WW481: Sept 29- Oh No, A Mistake!

We all make mistakes. Because we are human. How mistakes are handled influences how we feel about them Dogs make mistakes too. But when they do we tend to panic. Or we immediately reach for cookies. We are often not sure how best to handle them. Should we be doing everything we can to prevent any and all errors? Is that even possible? Should we help the dog immediately? Should we let the dog problem solve? What happens when the dog gets stuck and repeats the error? Or the dog just gives up? Or we think we are being clear, but the dog continues to make the same error over multiple sessions? Errors are an integral part of learning. Handling errors with clear communication can teach our dogs to become resilient and confident. Done correctly, it teaches our dogs that errors are not a big deal. As time goes on, how I handle errors continues to evolve. I don’t handle all errors the same. Nor do I handle errors made by different dogs the same way.

In this workshop we will examine how different dogs respond to errors. You will learn the best approach for your individual dog. We will discuss what to do when a dog makes an error. How to analyze why the dog made the error. How to prevent the dog from making too many errors. And how to communicate effectively so the dog clearly understands which behaviors are desirable and which are not. Regardless of your sport or your dog’s level of training, this workshop will help you handle errors with confidence.

Please note: This is not a repeat of a past webinar or workshop. My training continues to evolve over time as I strive to improve my methods.

Watch the Trailer:

Lecture Publish Date: Sunday Sept 29th

Video Submissions Due Date:  Sunday Oct 6th @ 12pm noon PT 

Feedback & Questions Video Publish Date: Wednesday Oct 9th

Instructor: Petra Ford

Petra (she/her) graduated from Rutgers School of Health Related Professions 17 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. (Click here for full bio and to view Petra's upcoming courses)