THIS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM IS BASED ON THE HONOR SYSTEM.
I offer a lot of free resources to help pet owners and animal professionals get happier animals that are reasonably well behaved and thrive with people.
But some of my courses are paid. These paid courses constitute my living and fund the production of my free courses and all the other free educational content that I create. I’m really grateful to host a global audience, and I’m acutely aware of the vast range of economic realities that my audience is facing – especially in these dire times.
So, I’m offering a number of scholarships – I don’t want financial constraints to limit people’s access to this information!
This Resolving Challenging Behaviour Scholarship program is based on the honor system. Please, only submit an entry for a potential scholarship if it’s truly needs-based. I’m entrusting you — on your honor — to apply for a scholarship because without it, taking the course would not be financially possible right now.
In my selection efforts, I’ll strive to focus on finding candidates that can somehow make an impact in their community – among animals and people. So, check out the details below, and get to it. 🙂
THE Resolving Challenging Behaviour SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.
What it is: Complimentary access to the Resolving Challenging Behaviour course.
How to be considered: Read the following questions and post your answer in the comments below.
Make sure your response is 250 words or less.
- In which country do you live?
- How many animals would directly or indirectly benefit from your taking the course?
- Do you do any animal-related teaching?
- If admission to the Resolving Challenging Behaviour course landed in your lap, how would it help you, the animals in your care or your community? What difference would it make to you and the animals and people around you?
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
- You apply with a written comment below. Yes, it must be public. No email entries will count.
- Answer the four questions above.
- Limit your word count to 250 – longer applications will be disqualified. If you’re unsure of whether you’re at the limit, count them here.
- I’ll award a number of scholarship seats. A specific number is not predetermined.
- The entry deadline for this scholarship is Tuesday, September 3rd at midnight PST, and the recipients will be notified the next day.
- No purchase is necessary to receive a scholarship.
- I’m the judge and my decision is subjective and final.
- Remember: I’m looking for heart, compassion, drive and the ability to follow directions. Show me how this course will help you create meaningful change.
I can’t wait to see your entry!
ps – when you write your entry, it doesn’t become visible immediately – you’ll just be brought to the top of the page. No worries, the comment is in limbo waiting for approval, which should occur within 12 hours. If it’s been more than 15 hours and you still don’t see it, let me know!
34 replies on “Resolving Challenging Behaviour Scholarships”
My name is Robyn Basman and I live in Australia and have a Certificate IV in companion animals which is an animal training qualification. I am a foster carer and help out with the foster carers as a trainer for a rescue organisation and also train a beginners life skill class both on a voluntary basis at a dog club and that runs a new class every month of up to 7-8 new participants. I do some dog sitting but I am very selective, and only short periods as I have 2 foster fails Shelly and Bear from the rescue organisation that were really unadoptable, but I became too attached and they are now part of our family. I have to use lots of management including use of a muzzle with one of them. Shelly is under a Vet behaviourist and the other has revived from anxiety and separation issues. I would love to do this course as I could help many people including my own two dogs. The course I did was mainly life skills and we did touch on learning theory so I do understand the concepts however not in detail and putting it into action. I would love to do your course, however I do hesitate due to cost as I have to discuss and justify purchases like this with my husband as in Australia the cost is around $750 Australian. I would like to apply for a scholarship please.
I live in Vilnius, Lithuania.
It’s hard to say exactly, but I work directly with about 30 different dogs each month. I also run a social media account with a growing community of followers, where I share tips for dog owners for free, discuss animal behavior, and educate anyone interested in learning more, including the latest studies and findings. So, let’s say I reach a few hundred dog owners and enthusiasts regularly.
Yes, I’m a certified dog trainer and behavior specialist at Lithuanian Kennel Club.
It would benefit me tremendously. I passed my final exams as a dog trainer a few months ago, so I am keen to learn more and go deep into animal behavior as much as possible. I changed my career path when I understood that training with dogs, trying to understand them and being around them per se is the most humbling and exciting experience for me. As a result, I realized how often dogs are misunderstood and decided to share my knowledge, give some training tips and provide motivation to the dog owners on my social media. So taking this course would enhance my ability to help both dogs and their owners more effectively.
I live in the U.K.
