Sorry, access to this free training has expired.
The Masterclass was a success – here’s what people had to say about it:
- Christa: Wonderful!!! In name of all animals that will be happier because of this I thank you from the bottom of my heart. This is so needed!
- Johanna: I have just seen the video 1 of your masterclass! Usually I don’t get past the first 8-10 minutes of online classes – but completed yours. The class was well presented, super interesting and you are an outstanding speaker! Thank you so much ❤️
- Gillian: I feel like a big lightbulb lit up when I saw the first video.
- Lisa: I’ve just watched the second video and all is so clear now! I used to get so muddled in my thinking and this had helped enormously in clarifying all these concepts – which had previously been beyond my understanding!! I am so grateful to you ❤️❤️
- Jaime: I didn’t realize I was my own barrier until I watched video #2.
- Brian: O-M-G. Karolina, you have such an amazing way of making the ‘nerdiest’ of information relevant and inspiring.
- Jeannine: Video 3 is amazing!! I feel like I need to rewatch it several times.
- Christa: Thank you so much! You turned me into a bigger training nerd than I already was and I love it.
- Holly: I loved the mini-course videos! Hands down the best I’ve ever seen.
- Judy: This is my fourth time catching this presentation. Needless to say, I learn something new and better each time.
- Judith: Watch this everyone! I learned more in this free masterclass than in many a paid program!
The Masterclass will be back in 2025! Meanwhile, here’s a couple of the blog posts that my readers find the most thought-provoking:
Loved your master classes, especially the one on start button behaviors. Is it a start button behavior if the handler does a hand signal that indicates a question to the dog and then the dog has the opportunity to start the behavior by moving forward or deny the behavior by staying back? For example, I ask my papillon if she wants to be picked up by putting both my palms in front of her. If she moves forward, I pick her up. If she doesn’t, I don’t.
Yes, I’d say “moving forward” is a start button behaviour! She decides whether that chain of sequences start or not. 🙂
Thank you for those 3 Advanced Exploration videos ; I’ll finish the Animal Emotions Class I started and then, a year from now as you open up the Advanced class again, see where I’m at. My very reactive Parson Russel Terrier Rachel is turning 2 soon and I’ve been working and training and learning lots with you Karolina – thanks. More is awaiting. And today, I did something differently without paying attention and got a behaviour I wanted and she enjoyed ! I used to go downstairs to prepare to go on a walk and then call Rachel and she’d come downstairs and for some reason recently didn’t want to put on her harness… Today, I got the harness downstairs and went upstairs, put it on the floor, prepared my self and she stayed rather close to me and when I was ready presented the harness and she agreed to put it on and out we went…
So glad you enjoyed the videos, Annick! The first thing to look for when you get that type of sudden behaviour change would be medical issues, so if she continues to balk at the harness I would suggest having a vet check. Best of luck, and I’ll *see* you in the Animal Emotions class! 🙂
fantastic! so well explained. Much appreciate this video. Can’t wait to get to work on this
Glad you found it useful, Vanessa! 🙂
I am interested in taking this (and possibly other) courses. You say this is available for a limited time. When will registration close for this masterclass? Thank you! I hope to enroll soon!
Hi Jessi,
the short free Masterclass is available until midnight the 25th of April, PST – and that’s also when access to the full course Advanced Animal Training closes 🙂
Thank you. I won’t be able to take this course at this time then 🙁 I see your behavior course starts in September so I’ll have time to budget for it and look forward to that class in September!
See you in September then! 🙂
Great Masterclass Karolina, I took your animal emotions course and it was great . If we sign up for the master course are we required to start it right away ? I have another course that I will be starting and need to finish before attending a conference later this year. I know I don’t have the bandwidth to do two courses at the same time , nor the time , so I want to make a wise decision financially 🙂
Hi Natalie, no stress! The Advanced Animal Training course is organized similarly to the Animal Emotions course: the modules are released weekly, and full access unlocks after 9 weeks. Many people don’t show up for the first several months..! 🙂
Thankyou for these. Ive taken so many notes. The video on classical conditioning has explained so many things Ive been curious about and the negative reinforcement discussion has really opened my mind – I never fully understood that Grisha Stewarts BAT approach for reactivity could be negative reinforcement but it makes much more sense now. Ill definitely be more thoughtful when using treats, and assess what my dogs behaviour might actually be maintained by. I have my first ‘challenging’ dog at the moment and have felt out of my depth with how to help her anxieties and change aspects of her behaviour. These videos gave me a bit more insight and Im very grateful!
So interested to learn more nuances – I really hope I can do the full course next year.
