Course Details
Do you end up doing a palm-to-face plant every time you start a shaping project? Using shaping to teach behaviours to our dogs can be both exhilarating and downright frustrating. Sometimes we fly along, and other times well, we just can’t get to the next step or even know if we should add a cue. You get frustrated, your dog gets frustrated, and you both lose your enthusiasm for the game and may even end up quitting. If this has ever happened to you, trust me you’re not alone.
If you’ve ever had those moments where you just didn’t know whether or how you should add criteria, of if you should slide back a step, change direction or wonder if its time to add a cue, then you need to come join me for a journey through the art of shaping – where each step and every click bring will help you complete your chosen behaviour(s). In this class, my goal is to guide you through the intricate process of shaping, from the initial spark of an idea to the polished performance of your shaped behaviors. We’ll do this through a list of behaviours for you to pick from BUT we’ll also work some pre-approved basic behaviours you may be a little stuck on.
We’ll cover basic foundation skills: mechanics, how and where to reward, choosing the right equipment and setting the scene. We’ll play timing games for the handler, and learn how important even the simplest training plan is to get you to the first click. We’ll look at the delicate balance of knowing when to advance to the next step, when to backtrack or change direction, and when to add the all-important cue. Think of shaping as a dance of communication between you and your canine companion, where timing and intuition blend seamlessly to create pure connection and understanding.
Shaping isn't just about reaching the end goal—it's also about the journey itself. Along the way, you'll learn to trust your instincts, adapt to challenges, and embrace the dynamic nature of shaping by emphasizing the importance of timing, intuition, and being flexible in your training plan.
Teaching Approach
Lectures will be released at the start of each week with the majority of lectures released within the first 3 weeks. . Each lecture has the goal objective of the exercise, followed by written instructions and video examples to of shaping to get you started. There will be specific behaviours to shape as well as list of Handler's Choice. The videos are generally 1 to 2 minutes long and will show actual training sessions. No voiceover is used during the video. However, occasional subtitles are in the video. Homework summaries/additional instructions are at the end of each lecture.
Instructor: Heather LawsonHeather Lawson (she/her) is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge Skills Assessed (CPDT-KSA) and also a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (KPA-CTP), a CGN evaluator and a free-style judge. She has been training dogs and their humans for more that 20 years after deciding that...(Click here for full bio and to view Heather's upcoming courses)
