Whatever your role with dogs, this two-day seminar will be a wonderful opportunity to increase your understanding of aggression and how to manage it. Trainers, behaviour consultants, vet clinic staff, shelter workers, kennels and daycare handlers, foster carers, walkers, and enthusiastic owners. There's something for everyone!

Spaces are strictly limited, so don't delay ... register today!

Saturday 8th April

09:00-10:15: Understanding and Working with Dog Aggression
Keeping it simple is key to fostering an understanding of aggressive behaviour by our clients or adopters. Mike will highlight the straightforward concepts and techniques he incorporates in aggression cases for successful outcomes.

10:15-10:30: Morning tea

10:30-12:15: Dog to Human Aggression Cases: Behaviour Change in Action
Mike will be showcasing real case studies, with video, demonstrating successful resolutions
from start to finish with dogs who have a history of aggression. From safety to management to
prognosis to behaviour change --- this presentation covers it all and highlights each step of the way through actual aggression cases.

12:15-13:15: Lunch

13:15-15:15: Avoiding the Bitey End of the Dog - Defensive Handling and Leash Skills
This session will be all about leash skills, strategies, and equipment to incorporate to ensure
safety for yourself, other people, and other animals when working with dogs who have a
history of aggression.

15:15-15:30: Afternoon tea

15:30-17:00: Ready, Set, Emotion! 
Mike will highlight the emotions that influence dog aggression, what they look like, and why
they matter. This session will include videos of dogs displaying body language and behaviour that
is indicative of certain underlying emotions, and what we can do as practitioners to help our
clients and their dogs in aggression cases.

Sunday 9th April

09:00-10:15: Arousal and Aggression
What does “arousal” have to do with aggressive behaviours in dogs? In some cases, arousal can
be the catalyst for an intense, aggressive response, sometimes redirected at something a dog may not even be focused on. We may also see cases where a dog in a highly aroused state spill
over into aggressive behaviour.
Mike will first define this sometimes-controversial topic and discuss why it is crucial to consider
arousal as a factor in aggression cases. Prevention, management, and behaviour change strategies will be highlighted.

10:15-10:30: Morning tea

10:30-12:00: Client Consulting – Navigating Difficult Conversations, Improving Client Commitment, and Fostering Success
Effective communication with clients is an essential skill in aggression cases. The most common “communication hurdles” we can encounter as behaviour consultants, and sample scripts to encourage client participation will be highlighted.

11:45-12:45: Lunch

12:45-14:45: Staying Safe in Aggression Cases and Proactive Handling for Sudden Environmental Contrasts
Dog bites can present serious ramifications, especially when under the supervision of a dog
training professional. Before working an aggression case, it is crucial to ensure safety for all
involved by setting the environment incorporating best practices. Proficiency in the requisite defensive handling techniques is also critical to mitigating disastrous outcomes.
Mike will be discussing the consequences that can occur when dogs bite; the safety considerations to have in place before working an aggression case; and a variety of defensive handling skills that can be employed in emergency scenarios.
Proactivity is always better than reactivity in these cases, and Mike will be showcasing a variety of handling skills that can help dogs and their handlers in areas that can be fraught with challenges.

14:45-15:00: Afternoon tea

15:00-17:00: Resource Guarding in Dogs
Dispelling myths, how to modify resource guarding, and real case examples with video. How to work with and modify resource guarding between animals in the home will also be highlighted.