Hi Gatto, so glad to hear that the Masterclass was useful for you! And yes, that part of BAT is an exquisite use of R-, for sure! Perhaps I’ll *see* you in some future course, then? 🙂
I have loved this masterclass so much information. This is my first dog , who is now 3 and suffered some traumas, but I think this may be too much for me to commit to at this point in my life. However I really hope by next year when it reopens I am in a place I can join. Love the fact it’s across species. Fantastic thank you for time and effort this must have taken to put together
Tracey – so glad to hear that this resonated with you! Hope to *see* you next year, then! 🙂
After (re)watching the video on start buttons I realised I actually taught a one-and-done start button. I’m working on nice cooperative care for nail trimming with my two dogs, but as that is a long process, I train it with the new dremmel but I keep clipping the nails ‘old way’ with clippers, but I try to make it as stress-free as possible, lots of treats involved. And with the more delicate dog I first ask if she’s into it. I take treats and the clippers, I show her the clippers, I sit on the sofe and ask her to join me. She knows very well what the clippers mean but she decides to join. And yes, it is a forced decision in terms “if you want that food, you need to have your nails clipped”. But after one or two paws I let her on the floor and give a treat and then ask again if she if ready for more. And there were time when she said “no, not anymore” but lately she more often jumps back onto the sofa. So I guess that even that it still is stressful and she has no obvious way to make me stop, we’re at the point when she feels safe enough to opt in.
Of course I do my best not to hurt her and I do react when she vocalises when it is possible that I’m trying to cut too much.
Sounds like you’ve made some great progress, then – well done! 🙂
I have yet to finish the Resolving Challenging Behaviors course. Nearly done. And then I am going to go thru it all again. I will see about taking this one next year when it comes around again. I am addicted to learning from you! I am not a professional anything, just an aged horse owner enjoying what I am learning.
Laura – *see* you in the RCB-course, then! Slow but steady wins the race, isn’t that how the saying goes..? 🙂
Really brilliant commentary. I can’t say I’ve heard anything that I agree with more when it comes to animal training.
Glad to hear that, Melissa! 🙂
How do I apply for scholarship please?
If you think the big course is right for you, it’s right here: https://illis.se/en/advanced-animal-training-scholarships/
Great training. I’d heard of start buttons but not how to go about teaching them so now I can see if I can teach one for when I want to brush my dog, something she dislikes. Love to give her choice and the confidence to say yes
Best of luck, Tracey! 🙂
Do you know those little hat shelf dogs in cars, with the wobbly heads? That’s what I looked like watching Video 2 about Classical conditioning and blocking and overshadowing. All very recognizable. 😉 Thanks!
eeeehhhh…no? Pictures please!! 🙂 can’t quite figure out if the wobbling is bewildered/confused or more of a “sooo many interesting things, not sure what to look at” kinda thing.
More of a ‘Yes precisely that’- head nodding repeatedly kind of thing ;-). Sorry, I don’t know how to add pictures here.
Ah, I see it now..! 🙂 glad to hear it! 🙂
Have used start button behavior prior to agility training at home . I want to see if my dog is ready to work.Sometimes she is not ready and needs a walk in the woods to smell and relax.
Such an important observation – the level of arousal needs to be matched to the task!
I am committed to my continued education. I’m hoping this information & the concepts you teach us will help me be the best trainer for my clients & their unique dogs. Thank you!
YOu’re welcome, Penny! 🙂
Thank you for this Masterclass. I’ve heard of Start Button behaviours and love the concept of giving dogs a choice in this way. Loving this so far and can’t wait to start teaching my dogs about start buttons. I’m also looking forward to your views on Negative Reinforcement.
Glad you found this first chapter useful, Louise! 🙂
Thank you Karolina. This is the second set of free videos I have watched and you make the information so accessible. I feel I have been looking for you for a long time. Now my challenge is to put what I am learning into action. I am hoping to take your advanced training in the fall. I have too much going on in my left to give it the focus needed.
Hi Mardie, so glad you enjoy these videos! Perhaps I’ll see you in one of my big courses at some later point then – a wise decision not to get overwhelmed 🙂
Thank you I’m looking forward to learning even more from you to help me be a better trainer
*see* you in the Masterclass, Jeanette! 🙂
Thank you very much for helping me to understand and work better with my dog.
You’re welcome, Mihaela! 🙂
And so this can, and has been used by behavioral scientists with humans. Something in very recent history hasn’t it.
If you want to know what its like emotionally being trained this way, just think about your own feelings during this time, and how the majority ran to accept a jab in their arms, which they ordinarily wouldn’t have accepted, and the relief that brought (to those who didn’t suffer or pay with their lives).
The power is explosive, especially when the subject doesn’t know they are being trained like an animal.
With “trained this way” I’m assuming you mean through negative reinforcement? And yes there are many parallels from human society from the Dark Side of R-, for sure – and I would agree that getting vaccinated could be construed as an R- behaviour for some (and I’m sure it was more of an unconditioned aversive for others, just as the lockdowns were).
Thank you for this training. When I watched a video of yours before I thought it was some of the best theory and advice I had ever seen in 20 years of having GSD’s. So grateful.
Hi Yve – so glad to hear that, thank you! 🙂 I hope you’ll enjoy this training too! 🙂
Great topic. Thank you!
Looking forward to gaining knowledge to help me be a better mum to my fur baby
Hopefully you’ll get some useful ideas, Barbara! 🙂