I’m a groomer so see many dogs. I often have ‘difficult’ dogs referred to me by local vets. Though I have a good working knowledge of behaviour and training , I and my clients could benefit greatly from this course. So many dogs have had traumatic experiences previously that I need help to overcome these.
I have three dogs one of which is a rescue. I realise after watching your first video that I need to lighten her mood to overcome many of our training issues……..a real lightbulb moment!!
I teach at my local dog club and it would be amazing to share what I could learn on this course. It would empower both the trainers and the dogs. We would have strategies to help resolve challenging behaviour .
Thank you for the free videos, so inspiring.
1. NZ.
2. Hopefully plenty, but I truly don’t know. I’ve been learning about people and dogs, and teaching them both for years, and I feel like strong emotional understanding is the link that’s been missing for me.
3. I work with horses, and train my own dogs. I blog a great deal (free resources) and train other dog owners in my spare time.
4. I enrolled in the Animal Emotions course earlier this year and it was really enlightening for me. I’m constantly using my learnings and revisiting my notes. I know of nobody else offering this depth of emotional perspective and as a recovering emotional struggler, I would love to be able to make it more available. I believe it can help people as well as animals because it’s a safe way to introduce it to people. They learn to understand and work with their animal’s emotional state, and on the journey, they do the same for themselves. Emotions scare us – ours and our animals’. We misread them. We avoid them. We fight them. When we learn to see them, feel them, and work with them, it’s hard, but it’s far more real and valuable than avoiding or fighting them. Empathy grows from understanding, and the world sure could use more of that. I would truly appreciate the opportunity to do this course. Many thanks for the wonderful masterclass and the work you do.
I live in Italy with two mixed breed hounds, a cat and an Italian husband. I teach Nosework to dogs and compete, and organise events. I volunteer in the local dog shelter. I have some clients with dogs who need support in their approach to life and I use scent detection and movement puzzles to build and increase their self confidence and ability to deal with our world.
So I reckon the benefits I could spread would reach 25-30 dogs.
In 2017 I took a dog training course which changed my way of looking at the animal world and the way of training using positive reinforcement. I have done so much learning since then and it will never stop and that is so exciting.
If this course landed in my lap I think it would boost my confidence to communicate better to the human side of the couple I come in contact with as well as greater understanding of the dogs. I would have more knowledge to back up my teaching and example led behaviour. One of the things I try hard to do is share information/knowledge with fellow dog trainers/ enthusiasts. It is such a closed shop and I fight to make things available and open to grow together. Sounds a bit pious!!
Complimenti on your singing by the way.
I live in Australia
Probably between 7 – 10 dogs per week would benefit from me taking the course. I have my own dog; I volunteer 4 times per week at a shelter working with on average 3 dogs per visit; and I volunteer at a dog training school once per week where around 2 dogs on average would benefit.
I am very, very slowly learning to do animal related teaching
This course is exactly what I have been looking for. I absolutely love working with dogs and this course would help me to build my knowledge around working with challenging behaviours so I can be clearer about what is causing an unwanted behaviour in my own mind (I am often really unsure why!) and more direct in my response to help change (or prevent!) unwanted behaviours in a way that is positive, compassionate and supportive. My interactions with dogs in a shelter environment are a small part of a dog’s day, where they will have a number of interactions in that day, so me having this knowledge and understanding about behavioural challenges and knowing what to do about it will make a very big difference to the dogs I am working with.
I have lived in New Zealand since 2008, although I was born and raised on the beautiful island Bohus Björkö, maybe you have been?
Possibly hundreds of animals would be better understood if I got the opportunity to view behaviour from your angle. I teach pet parents to learn more about their dogs’ needs and behaviours each week through online and in person dog training and behaviour consultations. The dog I live with would of course also benefit: Percy the terrier who has big feelings and suspiciously takes one the world in his own kind of way.
I come from a background of working with guide dogs in Sweden, to a dog walking and training classes gig in Auckland, and now I have totally nerded out on behaviour. I understand the science, the learning theory, the ABA and ABC’s but I feel like I have been shut down when I have questioned the emotions. This has had me feeling a bit lost and disconnected until watching your videos this past week. This is what I am missing,I am hungry for more. I have recently returned to work after maternity leave and am finding things quite.. Quiet. I am keen to deep dive back into work through this new lens that really has the potential to move humans and dogs into a better place here in New Zealand!
