o N Terri an Purvis Emily Je Li Ratard nalds Nicky Ro en tt u R rah rs Sclande Rhonda a ilv S Carolina tanley Claire S orpe h T i d Tru urle To i Jacqu eraguth Dayna V ellbelove Alexia W ark ym h W zy Su Wright Barbara ung o Y Libby se Zerzvad Joanne

from NSW

Dot Anikitou Jenny Annett Kathryn Atkinson Julie Barber Joanne Bates Drew Baxter Robyn Begley Jane Bradley Lesley Brownlie Sue Bryant Julie Burke Julie Burke Lynette Burrage Anna Cincotta Helen Clyne Christine Collins Denis Coughlin Su n Dale Jasmyn Drewry Tricia Dunlop

Erin Edgar Geraldine Evers Amanda Forder Tamara Forth Lois Goodes Svenja Gornik Margaret Gray Jo-Anne Hamilton Frances Hammer Meg Hannan Leanne Hecker Angela HerveyTennyson Naomi Hodgens Megs Hopman Kathleen Kemp Tammie King Anna Lane Alex Lara Deslie Latta Adele Marshall Sylvie Martin

Teisha Mason Adriana Milne Dee Moore Kate Mornement Jane Morrey Melanie Norgate Sue O Flynn Megan O Hehir Tony O'Herlihy Laura Oyarzun Fernandez Daniela Pelgrim Chiara Perri Emily Petrucci Helen Read Edie Rens Laurel Robinson Colleen Rorke Janina Schuster Lorraine Sessler Stephanie Shaw Alan Sheppard

Queensland

Trish Allan Kay Coonan Catherine Gabb ott Rachael Haine s Marietta Noes t

ndy Patterson Hilary Paull Linda Richards Chris Schinckel Seven Seven Ro lynd Taber Nicola Westerw eel

Jess Slade Elizabeth Smallwood Sue Smerdon Kathy Sproat Margaret Starow Bruce Syme Michelle Tankey Gail Taylor rren Townsend Marg Troeller Lorraine Van Orsouw Linda Vaughan Michael Vitale Ronelle Welton Ron Williams Janette Wilson Jasmine Wright Na ha Zanrosso

Our representatives from Tasmania and Victoria

TAS Sarah C ampbell Erica Da vison Lavinia P ike 24 CLICK!

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2013 Association of Pet Dog Trainers Australia Inc. – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Click! 25

SA

Lani Gibb Jenny Molloy Karyn Molloy Deborah Mundy Leanne Napier Diane Oakley Jacqui Roberts Bodil Schou-Hansen Andrea Stone Amanda re Beth Wedding

Tracy Bache Vikki Bemmerl Bev Clark Marlene Cott Jari-Ann Cox Sharon Crichton Fiona De Ro Melis h Dietman Megan Eberhard

ce n e r e f n o C T APD 3 1 0 2 s e t a g e l de

Committee reps

messages

Joanne Zerzvadse Education Committee Due to the popularity of the “Dangerous Dogs” seminar in NSW, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria, the event was also scheduled for Western Australia.

Planes were booked and Terry was on his way! Our WA Regional Representative, Lesley Lynam, offered her premises for the seminar and hosted Dr Terry Theakstone on the day. We were also privileged to have Dr Gibb Macdonald with us. Thanks again go to Lesley, Terry and Gibb for a very successful day. Thank you to Georgia Karajas for promoting the event.

tatives from alia n e s re p re r Ou str nd South Au a y r o it r r e T Northern

I would also like to thank all APDT Members and colleagues who supported APDT and were able to attend our first national event outside of our Conference. The budget is done and due to the success of it, APDT hopes to continue with more mid-year educational events.

WA or WA1 Our representatives from Western Australia

WA ull Rachel B owie C a n o Fi Deniet Georgia ell sk a Tes G allam Elaine H ebrand Kylie Hild nam Ly y e sl Le orton Emma N O Neill le Miche clair-Ivey Kim Sin

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Our representatives fro m Western Australia

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Association of Pet Dog Trainers Australia Inc – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

In the lead up to the Conference, as the APDT Awards Co-ordinator, I collated and forwarded all applications for the Awards to our wonderful judges. We received a total of 10 applications for three of our four Awards and the judges were very impressed with the quality of the entries. Trophies, certificates and cheques were organised, as well as a display board for the conference to showcase our winners. Winners were officially announced at the conference.

See this issue for full details of Award winners and biographies.

Congratulations to you all!

I also assisted Georgia Karajas with the organisation of our Conference Dinner at the Melbourne Aquarium which, as COPYRIGHT©

expected, turned out to be an evening to relax, to enjoy good food in good company.

Merchandise: Jacki King and I selected, sorted and packed APDT stock for transport to the Melbourne Conference.

Four boxes full of goodies and a NEW product for sale through our Online APDT shop.

Those at the conference got to see it first...Check it out!

AdrianA Milne State Representative Coordinator Report Role: Education - State Representatives Coordination. We had our State representative’s Skype meeting recently and are already organising events planning for early next year. I have also been: • helping state State representativess with to overcome any doubts problems they may have with organising functions • liaising with Hilary Paul for her APDT stall @ at the Dog Sports’ Spectacular in Queensland during October • engaging all reps and askingAsking all representatives for their help in promoting ourto promote our Melbourne Conference

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e Cox’s Jariann s going – r e v Clo ver This is ne. Clover lo y to the ll a D ia c t e a p e Gr ri – es a J h c it a be h! out w and the k r a p dog in their respective states to potential delegates and sponsors • planning future events and topics with the representatives • Aasking their suggestions for future event planning and topics; and • communicating weekly with the representatives via our chat list where we share ideas and information. We have a State Reps Yahoo chat list where we communicate on a weekly basis and share lots of information.

For the coming year, I hold the role of Vice President and have also elected to stay on the Education Committee even though I have vacated the role of State Representative Coordinator. It means that the position is now vacant to allow another member to fulfill the role.

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Regional reps Fiona De Rosa South Australian State Representative WHAT CAN WE EXPECT IN 2014 – Year of the Horse?

As the new South Australian (SA) regional representative, I have a lot to learn about this role and about APDT, the organisation. So far, I have been gettingto-know members in SA and linking-up with other regional representatives. In September 2013, the regional representatives held a Skype meeting to discuss issues ranging from event planning for 2014, national conference, communication and engagement tools with members and strategic directions for the organisation.

These types of regular meetings provide a good avenue for state representatives to raise issues specific to their jurisdiction and for us as a group to identify those common issues that we can tackle together.

If there are any issues of a strategic nature that SA members would like raised at our meetings please contact me on the email provided below.

Planning for 2014 At this stage, I intend to develop a calendar of events for 2014. This will look something like this: • 2 networking events (DVD or local speaker) • RSPCA Million Paws Walk (Sunday 18 May 2014) • 1 national event (if speakers available).

What events would you like to see?

If you would like to have input into the type of events for next year please get back to me by Friday Jan 6, 2014 via email sa@apdt.com.au.

Your ideas for education/seminar topics ... campaigns ... & interesting local speakers are very welcome.

Hope to see you all soon.

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Lesley Lynam Western Australia State Representative’s Report As the new state rep for WA, I was asked to hit the ground running and organise the Dangerous Dog seminar here.

