Presented by Nancy Tucker

CEUs

PPAB 1.5, IAABC 1.5, CPDT 1.5, KPA 1.5

As trainers, are our expectations too high? Is it possible that we have become so involved in honing our training skills that we might not notice our client is unable, disinterested, and unlikely to follow through with our recommendations? Does a dog’s behaviour really need to be perfect? Part of being an outstanding trainer is knowing how to work within limitations and still achieve results that make for a happy client. While we are tempted to jump right into what we see is an effective textbook way to modify a dog’s behaviour, it’s equally important to be able to take a step back and ask ourselves how realistic our training plan is. Is the client likely to adhere to this plan? If not, how else can we address their problem?

This presentation will take a look at how we can better help our clients and their dogs by becoming more creative problem-solvers with the goal of strengthening the bond between clients and their dogs. Attendees will learn how to apply a simple flowchart involving fundamental steps to achieve success in every consultation, without necessarily achieving textbook perfection. Beginners and Intermediate trainers will get some tips and ideas they can incorporate immediately into their practice, and more advanced trainers will be given food for thought.

• Being more creative with our problem-solving

• Honing our listening and observation skills
  

• Putting an emphasis on strengthening the bond between our clients and their dogs
  

• Recognizing and accepting a client’s limitations, and working within those parameters

About The Presenter

Nancy Tucker, CPDT - KA

Nancy is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (Knowledge Assessed) and is a full-time trainer and behaviour consultant in Quebec, Canada. She does behaviour consultations as a staff member at a veterinary clinic in Quebec, and spends much of her time doing private in-home behaviour consultations with clients. She regularly presents seminars and workshops on dog behaviour to dog owners, trainers, and veterinary staff.

Nancy has written numerous articles on dog behaviour for French-language publications and several articles as a past member of the CCPDT writing committee, as well as training and case study articles for the Whole Dog Journal. She is a Charter Member of the PPG and a founding member of the Regroupement Québécois des Intervenants en Éducation Canine (RQIEC), a Quebec-based association of force-free trainers and consultants.