Tusen tack, Clara
I live in the USA.
2 dogs will directly be helped; both involve unwanted behaviour related to children as a “species.”
Dog 1: Is a resource-guarding 8-month old puppy Australian Shepherd (rooms, couch, toys, food, etc.)
Dog 2: just hates kids.
— My daughter and grandkids can’t fly out to visit us because it’s not safe for her kids.
I’ve done some basic training to modify the pup’s behavior: go to his “spot,” kid-given treats, and divert attention. He’s now great with kids OUTSIDE the home.
Also, after watching the masterclass, I adjusted my pup’s walks to include more joy and seek & sniff time. Just that lifted his mood and willingness to do behaviors. And he smiled A LOT more! I’m over 60 years old, Buddy will most likely be my last dog, and I want him to be my go-anywhere companion. For the issue with the older dog, we just avoid situations with kids 🙁
But mainly, the scholarship means my grandkids will be able to fly out to visit us and be safe. (always be supervised.) because we’d know how to help the dogs be happy and therefore keep the kids safe. We’re a close-knit family, but the dogs have become a tension point. Thank you so much for the opportunity!
BTW, I can teach you how you can translate and dub your videos into any other language using AI. Your voice, giving your lectures in any language to a global audience. And it looks and sounds amazing.
1. I live in New Zealand.
2. The potential is for many cats to benefit. I have a day job and also a small business that I’m gradually growing working with caregivers who have cats with challenging behaviours. My next step is that I want to be able to reach more people through workshops, helping people to recognise body language and also ensure their cats have the necessary resources and enrichment to live really enjoyable lives.
3. I have Level 5 training in feline behavioural management.
4. I found the three videos really interesting and useful, thank you. I love to learn, and with feline behaviour, there’s a lot to learn and understand! While I have done some training, I know I need to learn more. The situations I’m contacted about often involve unwanted behaviours that have been present for some time, sometimes years, and can be very challenging—especially cases where cats are aggressively attacking people or other cats. Unfortunately, I often hear of cats being surrendered to rescues or euthanised because it was believed they couldn’t be helped. I have some skills and have successfully resolved cases of aggression, but I want a deeper understanding of what’s going on and a more systematic approach to each situation. With one current case the aggression has reduced significantly but isn’t fully resolved and he’s still attacking. I believe this course would benefit me and also mean I can pass on my knowledge to others, benefiting their cats and caregivers.
I live in the northeastern region of the United States and have worked in animal sheltering for over 30 years. Recently, I completed a postgraduate-level degree in veterinary science/shelter medicine which included some animal behavior components. It is hard to quantify how many animals would benefit if I could further my education by taking this course, but the number could potentially reach into the thousands. These would include animals in direct shelter care as well as those that could remain with their families if I could provide advice to address behavior concerns that might lead to relinquishment.
While I am not currently involved in animal-related teaching, it is a future goal of mine and one of the reasons I decided to pursue an advanced degree.
I believe that for shelter professionals to best meet the needs of animals in shelter care and the communities that shelters serve, engaging in continuous education and lifelong learning is crucial. If I received admission to this course, it would help me build upon the animal behavior knowledge I’ve gained thus far through experience and formal education. It could enable me to provide members of my community with more informed and effective counsel that might make the difference between ruptured human-animal bonds leading to shelter relinquishment and the maintenance of healthy bonds within intact human-animal family units. The difference this would make could be significant, and, at a time of historically high shelter intake rates in the US, potentially life-saving!
I live I Finland. I am retired from a long career in veterinary clinical practice, and now dedicating my time and effort in studying and learning more about animal, especially equine, behaviour and welfare. I do distant university studies in Equine Science, and take part in several congresses and seminars in Equitation Science and Horse Welfare. I have recently been elected the chair person in horse welfare team for a national equitation association. This voluntary work consists of keeping the board and stakeholders updated on animal welfare research, communicating and informing, writing articles and organizing education for members. For some weeks ago, I also published a book about the Icelandic horse, horse people and equitation culture in Iceland, available only in Finnish for the moment. The book is science based but easily read, with amazingly beautiful pictures taken by my colleague. While writing the book I attended your course Animal Emotions, and got so much inspiration, deepened my knowledge in animal behaviour and gained much better view. By taking Challenging Behaviour Solving course, I would even further expand my vision and help more horses and horsemen to thrive.