Thank you WA! We rocked with almost 40 participants and a great presentation

by Dr. Terry Theakstone and our own Dr. Gibb McDonald, who slipped rather comfortably into Kersti’s shoes, even though they were a little large. We were very pleased to see some non members attend, so thanks must go to our dedicated members for spreading the word.

As for the new year, I have a couple of ideas and thought I might kick off with a first aid workshop, possible early March, but I would like members to email me and let me know what they would like to see/ do in 2014 Also, I have been contacted by Delta Society; they are investigating the possibility of offering WA people the opportunity to undertake the two-day seminar that is the start of the Cert IV course in March next year. This is a win for Delta students which will avoid travel to the east coast The Delta Society’s Certificate IV Course in Companion Animal Services is a leading Australian program of study for those seeking to become qualified dog trainers and behaviour consultants using modern, scientifically proven techniques.

The Weekend Seminar is an excellent introduction or stand alone program for dog owners or pet industry professionals who wish to learn more about animal behaviour and training.

If anyone knows about any other seminars/ workshops/events that might be happening at the end of March 2014 that might clash, could you please let me know I look forward to catching up in the New Year.

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Adriana Milne Victorian State Representative’s Report After almost four years as the Victorian State Representative, I am vacating the position to give the opportunity for another Victorian member to fill in the role.

I enjoyed helping with events and meeting members with the highlight being the APDT Conference being held for the first time in Melbourne.

I put my name forward for two different positions this year, Education Committee and Vice President. This will keep me busy.

In my role as Victorian State Representative I have been: • Helping with promotion of the Melbourne conference to potential delegates and sponsors via e-mail and by post • Photocopying conference flyers • Assisting Jari-Ann Cox find prizes and giveaways for the Conference • Storing the many boxes that came from overseas speakers as well as some of the prizes • Suggesting tours in Melbourne to our overseas conference speakers • Together with Louise, liaising with Conference Works, the Conference event management company • Promoting the Conference at the Melbourne Royal Show • Purchasing any last minute items needed for the Conference.

Association of Pet Dog Trainers Australia Inc – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Hilary Paull Queensland State Representative All sun and no water at present.

I dare say by the time you are reading this we will be in flood!

In October we had a community event; a stall at the All Dog Sports Spectacular at Durack. Thanks go to Donna and Cynthia for their help, it’s always nice to meet other APDT members and Donna brought her well-behaved dog along (and managed to get some training in with him). We did have our work cut out as we were in a sea of check chains but I do think we are chipping away at the old block. It’s only by getting out into these areas and spreading the word that we will: a) get more members and; b) get more people converted to using positive reinforcement training. I took “Doug” with me - he is a plush, life sized dog, and a great draw card too. Some of the reactions of other dogs and people are classic.

I will try for a members’ gathering leading up to Christmas (maybe late in November) so if you think I do not have your email please send me your address.

If you did not make the Conference maybe we can have a dissemination chat.

I am happy to continue in this role next year, so I hope I will be able to meet more of you lovely Queensland members.

My door is always open so to speak.

Janene Branc NSW State Representative With the conference held in early November, all focus was on that to assist membership from NSW to attend rather than detracting by having smaller events in the Sydney area.

Plans for a social get together/DVD afternoon for the first quarter 2014 are being investigated. If there are any particular DVD’s or topics that you would like to view/discuss, please do contact me!

I wish you and your dogs the very best Christmas, and a fabulous New Year!

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For those in NSW – the NSW Companion Animals Amendment Act 2013 changed on 18 November this year What it means • Councils will have broader powers to deal with menacing and dangerous dogs which threaten community safety within a stronger dog control framework.

• Councils will have stronger powers to encourage responsible pet ownership, including addressing low cat and dog registration rates in many areas.

Key Changes The following key changes to the Companion Animals Act 1998 commenced on 18 November 2013 1. Significant increase to council powers and penalties to enforce lifetime cat and dog registration to address low registration rates and promote responsible pet ownership (see sections 9-10B).

2. Significant increases to penalties in relation to dog attacks, particularly where the attack is the result of an owner’s recklessness (see sections 16 and 17).

Time limits for commencing proceedings under sections 16 and 17 have also been increased to 12 months (see section 93).

3. Creation of a clearer dog control framework within the Act to provide a broader range of graduated options for councils to use to deal with dogs ranging from issuing dog nuisance orders through to making a menacing or dangerous dog declaration (see Part 5).

4. New power for councils to declare a dog as ‘menacing’, with appropriate controls, to better deal with dogs that are aggressive, and have the potential to attack, but that do not meet the threshold to be declared ‘dangerous’ (see primarily sections 33A and 34). This includes the ability for councils to declare a dog dangerous or menacing if it has been declared as such in another jurisdiction (see section 34).

5. New power for councils to immediately seize a dog for the purpose

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of microchipping and registration for which a notice of intention has been issued to declare the dog as menacing, dangerous or restricted so the dog can be traced (see section 36).

6. Increased powers for Local Courts in relation to menacing and dangerous dogs (sections 44-48). However, no appeal is possible to the Local Court against a menacing dog declaration (section 41).

7. New power for councils to seize and destroy dangerous dogs where control requirements are breached one time only, and to seize and destroy menacing dogs where control requirements are breached twice within 12 months (see section 58G).

The following key changes to the Companion Animals Regulation 2008 will commence on 18 November 2013: 8. Removal of exemption that previously allowed recognised breeders to sell unmicrochipped companion animals to pet stores (see clause 12).

9. Increases to the maximum fees for issuing a certificate of compliance for a prescribed enclosure for a classified dog from $100 to $150 (see clause 25).

You can find more information at the NSW Legislation website at www.legislation.nsw.gov.au while an updated Guideline is available at www.dlg.nsw.gov.au.

Are there changes in your State’s legislation? Let me know and it will appear in the next edition of Click!

Ed. Click! 29

Did you know?

Have you recently joined the APDTA? Do you know how the Association started? If not, read on…

Susan Wilkins, founder of the APDT in Australa, wrote this back in 2004 I'd like to just give a brief history of how the Association was established in Australia. We acknowledge Dr Ian Dunbar's part in establishing the APDT in the USA, which was the inspiration for APDT Australia.

Back in the early 1990s, I had read several training books by Dr Ian Dunbar, and was greatly influenced by his training methods in his BBC TV Series "Training Dogs with Dunbar". His name often appeared in dog behaviour/training books and I instantly became a Dunbar devotee.

It was with great interest that I learnt of the Association that Dr Dunbar had started up in the United States and promptly joined it in 1995.

The Association was established in the USA in the early 1990s by Dr. Ian Dunbar to enable pet dog trainers to be represented and learn more about dogs, dog training and behaviour.

APDT's motto "Building Better Trainers through Education" were the key words and by offering members an annual conference and workshops with speakers at the forefront of dog training; pet dog trainers could be better equipped to run classes for pet dog owners and learn more about their own and other dogs.

We needed something like this where information could be shared amongst all 30 CLICK!

trainers, Australia wide. Many trainers were missing out on important educational opportunities. Not only was ongoing education important for the trainers who had passed through the CGC Instructors Course, but for trainers who had not attended courses, who were not triallers, but were interested in becoming better trainers and wanting to learn new ways.

Twenty-four very dedicated trainers gave up their Sunday afternoon in August 1997 to attend a get-together. It was exciting! We talked about APDT, what it stood for and showed several videos from my own collection of APDT USA tapes; including Sue Sternberg, Dr. Patricia McConnell and another presenter who covered fear in dogs. It was all cutting edge information and a realisation for those present that we could do this for ourselves through our own association.

