Dr Sophia Yin in Dunedin and Auckland 2012
Saturday 13 Oct 2012
How to Think Like a Dog, Cat, Horse, Giraffe…..
Whether or not you’re aware of it, every time you interact with an animal, you are learning something and the animal is learning something too. In essence, each interaction is a training session. However, whether the animal is learning a desirable or undesirable behavior is another story. Understanding how pets learn and think: this is the science of training. Learning how to reward the right behavior at the right time and to project the right message with your body language: this is the art of training. Combine the two, and you’ll be able to successfully modify behavior in your dog or cat as well as a horse, your housemates, or even hippos. Using case studies and videos, you will see exactly how to use basic training principles in a simple two-step approach to solve common behavior problems.
Recognising Brewing Aggression and Rapid Reversal of Brewing Behaviour problems
We see overtly unmanageable and aggressive dogs on a daily basis, but sometimes you might miss or ignore the cues when they are more subtle. Lack of appropriate action on your part early on can result in a pet that is sent home behaviorally worse than when it arrived. In this session, you’ll view video clips of seemingly innocuous behaviors and learn how they can quickly progress to aggression. You’ll learn the signs of fear and anxiety, the interactions humans have that inadvertently make the animal worse, and simple tips for approaching and interacting with these dogs that will allow you to handle them while helping them to feel calm and safe.
If Punishment is So Bad, Then Why Does it Work for the Trainer on TV?
Why does the coercion-based training look so easy on TV? Because, on TV you only see the edited version, side-effects are down-played, not recognized, or not shown. Whether or not you feel punishment has a place in training it’s important to be aware of why it works sometimes as well as the many unintended negative effects. Through video clips, case studies, and a deep body of scientific research as evidence, Dr. Yin will explore the potential adverse effects of punishment. Attendees will learn what factors to weigh prior to considering even seemingly benign punishers and how to recognize when a plan is ineffective or causing an adverse effect.
Sunday 14 Oct
Dominance Vs. Leadership: Myths and Facts about Dominance in Dogs and Other Species.
Decades ago, commonly-held beliefs about dog behavior were based on ideas about wolf behavior. Many of these beliefs were mistakenly based on the behavior of captive wolves, poor models for behavior exhibited by free-ranging wolves. Scientists now recognize the effect domestication has had on the evolution of dog behavior and believe it is the basis for the differences seen in dog versus wolf behavior. With video clips, case studies, and synopses of the scientific literature, you’ll understand why outdated dominance methods don’t work as well as once believed. You’ll learn many long-held general beliefs about wolf behavior have been proven incorrect and how domestication has caused dog behavior to differ from that of wolves. Lastly, while many believe leadership is the cornerstone of training, leadership does not equate to dominance. In this talk you’ll learn a simple, structured way that humans can be leaders without force or intimidation.
Teaching Dogs to Learn to Earn:
A Fun, Safe, Quick Alternative to the Alpha Role
Every pet needs a human who can lead, but not like a dictator, rather more like a partner in a dance. In this presentation attendees will learn a style of leadership that fosters a sound understanding of how humans contribute to canine misbehavior, provides quick results, and can be performed by even those who are physically small or delicate. Attendees will see how Dr. Yin’s version of the learn to earn program helps owners set clear rules of behavior, communicate the rules through correct body language and timing of rewards and punishers, and provides an environment of more certainty and less stress for the pet. Attendees will see how this program can allow someone to change a dog’s behavior virtually overnight, and they will see the specific factors that make someone a good leader for their pet.
Perfect Puppy
Dr. Yin reveals an innovative program she developed for training puppies. After just one week on her program, puppies will readily sit with no prompting to greet people, to go in and out of the house, to have a leash put on and for anything else they want. Puppies also learn to walk on a loose leash and sit automatically when the handler stops. Socialization to people, puppies, and other species is incorporated in the program. Maybe most surprisingly, the puppies come when called after just a week of being on the program. In this lecture, Dr. Yin will discuss the components of her puppy program and how to implement them successfully.
From Angel Puppy to Devil Dog and Back
Everyone providing any kind of service in the pet industry, be they trainers, shelter workers or members of veterinary teams, should be aware of the importance of providing early socialization and training to puppies. Numerous studies exist showing puppies who receive early socialization are more adaptable, friendlier, and less fearful than their non-socialized counter-parts. And well-mannered puppies/dogs are at less risk of being relinquished. With that said, what happens when a puppy attends a puppy class so poorly run it’s actually counterproductive? All is not lost. Dr Yin will discuss how to repair the damage done and what she learned about the amount of training needed to establish good habits even when not reinforced by owners. You won’t want to miss this presentation which includes puppy potty training, puppy “learn to earn” program, and video of actual training sessions showing the right and wrong why to reinforce behavior.
Low Stress Handling
Think you don’t have time to teach an old dog (or cat) new tricks? Think again! You influence an animal’s behavior every time you interact with him, so you might as well make it a positive experience for both of you. In this presentation, Dr. Yin shows how to modify each interaction—from the initial greeting to restraint for blood draws—to have maximum positive impact on the pet. You’ll learn how to do this quickly and safely, too. Examples include toweling techniques for dogs and cats, non-scruff holds for venipuncture, and using food motivators without further arousing an already hyperactive animal. This session focuses on how to quickly and easily modify handling and restraint techniques, based on the behavioral response of the dog and includes narrated video clips so you can see it being done. Ensure your patients love their visits to your hospital!