Hi, here is my scholarship application!
1. I’m from Quebec, Canada.
2. I would say about 30 horses would benefit from me taking this course and much more since I teach other people regularly in my area so they will certainly benefit from it too.
3. Yes, I’m a horse trainer, I’m training horses but most importantly teach their owners.
4. In the equestrian world, the training methods and the programs are often based on the owners and trainers goals. The horse’s point of view, emotions and consent are neglected and challenging reactions are often labeled as training issues to solve. I want to bring the horse’s point of view into account, even if I’m not in his head. Having scientific knowledge and practical applications via this course would help me put objective words on the reactions, take into account the emotions, the environment and the function of the behavior to change. I think this course will take my teaching to the next level, stepping away from the traditional horse training approach. It would be an amazing opportunity for me to learn from you and the community. The fact to have access to other people from other background, working with other animals will make this course very enriching.
Thank you for the opportunity.
0. Hello, my name´s Mary. h
1. I live in Germany.
2. I don´t know how many animals witwill benefit from my work. At the moment there are 3 cats my family and me are caring for at our home. One is very sensitive, one is traumatized.
I´m soon becoming a cat behaviour consultant. So there are some more cats and their families I want to help to understand their cat (s) and find a way to a better together.
My focus will be the anxoius and traumatized cats. Because in my environment these are the most forgotten and misunderstood cats- unseen in shelters, mistreated at the vet and unwanted in families – but full of needs. I have a `special hand´ for these cats.
For these cats I switched my volunteer work at our local shelter from a foster mom to a cat consultant and therapist.
3. Yes, of course! One of my motto is: Explaining the world of the cat out of the perspective of the cat- for a better understanding an a respectful together.
4. I hope that this course will give me a deeper dive in to understand better what´s going on in our cats minds and how and why they (re-) act like they do. So this will have an effect of how I cooperate with `my´ cats and it will help me to better communicate and explain it to their families or animal care centers e.g..
In future I want to give free courses at our schools, kindergartens and other organisations as well of how the world of our cats looks like out of the cats perspective to also help them to be more open for the needs of our cats. I want to be part of the change for a more friendly and respectful world for all- our cats, other animals and people.
I live in Canada.
I have 5 cats from a shelter who couldn’t be adopted because they were too wild. Two dogs, a 16-year-old bitch and a 2-year-old Malinois adopted two months ago from a local shelter following a police seizure for abuse at the age of 5 months with his mother and brothers and sisters. Unfortunately, he was in this shelter all this time because of too many behavioral problems and on medication like Fluoxetine and Gabapentin. I have just finished weaning him off his medications and I would like to pick up his brother who is still in this shelter with the same serious behavior problems as well. I have also been given several horses with behavioral problems over the years. Occasionally I give riding lessons.
But my interest is really to help animals with trouble, understand them and reconcile them with human beings. I am a member of The International Society for Equitation Science because I try to base my interventions on methods proven by science. There is a lack of knowledge and misconception about dog/horse behaviors and training.
This scholarship would be an opportunity for me to deepen my knowledge, my understanding of the emotional well-being of dogs and horses, my training ability… to help animals and primarily my Malinois dog, possibly his brother and all those that life puts in my way.
I live in rural Nova Scotia, Canada, where I have dedicated my life to animal welfare. My journey began in the mid-1980s as a Field Agent with the local SPCA. Alongside a fellow agent and a passionate team, we worked tirelessly to make our vision a reality, successfully opening SHAID Tree Animal Shelter after eight months of effort.
My commitment to animal welfare intensified over the years. I became an active volunteer, promoting awareness through radio interviews, television appearances, and articles in publications like Reader’s Digest. In 2019, I earned a Certificate in Canine Behaviour from the ISCP, UK, continually striving to enhance my knowledge. My academic background is in psychology and philosophy, which allow me to approach animal welfare from both scientific and ethical perspectives.