The Association was incorporated in November 1997 and the very first meeting held in December 1997. There was a great turnout for the first meeting and it was decided that making the Association open to anyone interested in learning and education was the key to success. We also received a letter of congratulations from the APDT Board of Directors in the States to encourage us along at this first meeting.

Acknowledgement must be made to those 24 founding members, who gave up a Sunday in August to get APDT underway. Their vision for the future and enthusiasm made this all possible. An idea can start with one person, but it takes enthusiasm and dedication to spread the idea and we did it!

As time has moved on since those early days, minor changes have been made to suit local conditions, but the primary reason for establishing ourselves still COPYRIGHT©

remains - 'Building better trainers through education'.

APDT has grown larger than our wildest expectations and has the possibility of becoming Australia's largest democratic dog trainers' forum, run by members for members. The great part is that we did this for ourselves - we started up with no help or guidance from anyone overseas and APDT Australia is truly 'Australian made'!

My great hope is that trainers actively share the information that they gain from attending conferences/ workshops or even just from their own experiences.

Everyone can benefit and if it results in a kinder way to train through a better understanding of dogs, then APDT will be achieving its objectives.

Susan Wilkins Foundation member December 2004 And if you are really new to the world of dog training, this is all about Dr. Ian Dunbar PhD, BVetMed MRCVS Veterinarian, animal behaviorist, and dog trainer, Dr. Ian Dunbar received his veterinary degree and a Special Honors degree in Physiology & Biochemistry from the Royal Veterinary College (London University) plus a doctorate in animal behavior from the Psychology Department at UC Berkeley, where he researched the development of social hierarchies and aggression in domestic dogs.

He has authored numerous books and DVDs about puppy/dog behavior and training, including AFTER You Get Your Puppy, How To Teach A New Dog Old Tricks and the SIRIUS® Puppy Training video.

In 1982, Dr. Dunbar designed and taught the world's very first off-leash

puppy socialization and training classes -SIRIUS® Puppy Training. Subsequently, he created and developed the San Francisco SPCA's Animal Behavior Department, the American Kennel Club's Gazette "Behavior" column, which he wrote for seven years, and the K9 GAMES®, which

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were first held in San Francisco in 1993 and continue as annual events in Japan and France. He hosted the popular UK television series Dogs With Dunbar for five seasons and has appeared on numerous radio and television programs, including

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the Today Show (US) and Dash Village (Japan).

Additionally, Dr. Dunbar has consulted on a variety of movies -- full-length features, documentaries and animation Click! 31

Competency Assessment Programme (CAP) Deb Millikan spoke about CAP at the Conference and many in the audience wanted to know more.

So here is that ‘more’ from Kay Laurence...

Background

Clicker Training is a fast growing teaching method that has evolved into thousands of different classes and interests around the world.

(including Pixar's UP) and he has twice spoken at the prestigious eg Conference.

Over the past 35 years, Dr. Dunbar has given over 1000 seminars and workshops around the world for dog trainers and veterinarians in an effort to popularize offleash puppy socialization classes, 32 CLICK!

temperament modification, and ownerfriendly and dog-friendly dog training.

After he founded the Association of Pet Dog Trainers in 1993, Dr. Dunbar was inducted into the Dog Fancy Hall of Fame along with four of his heroes, James Herriot, Konrad Lorenz, Lassie, and Balto.

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Currently, Dr. Dunbar is President of the Assciation of Pet Dog Trainers Foundation (in the US), Top Dog of the Center for Applied Animal Behavior and Vice President of www.dogstardaily.com -- a free online, multi-media puppy raising and dog training website.

Association of Pet Dog Trainers Australia Inc – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Essentially the definition of a "clicker trainer" is a person who trains using a clicker. Competency is not directly measurable by the description. Some clicker trainers are reaching for the sky and able to achieve astonishing results, some clicker trainers are simply adding the clicker to an existing program of training, which may or may not be coercive.

To gain access to this powerful method the teacher (clicker trainer) needs to be skilled, very self aware, observant, able to analyse, adjust the teaching to suit that particular dog at that particular time.

As they develop their skills their understanding of the process deepens and they are able to transfer the learning to other animals, other fields of interest and have genuinely learned to communicate with another species through skilled use of the clicker.

I believe the true power of clicker training is seeded in allowing the dog to self-teach and in particular through the method of capturing the behaviour. The canine ownership of the learning results in very secure cue association and reliability of quality. The dog truly becomes involved in the learning process, becomes highly motivated and teaches us poor humans a COPYRIGHT©

thing or two about learning.

The Competency Assessment Program (CAP) is designed to serve two purposes: • to provide a clear pathway, with marked steps for learners to gain their skill, knowledge and understanding • to provide a certification system validating the competency of clicker trainers The handler’s skills, not the dog's, are assessed. It is the handler’s responsibility to provide evidence to the assessor that he/she has achieved the CAP criteria.

The assessment system is intended to highlight what a person has accomplished and give confidence at their achieved level, as well as to identify what skills might be the focus for practice and refinement to achieve the next level.

skill, knowledge and understanding, in need of little, or no further development All criteria must at least achieve a 1 to pass.

Achievement in the lower level with Distinction of Merit is required to progress: ie to take Novice Level 2 you will need Merit or Distinction at Foundation Level 1.

Assessors are required to have Distinction in the higher class to assess, ie Distinction in Level 2 to assess Level 1, and will need to shadow assess to gain experience before being a certified assessor.

Assessment Assessment is given at three grades: 1 Pass. Demonstrates some skill, knowledge and understanding, but many areas in need of further development 2 Merit. Demonstrates good skill, knowledge and understanding, some areas in need of further development 3 Distinction. Demonstrates excellent

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The assessor will be looking at the process of clicker training through the trainer's technique, ability to be flexible, meet the needs of the dog, develop positive learning experience for the dog and communicate effectively. At no time will the dog be under test. The dog is not expected to be perfect, the assessor will Click! 33

How to manage your Membership Manage your Membership via the APDT Website – www.apdt.com.au. On the Home page there is a box titled Help with the website where you can find answers to most of your questions. Use the information below as a quick reference.

If you don’t have computer access, please contact the Membership Secretary who will help you with your renewal or any membership questions. You can contact the Membership Secretary on the telephone details shown below.

Forgot your Membership Number?

• Check the address label on your last magazine because the number is shown there, or • Send an email to membership@apdt.com.au requesting your number.

Forgot your Password?

• Login to the Website.

• In the Members Area, enter your Membership Number into the Username.

• Click the link Forgot Password?

• Select Lost Password box and follow the instructions. You will receive a password via email.

Need to change your Membership details?

• Login to the Website.

• In the Members Area, click Edit Profile and click a tab to update your contact information.

Need to renew?

Online– this is recommended because it is the easiest.

• Login to the Website.

• Select Renew Membership from the APDT Membership dropdown menu.

• Select the type of Membership you are renewing.

• Select the type of payment.

By post – this takes longer to complete.

• Login to the Website.

• Select Membership Levels from the APDT Membership dropdown menu.

• Download and print the Membership form.

• Make your Direct Deposit of the renewal amount into the bank. Include your Membership Number as reference on the Direct Deposit so that your payment is identified.

• Post your completed Membership form and a copy of the deposit slip to the APDT postal address.

Need a receipt?

