We were Joined at Virginia Broitman's New Workshop- Guide Your Dog to Greatness: Canine Behavior You Can Live and Play With!

Build your training skills with Virginia Broitman from North Star Canines at a 2 day seminar at The Dude Ranch in Glen Allen, Virginia!

Does your dog have basic training but have difficulties when faced with distractions?

Bring your dog (and lots of treats!) and come work with Virginia and learn new ways to use reinforcers wisely and build strong behaviors in your dog for reliability. Explore how to get more behavior for your training time by shaping and capturing. Take targeting past noses and paws and get everything under tight stimulus control. Your dog will be reliable and polished, whether out for fun or in dog sports, no matter what activities you’re involved in and despite the distracting environments you may encounter.

Date: July 18th and 19th , 2009

9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Where: The Dude Ranch Pet Resort

11015 Dude Ranch rd

Glen Allen, Va 23059

Directions can be found at www.DudeRanchPetResort.com

Cost: is $175

Lunch will need to be purchased ahead of time for $10.

Contact the Dude Ranch at 804-798-7900 to register. Any questions about the event please contact Leann Harris at Leann@GreatPawsibilities.com or 804-867- AARF.

***13 CEUs approved for CPDT ***

 

This weekend will take anyone’s current training skills and raise them to the next level. Participants will learn how to:

 

Maximize your reinforcement by:

• Choosing a variety of reinforcers
• Smart handling of your reinforcers and "Life Rewards"
• Fading the use of food
• Strengthening the value of weak reinforcers
• Understanding how to use Premack Principle

 

SHAPING BEHAVIORS:

• What is shaping and why do we use it
• Creating a training plan, and breaking down behaviors
• Knowing when and how to raise criteria
• Building dog's willingness to experiment with behaviors

 

TARGETING:

• Nose targeting skills
• Front and rear paw targeting
• Body targeting

 

BUILDING FLUENT BEHAVIORS:

• Building precision
• Reducing latency
• Increasing speed of performance
• Addressing distractions
• Building duration and distance

CUES:

• Cues vs. commands
• When to add the cue
• Changing cues
• How to end off-cue behaviors
• Attaining stimulus control

 

BEHAVIOR CHAINS:

• Backchaining
• Using cues as reinforcers
• Mending broken chains
  

 

Virginia Broitman Virginia Broitman has been involved in dog training since 1981. Over the years, she has provided group classes, private lessons, counseling for behavioral problems, and occasional assistance dog training.

Virginia is head trainer for SOS-Pen Pals, a training and rehabilitation program with the Virginia Department of Corrections. In the Pen Pals program, inmates learn dog training techniques, working to make shelter dogs more adoptable. Virginia presents clicker training workshops around the country, is a faculty member of Karen Pryor's Clicker Expos, and has co-produced the Bow Wow series of four dog training videos, all based on clicker training. The How of Bow Wow won the Dog Writers Association of America (DWAA) Maxwell Award for Best New DVD in 2004. Virginia also writes for various training publications. Virginia's own dogs have participated in a variety of activities including pet therapy visits, agility competition, herding, and TV/advertising work. The current menagerie includes two min pins, a Cattle dog, papillon, shepherd and eight adorable rats.

Lodging Info

1 - The Dude Ranch is located approximately equi-distant from ASHLAND, VA and GLEN ALLEN (Innsbruck), VA hotel locations. Both collections of hotels/motels are about 10 miles from our facility.

2 - In Ashland, there are 2 or 3 'ma' & 'pa' places. One is called PALM Leaf and the other TWIN OAKS. Both are on US Rt 1. The Dude Ranch has not stayed there nor received any feedback, but they are technically the closest.

3 - In Ashland, about 1 mile further - along ENGLAND ST you can find the collection of traditional motel chains: Hampton INN (no dogs), Howard Johnson Inn & Suites (DOGS - OK!) and The Quality Inn & Suites (DOGS - OK: Our judges usually stay there!). Anything you find on Route 1 near Ashland would also be very near by.

4 - In Glenn Allen - Innsbruck area, about 1 mile further away (but in the opposite direction)- along Cox and Broad Streets you can find additional motel chains: Homewood Suites (DOGS - OK ), Hilton Garden Inn (no Dogs), and the Holiday Inn Express (DOGS = OK) over on Gaskins Rd in Glen Allen.

 

5 - The best bet is to use www.travelocity.com or www.hotels.com and in their search engine check off "pets allowed". Then call each hotel to verify and inquire about pet fees- most places accept pets but for a fee.

 

6 - You can also feel free to board your pet for the nite at the Dude Ranch if you wish to enjoy Richmond nite life or sight seeing on Saturday or Sunday nite during your stay.