Volunteering is central to my life; I have volunteered with numerous rescues and shelters, providing care and support for animals in need. I also collaborated with Sandra Mitchell, DVM, DABVP, to develop research and educational materials for veterinary professionals on the Veterinary Information Network. Additionally, I founded the first ferret rescue in Atlantic Canada, leading the organization and fostering special needs and hospice care ferrets.
My lifelong dedication to animal welfare is filled with meaningful experiences and ongoing learning. With the additional knowledge attained from your course, I will continue to positively impact the lives of animals, leveraging my knowledge, skills, and compassion to create a more humane world for our beloved companions.
My current fur family consists of 2 dogs and 3 cats.
1. UK
2. My own rehomed cocker spaniel (who has on-lead reactivity issues through poor/lack of socialisation and on-lead training) plus dogs i walk as a volunteer for a UK charity. The charity ensures elderly and disabled people can keep their pets with them and arranges for volunteers to walk the persons dog(s) where otherwise they would potentially have to give them up.
3. I don’t do teaching but i have previously completed a foundation degree in Canine Studies but couldn’t afford the tuition fees for the final year to obtain a full degree. I would love to change career and move into this field of work, but hadn’t found a suitable course previously which would follow on from the knowledge obtained during my University course.
4. It would help me understand the emotions behind my spaniels’ behaviour – previously i had German Shepherds and i feel a different type of understanding is needed than i had with them. I rehomed him when he was 10 months old and attend training classes with him, but these do not deal with the psychology of ‘why’ he behaves as he does and are more practical, every day obedience. The classes help, but i know from my own previous studying that there is more i could do to help him and others in the training class whose dogs need extra help. It would also help me understand the behaviours and emotions of the dogs i walk as part of my volunteer role.
My name is Alison Lincoln and I live in the UK. I currently work as a freelance groom, rider, coach and Equine facilitated learning practitioner. I also have responsibility (along with other family members) caring for 3 elderly relatives with dementia & alzheimers which means I am limited in the amount of hours I can work and so I tend to seek out free opportunities to learn. I have 3 horses of my own who would benefit from me taking this course as well as all the other horses I come into contact with while grooming and coaching. My EFL work would undoubtably benefit as it is working with people in partnership with horses to understand their way of being in the world. My particular interest in all things behaviour, ethology and wellbeing has come into sharp focus since dementia has entered my life. It has changed what I notice and how I seek to better understand what is the unmet need driving the behaviour. Not sure the number of animals but likely 5-10 at any one time directly and hopefully many more indirectly by helping others to notice more and understand where their animals are coming from. All my work is in partnership with horses. The difference this course would make is giving me the confidence to not only notice what’s going on for that animal but then be able to suggest how it might be resolved or how we might go forward and help that animal feel better.
I live in the Netherlands and together with my husband we have a pug and shiba shelter. In this shelter we guide and care for dogs with traumas and behavioral problems. We give dogs that are on a list to be put to sleep a new chance in our family. I have followed various courses and have my own practice as an animal communicator- dog coach – naturopath. I am mainly interested in the emotions and motivations of an animal. By helping owners to gain insight into why an animal shows “undesirable” behavior, we can eliminate a lot of misunderstanding. This can prevent animals from ending up in a shelter.
I provide consultations and give training with a maximum of 4 dogs in a group. Essential here is learning to (re)cognize body language such as calming and stress signals. Cooperation, understanding and good communication are the basis for a good relationship with their dog.
After following the Challenging Behavior Masterclass, I became enthusiastic because a lot of things fell into place. With the Resolving Challenging Behaviour course I can help animals even more efficiently. By continuing to develop myself and transferring this knowledge to owners, this will have an effect on humans and animals like an oil slick. Since the shelter runs on donations, the Scholarship program would really offer a solution for us.
I live in the UK
I have 3 dogs of my own, one of which has experienced severe behaviour problems in the past. Although his struggles are now almost entirely resolved it has sparked a keen interest in animal behaviour and I find it all absolutely fascinating!
I work with between 50-70 dogs a week in classes and on a 121 basis.
I have fairly good practical training skills, much of which developed through desperately trying to help my dog feel better when he was finding life exceedingly overwhelming and I was considering behavioural euthanasia as potentially the only ethical option left – it simply wasn’t fair to keep him alive when he was spending most of his time experiencing severe anxiety! Thankfully we got things turned around and we are now on a mission to help other dogs!