• In the Members Area, click View Profile.

• At the foot of the Membership Details panel, you can view and print cash receipts from the last 10 years.

Need to add or change your Trainer details?

• In the Members Area, click View Profile.

• In the Profile Page, select the Trainers Directory Listings.

• Double click your entry and update your trainer details.

• Click Edit and Update your listing.

• When finished, click Send.

Like to read a previous issue of the magazine?

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Competency Assessment Programme (CAP)

• Select Magazines from the Members Area drop down menu.

At the foot of the page, you can view and print a PDF version of Magazines issued from the date you joined the APDT.

Have a question?

Send an email to membership@apdt.com.au.

We will answer your email as quickly as possible. Want to send mail to the APDT? Address mail to: The Secretary APDT Australia PO Box 3122 Bankstown Centro NSW 2200 About Membership and Renewals • Refer any enquiries about your Membership to the APDT Membership Secretary, Jen Daniel, at: E: membership@apdt.com.au P: (02) 9416 4278 F: (02) 9416 4278 • All Memberships are due for renewal on 1 July each year.

• If you let your Membership lapse and then you renew, we will issue you a new Membership number. Your old number is no longer current.

Some things you can do as a Member • You can access the APDT Website where you can view and download the Constitution, shop at the OnLine Store, locate other Members in the Trainers’ Directory, and much more.

• You are entitled to vote at General Meetings by post, in person, or by appointing a proxy. If there is something to vote on, the Agenda will show the information.

• When you complete a postal or proxy voting form, you need to make sure that it reaches the Secretary 24 hours before a meeting is due to start. You can post, fax, or email the form to the Secretary.

• If you would like to discuss something at a General Meeting, you need to let the Secretary know at least 6 weeks in advance so that your topic for discussion is included in the Meeting Agenda.

Membership costs • Full Membership costs $55 per year • Associate Membership costs $45 per year If you live in Australia, this magazine is provided free of charge as part of your Membership fee. However, if you live outside Australia, please add $30 to the cost of your Membership to cover overseas postage costs.

Alternatively, you can ask to receive the magazine via email as a PDF. Australian Members can do this too.

Not consistently receiving this Magazine, eNewsletter, or emails?

Remember, if you have changed your contact details you need to update them in the Membership area on the APDT Website. Once this is done, you will start receiving communications again.

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only be looking at the trainer's competency as demonstrated by the behaviours.

The trainer will be expected to take responsibility for selecting the exercises or behaviours to suit the dog and the environment and prove to the Assessor the requirements of the criteria for that level.

Achieving Foundation and Novice level is quite sufficient for most dog owners.

They will be able to train the basic behaviours required of society, with reliability in a range of situations. For those wishing to enter sports, train dogs for work or develop behaviour modification programs should follow the curriculum and be assessed at Intermediate and Advanced Levels.

Results of all assessments are kept on a central database at Learning About Dogs.

To respect your privacy this is not accessible outside the Approved Assessors.

Successful trainers may use the initials: CAP1, CAP2, CAP3, CAP4 after their names to indicate certification.

Criteria FOUNDATION LEVEL 1 This level is assessing the basic skills of handling the rewards, clicker, lure and target stick/hand. The trainer's ability to communicate with the dog without coercion, their observation and decision making skills. Trainers would be expected to be able to add cues to behaviours, have trained a target and have shaped and lured simple behaviours.

The assessment criteria are: The trainer demonstrating that they can: 1. Handle food rewards safely and efficiently.

2. Deliver food rewards from hand or pocket.

3. Deliver from a reserve kept off the handler.

4. Operate the clicker in either hand with a non-visual movement.

5. Give reasons for their choice of reward.

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6. Use a verbal cue to a behaviour without supporting body language.

7. Give a cue without excessive body language or unnecessary repetition.

8. Have taught the dog to respond to the cue without excessive hesitation.

9. Use a target stick or target hand, clicker and rewards and deliver food effectively.

10. Have taught the dog to focus on the target and respond promptly to the target cue.

11. Give the click appropriately to effectively communicate the rewarded behaviour.

12. Withhold the click to gradually extend the duration of a behaviour.

13. Deliver the reward with fluency and good timing to encourage further learning 14. Free shape a behaviour that is interaction with a new object without giving the dog assistance from verbal or visual cues.

The demonstration is the evidence provided by the trainer of their competency in the criteria. Evidence must be sufficient and leave the Assessor in no doubt of the competency of the trainer.

The demonstration should take no longer than 20 minutes.

NOVICE LEVEL 2

This level is assessing the trainer's ability to secure a solid foundation in achieving a consistent quality and reliability to cue and develop more complex behaviours in free shaping.

The assessment criteria are: The trainer has demonstrated that they: 1. Have taught a behaviour through targeting where the target has been faded.

2. Have transferred a targeted behaviour to a new target or cue.

3. Have achieved and maintained fluency in at least 3 behaviours 4. Have achieved and maintained a consistent quality in at least 3 behaviours 5. Have maintained a consistent standard of 3 behaviours in different locations 6. Have maintained a consistent standard of 3 behaviours with distractions COPYRIGHT©

7. Can attach a verbal cue to a behaviour where the body language is variable 8. Can attach a visual cue to a behaviour where the body language is variable 9. Can change the cue attached to a behaviour.

10. Can demonstrate the behaviour does not happen unless cued.

11. Can use a different reward.

12. Can shape a new behaviour that is a physical movement without luring or targeting 13. Can free shape a behaviour that is interaction with a new object without giving the dog assistance from verbal or visual cues.

14. Can continue with the free shaping by adding a physical movement to the interaction with the without giving the dog assistance from verbal or visual cues.

The demonstration is the evidence provided by the trainer of their competency in the criteria. Evidence must be sufficient and leave the Assessor in no doubt of the competency of the trainer.

The demonstration should take no longer than 30 minutes.

INTERMEDIATE LEVEL 3

The assessor will be looking for different collections of compound behaviours, advanced shaping and evidence of data collection and analysis.

The assessment criteria are: The trainer has demonstrated that they can: 1. Use a single cue to chain at least 3 individual behaviours where a reward is only given on completion of the chain.

2. Maintain the quality of each behaviour within the chain (above).

3. Chain at least 6 individual behaviours where each individual behaviour is cued and reward is only given on completion of the chain.

4. Maintain the quality of each behaviour within a chain (above).

5. Merge at least 3 behaviours that occur simultaneously into one new behaviour.

6. Collect data demonstrating

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progression of learning and analyse the results.

7. Have free shaped a new complex behaviour without overtly directing the learning.

The demonstration is the evidence provided by the trainer of their competency in the criteria. Evidence must be sufficient and leave the Assessor in no doubt of the competency of the trainer.

The demonstration should take no longer than 30 minutes.

ADVANCED LEVEL 4

The trainer must demonstrate that they have completed a research project that makes a distinct contribution to clicker training.

The study must: 1. Contain original research with supporting evidence.

This can be contributed from multiple sources, i.e. many dogs or many trainers.

Single study subjects may be approved however demonstration of repeatability of study between dogs/handlers is recommended.

2. Include practical application. The published process must contain sufficient detail to be replicated by other trainers.

3. Include a summary of results. Raw data is to be available for examination, and contain video evidence.

4. Contain critical assessment of the results and a clear indication how the study makes a contribution to clicker training 5. Include full bibliography and references.

The outline of the project must be preapproved and the final presentation can be through written or video presentation and suitable for publishing.

