Course Details
Training and trialing for competition can be challenging. Our dogs need to learn complex behavior chains. And they must perform them amidst distractions and when under pressure. Training and trialing challenges are often magnified for dogs with big feelings. But that doesn’t mean they can’t overcome them! By identifying the root cause of the feelings, we can help manage them. We can teach our dogs to handle challenges while maintaining an even keel. In this workshop you will learn how to stay calm when your dog is not and to use connection as an emotional anchor. You will learn how to help your dog manage arousal. We will look at strategies to create a positive association with pressure and to overcome distractions. Whether your dog’s feelings manifest as over or under arousal, this workshop will provide you with actionable strategies to manage the unique challenges sport dogs face when training and trialing.
About the Instructor:
Petra (she/her) graduated from Rutgers School of Health-Related Professions 25 years ago with a degree in physical therapy and has experience working with an extremely varied caseload including pediatric through geriatric clients with a vast range of diagnoses. Her areas of expertise included in-patient rehabilitation, orthopedics and neurology. Petra attended the Canine Rehabilitation Institute in 2007 and is a certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist. Petra raced bicycles at the professional level and participated in international events. She is now an avid runner, practices yoga and meditates daily.
Petra trains and trials her Labrador Retrievers in obedience, agility and field. Her black Labrador Retriever, Tyler, has the distinction of being the 2008 and 2009 National Obedience Champion and First Runner Up in 2010. In 2012, Petra and Tyler became the first American team to win the Obedience World Cup (they placed second in 2010). Petra’s dogs have earned field titles (MH, QAA). She competed in Masters Agility with Zaidan. Zeal is the winner of multiple Regional Qualifiers, won the 2018 Obedience Classic and has earned 10 Perfect 200 scores. Following in his father’s pawsteps, Zeal is the 2020 National Obedience Champion. Zeal is now enjoying retirement. Zayna won the Novice Division at the 2019 Obedience Classic, has won and placed at numerous Regionals, and was Second Runner-Up at the NOC. Zesty is the newest family member. He is quite the clown! He loves dressing up and learning new tricks. He is becoming quite social media star. He is also training for competition obedience. He is currently working on completing his OTCH. He's already placed Fourth at his first Regional and earned four perfect scores of 200. Petra has written several articles on canine conditioning, canine injury prevention, competing with your dog and more. She has been published in a number of magazines including Clean Run, Front and Finish, and Whole Dog Journal.
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