It would help me improve my training further and increase my understanding of what is driving the dogs behaviour problems – I’m particularly interested in emotions as I feel this is what had the biggest impact on turning my own dogs life around! 10 minutes of very fun trick training = 2-3 hours of a happy dog that coped so much better with life!
I figured a lot out by trial and error and would love to learn all the science behind it!
Hi Karolina! I am coming to you from delightful Oregon, USA. I l9ve your courses because, as a doctor of Evolutionary Biology, and parsimony fan, it makes sense to incorporate inention, empathy, and emotions into our training.
As well as being a certified dog behavior consultant, I offer free online resources on Facebook for dog owners who can’t or won’t access pro training. I hear we make a difference. I and 20+ admins have personally answered over 50,000 questions! We do so with kindness, empathy, and meeting needs in the forefront. Your information helps us do this with confidence!
We now have over 200,000 human members, plus we host other pro-trainers. I don’t know how many we will influence-directly mbbe 50,000? Maybe more, as people share their love, theor empathy, their success.
Hello, The course is not too much money, it is just more than I have in my pocket!!! I live in the USA.I have been a dog trainer since 2009. I assist with training mentor trainers for Legend Acres. This program is geared towards helping people to learn how to train in the most intelligent and compassionate method possible. Service dog and pet dog. I am a 4H leader for kids in the dog project. I also do online consulting for Zigzag puppy training . The number of dogs I would be able to help if I was granted a scholarship would be to infinity and back. I would also pass this knowledge to the children in 4H. So, that knowledge would help the world be a kinder place. I may be your oldest student, but my passion for animals is strong. Thank you for considering me!!
Hi! Thank you for an inspiring master class! I live in Sweden and am currently studying for a master’s degree in ethology at the university to further explore my interest in animal behavior.
Having worked as a small animal veterinarian for some years, I’ve noticed a significant need and demand for greater knowledge in this area, both within the profession and among pet owners. Through free online consultations, I’ve been able to reach hundreds of animal owners seeking help with the health issues and other problems of their dogs and cats. I would be delighted to assist with more complex cases related to behavioral issues, both online and in person. I also have a dog at home who struggles with reactivity towards other dogs, which requires ongoing training for both of us. The master program I am studying has given me great knowledge about ethology in general, but resolving challenging behaviors is a vast field, and I am eager to fill in the gaps in my knowledge.
I live in the UK with my 8 rescue dogs. All of which would have not been here today if they did not live with us due to complex behaviours.
I work as a Clinical Animal Behaviourist as well as a teacher. Completing this course would benefit my clients dogs, my dogs and also the dogs I foster. My work as a teacher allows me to educate and inspire the next generation of Behaviourist and Trainers.
I teach both in the class room as well as on a one to one bases and classes with my clients.
I believe in constant learning and love to always increase my skill set in regards to Behaviour. I believe all dogs should have choice and agency to make them more confident in themselves.
This course works allow me to teach new skills.
I live in Belgium. I am a clinical animal behaviorist and a dog trainer. I work at a local dog school where I try to teach people valuable skills so they can have a happy, well functioning dog. A dog that feels good in their own skin (with attention to both physical and emotional health). I teach 3 group classes each week ranging from puppies and adolescent dogs to rescue dogs and adult dogs. Every month new dogs enter our dog school. I would use the information and skills form this course to better help my clients, both at the dog school and in my private practice. I thus feel like enhancing my knowledge by having a structured course that combines the different areas that I have studied will impact my work immensely. It would help me work through behavioral cases more efficiently and with more trust in my own abilities.
I love teaching, I absolutely adore it. So having a very clear and structured understanding of this topic will help me spread that knowledge to regular dog guardians. In turn they will feel empowered to beter help their dog. I also hope to make a difference by using these techniques at the dog school to prevent problems from developing. I already do that, but would love to have even more knowledge and ideas on how to do it.
My mission is to empower people and their dogs. By giving them the skills to safely navigate the complex human world.
Dog trainer in Sweden, started Angel’s dog school in 2024, Webinar, lectures, private training, group training throughout central Sweden.