Would you like to gain your certification?

You will find out more on Kay Lawrence’s website Learning About Dogs.

Have you some questions?

You can ask Deb Millikan here in Australia on damaga1@bigpond.com CAP information reproduced with permission from Kay Laurence 2013.

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being patted. When they work gently and gradually desensitise their cat, as well as introduce suitable games, to allow the cat to have an appropriate outlet for their energy, their relationship improves.

How do you solve problems?

Gone to the dogs and cats...

Joanne Righetti

r Joanne Righetti is an animal D behaviour consultant, helping pet people understand their pets and the human-animal relationship.

With a background in zoology, a PhD in animal behaviour and a diploma in counselling, Dr Jo set up her consultancy business, Pet Problems Solved, 15 years ago.

What are you up to these days?

A variety of things, all to do with pets and their owners, including: • Private clients I see cat and dog owners in Sydney, after referral from their vet. An initial consult in the vet clinic is followed by a suggested behavioural plan and then referral to a trainer for ongoing management.

• Commercial companies Working with Nestle Purina as an Ambassador, I attend pet events and speak with pet owners. I also write articles for their website and make videos to help pet owners understand their pet’s behaviour.

With other companies, I might occasionally review products, try new ones or offer giveaways or competitions on my blog and social media sites.

• Media I answer listener pet questions on Radio 2UE in Sydney every week and also on ABC North Queensland. Plus I spend a lot of time with digital media – my website, blog, twitter, facebook and pinterest.

• Government organisations I conduct behaviour information sessions for council staff or information evenings for pet owners in local councils. Barking dogs, nuisance behaviours and aggression are common topics I cover.

• Not-for-profit organisations I am very proud to be an Ambassador for Assistance Dogs Australia and Animal Welfare League Australia. I am happy to do anything I can to promote the wonderful work of these organisations. Assistance Dogs are truly hard working and loving 36 CLICK!

I look at the drives of the animal, their instinctive behaviour and the experiences they have received. From this I try to find the cause of their behaviour issue. Together with the owner, I then devise a strategy that works to satisfy the animal’s drives and needs and/or teaches them new behaviours. For instance, the dog who is raiding garbage bins has a drive or instinct to search for food. We satisfy this drives by providing ‘hunting’ opportunities – treat balls, puzzle games – and teach them that it is more effective to work for food from the owner.

I always work with short term management of behaviour and long term therapy. Owners usually want short term solutions but I have to, gently, let them know that there is rarely any such thing.

Changing behaviour takes time and patience for pet and for owner.

What trends do you see in the pet world?

I meet a lot of people who simply want to talk about their pets. They might have a behaviour problem but often they are just inquisitive about why their pets behave the way they do. People are now willing to admit how much their pets mean to them and celebrate their relationship. Many of these people are spending a lot of money on their pets and are personalising goods – bling collars, beds & bowls with names on them and so on. I have no issues with this, as long as the pets’ needs are met.

What about spare time?

companions. And a rescue dog or cat can make fabulous pets - I should know as I live with several.

What pets do you own?

I have one dog, a mixed-breed, called Chilli and 3 cats. Right now we also have a goldfish which my son and I are training (yes, really!) and in the past I’ve had ferrets too. My pets are definitely not perfectly behaved but are always a work in progress!

How do you keep up-to-date with your work?

As a scientist, I like to read published research on behaviour so I’m always checking out new scientific papers. I try to COPYRIGHT©

attend conferences but, sadly with work and family (3 sons) commitments, this is not always possible. I follow the work and ideas of many experts around the world and help pet owners understand how they can use this for their benefit.

For instance?

Well, research has recently shown that dogs want to help us, so I get owners to think of ways they can let their dog help them – picking up a toy or fetching.

Instead of calling it obedience training, we call it ‘helping’! This seems to be an effective way of building the bond between owner and dog.

Or I might help them understand that their cat attacks them due to the stress of Association of Pet Dog Trainers Australia Inc – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

What spare time?! I tend to be a bit obsessive about my work about my spare time is devoted to writing ebooks on dog behaviours, maintaining my website and blog and, of course, social media.

I’ve also had the opportunity of spending several weekends each year cruising with P&O and speaking about pets. This year I also had an African safari which was truly enthralling.

How do people get in touch with you?

People can contact me through my website or social media pages… www.petproblemsolved.com.au www.twitter.com/joannerighetti www.facebook.com/petproblemsolved www.pinterest.com/joannerighetti COPYRIGHT©

The library is being well used by APDT members. Some items are so popular that they have a waiting list!

We have added nine new books to the library: It has been another busy year for the library. We have sent out 80 packages, with a total of 191 items. As the APDT pays for outward packages, this has totalled over $2300 in postage costs saved by our members.

We have members from a wide variety of occupations and skills. Some of our members have written books, and have very kindly donated copies to the library.

This year I am very pleased to announce that Dr Lewis Kirkham has donated a copy of his book Tell Your Dog You're Pregnant – An essential guide for dog owners who are expecting a baby. This is a wonderful book and a must read if you, or someone you know, are pregnant and need to prepare your dog for the newest addition to the family. Dr Lewis' book is presently available in the library. We also have other members who sometimes donate books to the library. Jennifer Frede has donated a copy of author Finlay Lloyd's book 'The Finlay Lloyd Book About Animals. I would like to thank Lewis and Jennifer for their generous donations to the library.

The APDT website has been a work in progress this year. The library section was originally set up so members could request library items online. This particular option has not always been operational over the past few months. If you have been trying to request an item, but have had no luck ordering online, please send me an email with the details of your request and I will process it as soon as the items become available. As some items are very popular, a particular book or DVD may not always be immediately available upon request.

Some items have a waiting list. I will let you know if your item is not available, you then have the option of choosing another item, or waiting for your original item to become available.

Running the library is something I have always enjoyed. Sourcing new items is a particularly favourite part of the job. This year we have added eight books and three new DVDs to the library. If there is an item that you would like to see in the library, please let me know and we will try to add it to our ever growing list of items

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available for loan. We now have well over 1100 items available in the library. There should definitely be something in there that would interest any of our members.

Please have a look at the list of items available and send me your requests. Help me keep the the library items in your hands and off my burgeoning bookshelves!

I would like to thank Jacki King for being my Committee Library Liaison Officer. Jacki has made my job as 'Library subcommittee of one' much easier.

Keep those requests coming! It is your library; please feel free to take advantage of it.

New items in the library 2012-2013 Order No. Title and Author

B-0514 Try Tracking! The Puppy Tracking Primer. Carolyn Krause B-0826 The Finlay Lloyd Book About Animals. Finlay Lloyd B-1206 Life Skills For Puppies. Laying the Foundation for a loving, lasting relationship.

Helen Zulch & Daniel Mills B-1207 Ahimsa Dog Training Manual.

A Practical, Force-free Guide to Problem Solving & Manners.

Stewart, Grisha B-1208 Dog InSight. Reid, Pam B-1209 Tell Your Dog You're Pregnant An essential guide for dog owners who are expecting a baby. Kirkham, Dr Lewis B-1210 The Human Half of Dog Training.

Collaborating With Clients to Get Results. VanFleet, Rise B-1301 Canine Cross Training – Building Balance, Strength & Endurance in your Dog. Foster, Sasha D-0820 (2 DVDs) Clicker Training – The Perfect Foundation.

