Trial Management Techniques

Saturday, Oct. 7

1:40PM - 3:40PM

Experience Level: All

Being in a trial environment often means being in a novel location with a lot more stimulation and distractions than you might usually see. Even the most seasoned dog can sometimes need your support and advocacy! You’ll need to be able to navigate busy, high arousal environments, prevent their social engagement with others, and keep their boundaries maintained so that the stress stays low.

In this lab we’ll practice some movement strategies and mental-game techniques to keep your dog able to cope with higher stress situations or close proximity to others, while staying connected to you. Join Amy to learn some tricks to traverse crowded areas with connection (magnet moves!) and games to keep their attention as other things pass by!

Presenter Bio

Amy Cook, PhD

Dr. Amy Cook (she/her) has her PhD in Psychology from UC Berkeley, where her research focused on the dog-human relationship and its effect on the problem solving strategies dogs employ. She is an International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, a longstanding professional member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT), and was one of the first trainers nationally to become a Certified Professional Dog Trainer through independent evaluation (CPDT-KA). Dr. Cook is the founder and creator of the Play Way here at the Fenzi Dog Sports Academy, and also teaches her active management system for reactivity, and her sound sensitivity protocol, all aimed at the reduction of stress in dogs. She has been training dogs for over 30 years, and has specialized in the rehabilitation of shy and fearful dogs for over 20 years.