All my life I have heard that I am too kind and have too much patience with dogs. I cannot explain my deep relationship with animals. I am a trained dog trainer and behavior investigator at Sommenbyggdens Folkhögskola. There, a whole new world opened up for me and I could start putting into words things that are obvious to me.
Full of joy and energy, I discover that most people are stuck in old school and quick solutions.
Daily I see people yelling, jerking, pushing their dogs. They continue to dominate and justify their behaviors as true leaders. A big problem is that their truths have been around for so long that they don’t even need to be questioned.
If I present something as obvious as that you shouldn’t stand up to a dog and stare, do I have to have research data? If the dog responded to a stare by barking and raising a rag, I think that should be sufficient as a basis.
I made the decision in June that now it’s enough nonsense and I’m changing all my work to spreading new knowledge and teaching dog owners more about the dog’s language and needs. I have only one goal and that is to improve the lives of dogs. They should be allowed to keep their joie de vivre, spontaneity and playfulness.
I’ve gone from dog trainer to dog geek.
1. I live in Denmark.
2. I work at the animal shelter in Roskilde, primarily on the dog team, but also with cats, birds, rodents, rabbits and so on. We find new families to approximately 9000 animals each year.
3. I also teach a few puppy classes after work as I am a certified dog trainer. (As well at some one-to-one pro bono work for those who love their animals, but haven’t got the funds).
4. If all of these new adoptive families, new puppy owners in my classes and friends and family are taught to think different than the “animal being difficult” we could change the way we have pets in our culture and maybe prevent a fraction of those animals who get dumped or need rehoming. Yes, that is a big ask of society, but we have to start somewhere. Teaching people, so they can teach their friends and families is the only way forward.
As for the animals in my immediate care, my own two dogs are benefitting greatly from increased focus on seeking to reduce their reactive or nervous behaviors. One is naturally nervous and the other is a rescue, which I “accidentally” adopted, when he arrived at the shelter 12 years old and malnourished. He’s 13 now and much reduced in his reactivity.
1. Sweden.
2. Approximately 30 per month
3. Yes, I am a certified part-time dog trainer (h-märkt).
4. B.A.T and counter conditioning has helped my dog reactive dog become mostly rehabilitated but thats about as far as my knowledge about emotions and challenging behaviours in dogs extend. Dog owners in my classes ask me about different challenging behaviours every week and I really feel that I want to help them better but don’t know how to. I know that the methods exists but I cant find any more books or good resources on the subject.
1.Sydney Australia
2.I have 2 x sproodles (springer spaniel/poodle) who are 2 years old. I have been interested in your work for sometime.
3.I want to teach but don’t feel that I have enough knowledge.
4. I have always had a natural affinity with animals. I live on the bush so often have encounters with wild animals and birds. I am passionate about helping animals. I am patient and have good instincts and am empathetic. I have watched a lot of training videos and trained our 2 x male puppies. I am very interested in understanding why things happen and ethical, gentle and fun ways of training. I clicker trained our dogs. Our land backs onto the bush and I needed to train them to be free and explore the edge but not go any further. They are pretty good but there are some behaviours I would like to understand and change. I am interested in operant conditioning and would like to learn a lot more about reinforcing behaviours and how to identify them to redirect behaviour. I work in film and tv and currently there is very little work. I really want to retrain and do something useful. I see a lot of owners and dogs in our local area that need training and would like to be able to help them..
I got flung into the world of fostering 4 months ago when my local shelter was at critical capacity and needed to “make space” I ended up adopting my first foster a 50 lb Pitbull. I have always been afraid of dogs so this took me by surprise. 8 days later I brought in my second “first foster” I have had the joy of giving loving temporary homes to at least 10 dogs since then. They have each come with their own set of challenges. A mini pit who attacked my foster, a deaf puppy, a hound mix that ran away, then scaled my baby gate to get into a box of raisins. I’ve read so many books and watched so many videos so I can do my best to give these dogs entrusted to me the best start to a successful adoption. I also do my best to educate and provide resources to adopters and others in the foster community to help them with their dogs . I’ve seen this course recommended on a R+ page I follow and I would love to have the chance to educate myself so I can help the other dogs that come in my care and the care of the rescue I volunteer with.