Kay Laurence (Companion DVDs to book B-0820 Clicker Training – The Perfect Foundation. Levels 1 & 2 Clicker Trainers Course) D-1111 BATing 1000 Behavior Adjustment Training for Reactivity. Stewart, Grisha D-1201 Tough Love. A Meditation on Dominance and Dogs. Montrie, Chad

eep those K library requests coming!

Jacky Walker

APDT library Subcommittee Click! 37

BACK IN THE BLACK: REBUILDING A BANKRUPT RELATIONSHIP

not when you need them to occur. That’s like waiting to fix a leaking roof when it rains. Identify the needed skill and train systematically throughout each day so the skill is mastered when crunch time arrives.

Control

S.G. Friedman, PH.D.

“A trusting relationship is the key to successful animal companionship.”

Who hasn’t heard that pearl of wisdom before? It sounds reasonable, helpful even. But is it…really? At the risk of revealing my age by harking back to 1980’s pop culture, I keep wondering, “Where’s the beef?” I mean, what does a trusting relationship with an animal look like? What should a person do to build a trusting relationship? Is it ever too late, or can a broken relationship be fixed? The answers to these questions can turn an inspirational saying into tools we can use.

What does a trusting relationship with an animal look like?

I thought the word trust would be one of those vague labels that would be tough to pin down. You know, like art or love: hard to define but you know it when you see it. But when I checked the dictionary, I was intrigued to find two simple ideas that hit the nail on the head. Under the word trust it said, “the confident expectation of something” and “implies a feeling of security.” If we put these two ideas together from our animal’s point of view, trust is a level of sureness that interacting with people will produce safe outcomes. As a result of trust, animals choose to interact with people more. Isn’t that exactly the kind of relationship we hope for with our animals?

Trusting animals use their behavior to confidently approach, rather than escape, opportunities to interact with people. They not only accept invitations to interact with their caregivers; trusting animals create interaction opportunities for their caregivers as well. Think of it this way: Gaining an animal’s trust is like growing the balance in a bank account. We make deposits into the trust account one positive interaction at a time. Positive interactions are not just about animals gaining valued rewards but also having the power to make choices. Alternatively, we make withdrawals from the trust account with negative interactions such as 38 CLICK!

force, threats and punishment. Even small or inadvertent withdrawals add up over time putting the relationship in the red.

If a withdrawal is so big that it exceeds the positive balance, we risk bankrupting the relationship.

Although we often think of trust as a feeling, building – and breaking – trusting relationships with our animals is foremost about action. Put your current trust account to the test with your companion by offering your hand at least 12 inches away from the animal. Those with big trust accounts will usually establish eye contact, lean forward, or in some way invite you to move your hand closer. If your companion tightens its muscles, crouches, lunges, or makes a dash in the opposite direction, it’s definitely time to figure out ways to deposit more positive interactions into the trust account.

What should I do to build a trusting relationship?

We come from a culture that is very quick to punish behavior, which is one example of what I call cultural fog. Clearly, access to positive reinforcers is a better motivator than escaping punishment. Our own experiences, as well as behavioral research bear this out. This legacy of punishment produces quite a dilemma when the goal is building up a trust account with a animal. Fortunately, positive reinforcement teaching (PRT), which comes from the field of psychology called applied behavior analysis, is a much better alternative than punishment. This is the approach that has been so successful helping children with autism reach their full potential, improving the quality of life for geriatric people, and increasing industrial safety in factories. The very best dog trainers use this approach and exotic animal trainers too. With PRT we have reached a new level of humane, effective teaching.

Applied behavior analysis is based on a natural science approach to understanding learning and behavior. That means the COPYRIGHT©

principles and techniques we use come from over 70 years of scientific inquiry in laboratories, classrooms, and other real-life settings from corporations to zoos. We can trust (confidently and securely) that these techniques work well if used correctly, and move past personal recipes and magical thinking about how behavior works.

PRT is really very simple to summarize and it’s a slam-dunk for building up huge trust accounts. In a nutshell, we redesign the environment to make the right behavior easier and more reinforcing than the wrong behavior. Accomplish that, and your animal will choose to do the right behaviors more. With PRT, we spend very little time focusing on either stopping problem behavior or what animals shouldn’t do. Instead, we focus on teaching animals, learners, what to do.

When it comes to misbehaving, don’t bother catching them in the act – focus on teaching them how to act.

Behavior is a purposeful tool. We behave for a reason. Just like people, animals make behavioral choices to

maximize benefits and minimize losses in any given situation. Knowing this, positive reinforcement teachers embrace one value above all others: Our learners should respond to requests because they have the skills and the motivation to do so, and not because they’re forced to behave in order to escape punishment. We are responsible for teaching our animal learners the necessary skills and ensuring they have the motivation to use them appropriately.

It is positive reinforcement that motivates our animals to learn new skills and to use them at the right time. A positive reinforcer is an immediate consequence that strengthens behavior.

We can think of positive reinforcers as rewards but they are really more essential than the superficial analogy to carrots and bribes, a viewpoint that I think is another example of cultural fog. Remember, consequences (outcomes) are the reason for behaving; we act to get meaningful results. If we aren’t behaving for an effect, what are we behaving for? Positive reinforcers are the international currency of the relationship bank. To use them well, make sure the positive reinforcers you deposit are certain (consistent), swift (immediate) and strong (desired).

Shaping is the PRT approach to giving animals the skills they need. To shape a new skill, break the goal behavior into smaller steps, called approximations.

Positively reinforce each approximation until it is performed without hesitation, and then move on to the next step.

Continue one step at a time until the goal behavior is performed. Shape small, reinforce big, and then practice, practice, practice, to build up trust accounts fast.

Can I fix a broken relationship with my companion animal?

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Make it Easier Making the right behavior easier is about managing all the things that encourage or discourage the right behavior before it occurs (aka antecedent arrangement). For example, a kennel with a small door can discourage a big dog from entering the kennel without hesitation. To make the right behavior easier, get a kennel with a bigger door.

A room without a soft station can encourage a dog to hop onto the couch for a nap. To make the right behavior easier, provide a lavishly soft area on the floor. To arrange the antecedents for success, survey the environment you share with your companion with fresh eyes.

Every barrier you remove creates an opening for good behavior and instantly reduces the daily withdrawals you take from the trust account.

Make it More Rewarding

Short answer: Yes! Although, the rubber meets the road when a problem behavior arises. The final blow to a trust account already in the red is bad information (and unfortunately that’s not in short supply). People bankrupt relationships every day by following advice to force, coerce, and punish their animals.

Sometimes new words are used to disguise punishment, like “correction” or “discipline”, but a thorn by any other name is still as sharp. Following this kind of advice will result in big withdrawals from the trust account, unnecessarily.

To get your relationship back in the black, reframe the way you think about problem behaviors. Problem behaviors aren’t caused by dominance, stubbornness, or any other abstract concept. Problem behaviors arise when animals lack the skills, the motivation, or the positive practice to do the right behavior. Rebuild a bankrupt relationship with a PRT plan. The first step is to identify what you want the animal TO DO instead of the problem behavior, an appropriate alternative behavior. Then teach the alternative behavior with the shaping strategy. Every positive reinforcer you deliver as you implement your teaching plan adds trust to the account.

