Positive Reinforcement and Clicker Training - Self Study Course
Using positive reinforcement training and what is commonly called clicker training with blind, deaf and blind/deaf dogs.
Welcome to a six-week class focusing on the basics of positive reinforcement teaching! Positive reinforcement techniques offer a positive and fun way for you and your dog to share training time. You will learn to understand why your dog behaves the way she does, and how you can influence changes in her behavior. Teaching in this way is pain and fear-free, so it is great for strengthening the relationship between dog and person while building trust. You will learn ways to provide clear communication to your dog that make it easier for her to learn. And, teaching with positive reinforcement is a great way to offer your dog daily enrichment and exercise! You will learn about choosing and using reinforcement tailored to your individual dog. Adapting clicker training techniques to deaf, blind and blind/deaf dogs will also be covered, with some fun activities to practice. Along the way, you will have access to expert instruction and feedback to help you and your dog achieve your best!
Your Instructor
Debbie Bauer has 28 years of teaching and consulting experience working with dogs and their people. She is a member of the Pet Professional Guild. She is also a certified Healing Touch for Animals practitioner, a Certified Trick Dog Instructor (CTDI), as well as a Tellington TTouch Companion Animal practitioner.
After teaching a blind and deaf double merle in 1991, Debbie made it her mission to educate others about the issues with merle-to-merle breeding, and the impairments it can cause. She is a highly sought-after expert and spends much time consulting with owners, rescues, shelters, and trainers around the world about working with dogs that are blind, deaf, or both. It is a special passion of hers to show the world that differently-abled dogs can live happy, fulfilled lives as part of a family.
Her blog is an outstanding source of information for anyone interacting with dogs that are deaf or blind/deaf. www.your-inner-dog.blogspot.com. Her website also has various articles pertaining to training and double merles, deaf and blind/deaf dogs. www.yourinnerdog.com.
Besides working with differently-abled dogs, Debbie also specializes in helping dogs that display fearful and reactive behaviors. She has many years of experience rehabilitating dogs rescued from commercial breeding facilities and hoarding situations that display intense fear reactions.
Debbie is the author of several books: Glimmers of Hope; Conversations with Gabe; Through A Dark Silence; and White Dog Blog. She has trained dogs in a variety of activities, including therapy work, flyball, herding, print and media work, obedience, agility, conformation, lure coursing, tricks and scent work. She has over 13 years of experience custom-training assistance dogs, including medical alert dogs, to match the specific needs of each person.
Debbie has a special interest in the holistic side of dog training and wellness. She has completed extensive training in Healing Touch for Animals, Tellington TTouch, animal communication, canine myotherapy, craniosacral techniques, Reiki, canine fitness, and several other modalities. She continues to expand her knowledge and skills to be able to offer the best to the animals and people she works with.