1. I live in the UK.
2. If I could take this course, not only would I have more tools to help my own reactive street dog, but I would also be better equipped to help those I see as a canine behaviour consultant. I write a monthly column in a magazine distributed into homes across South East England in which I aim to educate and inspire dog owners. So although I struggle to quantify how many animals would benefit directly and indirectly, I aim to spread the practical benefits of my learning as far as possible.
3. As well as conducting 1-to-1 and group teaching with clients, I’ve also taken a position teaching Behaviour and Learning to school leavers. I find the science behind animal behaviour fascinating and am keen to spark similar enthusiasm in everyone I can. By helping people have a better understanding of animal behaviour, I hope to encourage more people to champion science-based training methods and prioritise the wellbeing of the animals they interact with.
4. Having taken your Advanced Animal Training course, I know how engaging and insightful your courses are. Taking Resolving Challenging Behaviour would enable me to continue growing as a trainer, an ethologist, and animal advocate not only to improve the lives of the animals I work with but also to further empower the clients, students and readers I connect with. The more I learn, the greater my confidence, the louder my voice – I want to take this even further.
1. Australia
2. Many. I run 7 group classes a week as well as one on one cat behaviour consults.
3. I teach group classes for dogs and behaviour consults for cats.
4. Using the information found through this course, I would be able to increase my knowledge of animal behaviour and then pass that knowledge onto my clients who would then use it to help their own pets live their best lives.
In this industry, it is important to always continue learning and increasing our knowledge to ensure we are providing the best advice in the industry.
Thank you for your consideration.
My name is Cindy, and I live in the Central Valley of California United States.
I work with disabled handlers helping them learn to train their service dogs, in addition to my two personal dogs. Every team and their future dogs that I work with would benefit. From what I learn and share. Hundreds of service dog teams would benefit. I’m a Canine Coach with Crazy 2 Calm Canine Coaches, a group of trainers/coaches dedicated providing training, on line and in person to the disabled community training their own service/assistance dogs. I’m also working through Hannah Brannigan’s Zero to CD obedience program because it’s the only program I’ve found that’s force free obedience.
I’m a firm believer that knowledge is power, and there is a lack of knowledge in dog behavior and training. I’m passionate about teaching dogs and handlers without pain, fear, or force. I live in an area where this knowledge is lacking.
USA
Hundreds! I work with dogs in private training, classes and by volunteering in shelters.
I teach humans how to best communicate with and share their lives with their dogs and other animals daily.
I will use this scholarship to increase my understanding of the emotional well-being of animals to expand my practice and better serve the people and animals I work with. I have done deep dives into ABA, Functional Analysis, Reactivity, Body Language and Communication, and many training techniques. The emotional experiences of animals have not been thoroughly addressed thus far in my work and a science-based education would help inform and guide my clients as they work with their animals.
My child is autistic and loves horses, and working with the kids and horses has shown me the enormous impact of cross-species emotional regulation and well-being. An in-depth understanding of how moods, emotions, nervous system regulation, polyvagal theory, and practical understanding of animal emotional responses would empower me to teach humans and help dogs throughout my life and career. I understand that many of the animals I work with do not come with a written account of their learning history and previous trauma and feel that there is more I can learn about knitting together science, psychology, biology, nutrition, attachment styles, and more can create a more structured approach to helping animals to heal and transform their lives with their caregivers. My life is dedicated to giving animals a voice and caregivers the tools to hear them.
I live in Norway. I am currently working as a volunteer, and dog training student. I own four dogs. The oldest and youngest have become ill and have been in and out of the veterinarian office for the past 120 days. The oldest have developed PTSD like symptoms post surgery and is struggling in spirit. Yesterday he got a clean bill of health, physically. Now I need new tools in my tool box to help him. And our puppy who has displayed unwanted behavior for months, that has been difficult to figure out. She is currently under veterinarian supervision and she wants us to focus mostly on behavior, she thinks that her stress levels might be the cause of the potential disease. She’s had CT, xrays, ultrasound, bloodwork and everything there is. Now we are desperate to have our family live in some harmony again, together with the dogs. All of our stress levels and moods have been shifty and a bit high. I used to be a breeder and I have a lot of previous purebred pups from age 9 months to 7 years whom I follow up and help when problems arise, and I think this class would be of big benefit to them aswell as for me.
Thank you for the opportunity.