Here’s one example – instead of dragging your barking dog away from the door when someone knocks, teach her to sit for treats instead. Instead of shouting at the dog when he howls at the sound of a siren, teach him to come to you for a quick tug time. With enough positive practice you’ll be able to slowly fade the food treats and add in more naturally occurring reinforcers (praise, a scratch on the belly) and also extend the duration of the sessions. The time to train new skills is

2013 Association of Pet Dog Trainers Australia Inc. – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

The single most important thing I have learned over 40 years studying learning and behavior is the benefit of giving animals control over their own significant life events. Although it may seem counterintuitive given our cultural fog, research demonstrates that control over consequences is a primary reinforcer, meaning it’s essential to survival like food, water and shelter. When a lack of control becomes a lifestyle, animals display unhealthy extremes by behaving aggressively or not behaving at all (i.e., apathy and depression), which are both dire results that we see all too often with animals in human care.

Clearly, there will be occasions when every individual must do something she/he does not want to do, for example, a dog that must submit to being restrained for an emergency veterinary procedure. If we start with a big, positive balance, most relationships can afford the occasional withdrawal from the trust account. Here’s a very important thing to consider: There is a strong correlation between the size of an animal’s trust account and its ability to bounce back after an aversive experience.

This ability to recover is called resilience by behavioral psychologists. Resilience is like a foam pillow – it starts out every morning depressed but bounces back quickly once we stop pushing against it. Building up big trusts accounts results in resilient learners.

An example of empowering animals is the PRT approach to crate training (i.e., entering a pet carrier on request). Again, shaping is the right tool for this lesson plan. Depending on what your animal offers, the first approximation to reinforce may be just looking at the crate; then leaning toward the crate, taking a step toward the crate, walking up to the crate, putting one foot on the ledge of the crate door, standing on the ledge of the door with two feet, stepping into the crate, walking to the back of the crate, and finally standing calmly in the crate for longer durations. Next, you can start shaping the door-closed position, and then moving the crate. That’s hundreds of opportunities for deposits into the trust account.

Click! 39

BACK IN THE BLACK: REBUILDING A BANKRUPT RELATIONSHIP One source of control for the learner in this lesson plan is letting the dog set the pace throughout the approximations.

Another empowerment opportunity is allowing the dog to leave the crate whenever it chooses. If the dog appears the least bit uncomfortable, open the door immediately. If the reinforcers for staying in the crate are stronger than the reinforcers for exiting the crate, your animal will choose to stay in the crate under its own control. Over the many positive repetitions, your dog will choose to stay calmly in the crate with the door closed because it has the experience to trust (predict) that reinforcement will follow. Training this way may result in a different kind of “problem” to solve – can you write a PRT lesson plan to teach a dog who adores being in its crate to come out when cued? That’s the right kind of problem to have.

Conclusion It’s easy to get carried away by the emotional content of an inspiring saying.

But a saying is just a lot of empty words unless we turn it into tools we can use.

Framing each interaction with our animals in terms of deposits and withdrawals in a shared trust account helps us to be mindful of how our actions build up, or bankrupt, our relationships. To build big trust accounts, positive interactions should far exceed negative interactions in the live of animals in human care. Resilient animals bounce back after an occasional aversive event but you must be sure to keep the overall ratio of positive interactions to negative interactions really big. That’s the way to get relationships back in the black. Allow your animals control over their environments, to the largest extent possible. In shot, arrange the environment so that the right behavior is easier and more reinforcing, and companion animals will make the right choices.

Bio: Susan G. Friedman, Ph.D., is a faculty member in the Department of Psychology at Utah State University. She has pioneered the cross-species application of behavior analysis to animals, using the same humane philosophy and scientifically sound teaching technology that has been so effective with human learners. For more of her articles, visit her website at www.behaviorworks.org and her Facebook page.

40 CLICK!

TEACHING TIGGER TO

I

have been asked to explain by our lovely newsletter editor how I taught my blind dog ‘Tigger’ to jump on cue.

A brief background is he has always been blind (congenital but not hereditary) and he also has an awesome temperament, both of which have definitely helped with all that we have achieved. Of course everyone knows Tiggers naturally bounce but bouncing on cue requires a team effort.

Why teach Tigger to jump on cue?

Well last year we achieved our Rally O Novice title so our next step was Rally O Advanced which includes a jump that cannot be missed, plus is off lead.

So to teach him to jump on cue I first of all needed absolute trust from Tigger, which we have as we have a great relationship and totally trust each other - I have known him since conception.

I started with a solid jump initially, this I put really low. I then tapped the top letting him investigate with his nose and whiskers then encouraged Tigger over with me. As this became reliable I

Managing your dog so that you are always present when the stimulus is in sight is the first and most critical part of your training plan. You not only have to be there, but the stimulus must have someone controlling it as well. If your puppy can't leave the cat alone, then the puppy must never have access to cat unless you are there and prepared to reward for alternative behavior. And a friend has to have the cat in their arms or the cat might be loose with a kiddy gate between the puppy and the cat. If your dog's problem is dog aggressive then the other dog must be on leash and handled by someone working at your command COPYRIGHT©

By Dee Moore RVN Dip Dog Psy

! young lad alia as a tr s u A s g o istance D ced Title rainer Ass ally Advan CV trial R is h Left: K9 T d e ger gain RCV/GS Above: Tig 1 October at the G 1 y a on Saturd

introduced the cue ‘over’. I then could approach the jump, say steady (part of his very early training I taught him ‘steady’ to slow down as there was a vertical surface coming or he just needed to slow down) then ‘over’ at the take off point. My timing was crucial. I then slowly raised the jump to the rally height for him of 400mm. I also introduced a bar jump too.

He is so clever that at one time early this year he started anticipating in the rally ring, if I said steady then he knew ‘over’

Watch me!

Dogs bark, chase and bite things for natural reasons. Some of those reasons are based in play/prey (learning to hunt) and some of those reasons are fear based (feeling threatened by other dogs, children or adults).

BOUNCE – ‘ON CUE’

Redirecting your dog's attention from something you don't want him to do to looking at you for a "reward".

regarding distance from you. Your goal is to never stimulate the dog into a mistake, but to stimulate only enough to give you a chance to reinforce an alternate behavior in the presence of the stimulus looking at you will become the way to behave when other dogs or children are present!

Have wonderful food treats ready. Have the dog on leash so he can't go toward the stimulus. When the stimulus gets close enough to have the dog look at (but not chase or bark) it, then you take your food treat, swing it by your dog's nose to get his attention.

Say "Watch me" while bringing the food hand up to the bridge of your nose and tap your nose till your dog looks at you. Mark the looking at your face with a click or yes and reinforce either from your hand or by dropping treat on floor.

Depending on your dog, dropping the treat a little ways from you restarts the dog's behavior of looking at the stimulus

and so you can then ask for "watch me" and reinforce. Another really good idea is toss the treat gently at your dog so he learns to catch it. This keeps him really focussed on you cause he won't want to miss catching the treat. If you feed from your hand do it palm open (like a horse) and don't open your hand until the dog is waiting for permission to take it.

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Your goal is many fast, well reinforced "Watch Me's".

Once your dog understands the meaning of the words "Watch Me" you should stop luring with the food before tapping your nose.

If the stimulus is very strong and the dog can't hear you say "Watch Me", go back to luring with the food in front of

the nose to get his attention, but don't reinforce till you have his eyes on your face. As you progress ask for longer eye/ face contact before reinforcing. As you get good self control at this first distance, then very slowly change distance and/or location of the stimulus. Remember… challenge for success not failure.

Never test beyond your dog's ability to be reinforced for choosing you over the stimulus.

You are training a behavior substitution.

You will get improvement early, but you must be vigilant and not expect permanent change for at least a year.

You can never let up managing dogs with very high prey behavior or fear aggression. You must always reinforce when you see them exercise self-control (which is when they watch but don't chase or growl and bark). eproduced with permission R from Dee Ganley CPDT-KA, CABC www.deesdogs.com

2013 Association of Pet Dog Trainers Australia Inc. – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

was coming and he started anticipating the jump! If I used steady at any other time he knew it was just to slow down – awesome dog. Back on track again now. or heel free as we no longer had the connection between us of the lead, even a loose lead allows a connection to your dog to ‘feel’ where you are. So I taught him a new heelwork position with his head slightly leaning on me, I did this with clicker training to mark initially his head position on me then extended the behaviour with my movement that I wanted.

So to date we now have two Rally O Advanced passes, just chasing the third for our title but still enjoying ourselves along the way. Will then hopefully continue with Rally O Excellent, CCD and we have already commenced tracking training.

We trial as we both enjoy it plus we will hopefully encourage others to take on dogs with different needs. There are no limits with the right attitude, patience and teamwork – and of course being positive and remembering to bounce each day.

Australia-Wide Dog Park Survey Fiona De Rosa, SA Regional Representative, is working with Dr Susan Hazel and Dr Lisel O’Dwyer from The University of Adelaide who are conducting research into how people exercise their dogs, particularly in dog parks. The University has collected data on how dog parks are used in Adelaide but now it wants to find out about dog parks around Australia.

Please participate in our study.

The online survey will only take some 5-10 minutes to complete. You can access the survey online at https:// www.surveymonkey.com/s/WZ2X7KV until the end of January 2014.

The results will provide a better understanding of dog parks around Australia, how dog parks are used, who uses them and what dog guardians most like about dog parks and would most like to change about them.

Thank you for participating.

Fiona De Rosa (B.TP | M.Env) APDT SA Regional Representative Click! 41

New and rejoining Members

Did you know?

You should join up if you are not a member of the APDT Yahoo Chat List. Many different topics are discussed and if you don’t want to contribute to a topic, you can just read and lurk. Whatever your participation, there are opportunites to read and learn.

If you would like to join the Chat List, go to the APDT website and click Members Area and then select Discussion List. The information explains how to become a member of the Chat List.

from Jen Daniels Warm Welcome to our new members! We hope you enjoy your Association and make great use of all the facilities we can offer you. Simply check out the website at www.apdt.com.au to keep up with offerings, educational opportunities, and products you can buy from the OnLine Store.

NSW Julie Beere Scott Borland Tanya Edwards Brooke Ellis Heike Hahner Karen McGregor Kayleen Menzies Jodie Milton Donna Russo Alex Stalker-Booth Claire Stalker-Booth Stephen Wells Elizabeth Laidlaw Kylie Okorn Robyn Thompson Donna Maher Yvonne Lightfoot Annette Heffernan Caroline King

The Yahoo Chat List?

We use the Chat List to let you know about information that can’t wait to be told!

We invite new Members to join. Did you take up the invitation? Are you receiving emails from the Chat List?

The emails come from this address: APDTA@ yahoogroup.com.

If you aren’t receiving emails, • send an email to the Chat List Moderator, Jen Daniel, at chatlist@apdt.com • explain why you’re writing and quote your name, Membership number and location • wait for a reply. You should receive an invitation to join Have you a Chat List signature?

Your email signature should at least contain your: • First and Last name • Your Suburb and State You may list your qualifications and training if you wish. Create your signature in your email program so that you don’t have to type it every time. Your address should look something like this: John Citizen TownName ACT

Hi!

Do you know the Chat List Rules?

1. No Flaming which means no inflammatory comments or insults by anyone using the Chat List.

Be polite at all times. Disagree if you wish but do so politely. Respect everyone using the chat list.

2. Sign every email with at least your name and location.

3. Do not advertise events, workshops, seminars, or similar on the Chat List. Send them to the Chat List Moderator. If the event falls within the Advertising Policy, the Chat List Moderator, Jen Daniel, will contact you.

4. If you are changing a topic, change the title of the email in the Subject.

5. When replying to an email, prune previous comments from your return email.

6. Restrict your emails to training topics. If you have a complaint about APDT policy or practices, contact the secretary@apdt.com.au.

42 CLICK!

ACT VIC Jackie Trotter Liam Deans-Pope QLD Christine Devlin Dan Tong Li Michael Vitale Hayley Dwyer April Williams Jodie Greer Christina Tipping Sharnie Wells Julie Morrison Sarah Gould Linda Barrett SA Jasmine Wright Andrea Stone Gay Hamilton Debbie Harback Natalie Davey TAS Naomi Hodgens Charlotte Peltz Drew Baxter USA Michelle Tankey Krista Bowler Tracy Louise Taylor Sue Bryant Kathryn Curr David Curr Steve Honnor Below : Summ Leigh Lewis Georg er (at ie le Shaynen Tysoe was G at Church P ft) and eorgie o int. It 's treat.

Jenni Harvey She lo 14th bir thd v ay in e s to sw a pud Danielle McKenna invest dle. Summe im even igating r Nat McDonald dry lan prefers d!

014 2 r o f t s e b All the ers b m e m T D P to all A and o w t ir e h t and s. ie il m a f d e g four leg

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Association of Pet Dog Trainers Australia Inc – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

COPYRIGHT©

2013 Association of Pet Dog Trainers Australia Inc. – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Click! Advertising Policy of APDT Australia Inc shown as ‘Association’ below.

• The Association does not accept advertisements that do not agree with the Association’s Aims and Objectives, Code of Ethics, Mission Statement and Vision Statement.

• The Editorial Committee decides the suitability of advertisements to be published to members of the APDT. • The Association will advertise training and other educational events. However, the Association will not endorse an event unless the Committee decides that it is in the best interest of members to do so.

• The Association offers advertising space to members free of charge. If products are sold, the advertiser must offer at least a 10% discount to other members.

• All images submitted to the magazine must be at least 240dpi resolutions, preferably CMYK and as a .jpeg or .tiff file. PDF format is also acceptable and any fonts must be imbedded or outlined.

• Electronic advertising space will be agreed with the member before being published on the web or in the eNewsletter.

• All copy and advertisements for Click! magazine must reach the Editor by the deadline.

Click! Publication Policy of APDT Australia Inc shown as ‘Association’ below.

• The Association does not accept articles for publication that do not agree with the Association’s Aims and Objectives, Code of Ethics, Mission Statement and Vision Statement.

• The Editorial Committee decides the suitability of articles for publication in the magazine.

• All copy must be original or if you have obtained the article from another source, you must have included with the article written permission to reproduce it from the original author. We will include a short biography of the author and a link to their website.

• Present all articles typed in 1.5 line spacing using Microsoft Word. Any images must be at least 240dpi resolution, preferably CMYK and as a .jpeg or .tiff file. For photos, set your camera to the highest setting. PDF format is also acceptable and the fonts must be imbedded or outlined.

• Send all copy and advertisements to reach the Editor by the deadline date as advertised in the magazine each quarter.

• You can reproduce articles from the magazine only after obtaining permission from the Editorial Committee. No article with original copyright can be reproduced.

Click! 43