Traditional Aggression Treatments-

Causes: How dogs get good at aggression; How to prevent it.

Quadrants: Are they really a circle in a square? Are you boxed in? Is R+ always good and P+ always bad?

Quandaries: Are under threshold and only positive reinforcement practical? Counter conditioning / desensitization limitations. Fixing & avoiding implementation errors. The one-sided science trap. Preventing resort to harmful aversives.

A New Approach: Reimagined Aggression Treatment

Making Behavior Change Easier: Clear proprioceptive feedback speeds behavior change. It helps dogs remember correct responses & minimizes stress when dogs (& owners) know what behaviors must be learned. Waiting for dogs to "figure it out" prolongs change, keeps dogs aroused & repeating unwanted responses, which frustrates owners.

Arousal Management: Demo of Specialized Tools & Refined Leash Handling - Unique head collars & harnesses, ultra-wide slip leads & collars, dual leashes. When to use what & why. With specialized head collar & harness, the leash tension on head/body gives different feedback- it can 'cue' distraction, redirection & alternate behavior vs. repeating past undesirable reactions. Blocking boards & doggles for harder cases. Use of helper dogs. Brief demo of how tools work together. (Most demo's on Sunday)

A few Case Histories Using Saturday's tools to demo how to safely distract, redirect and reduce arousal to get alternative behavior using positive reinforcement.

Aggression Consulting Ethics:

Quality of Life: effect on aggressor, victims, owner, family etc.

Ethics: To take a case or refer? mentoring / partnering, warning owners;

Safety & liabilities: Risk eval: How dangerous is the dog? Is it workable?

Can it remain in the home?

PM: Utilizing RAT: How Each Tool Actually Works; How They Fit Together; More Case Histories:

Advantages over Counter Conditioning / Desensitization alone. Why clicking isn't necessary.

DR. SUZANNE HETTS a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, has over 25 years experience training pet owners & professionals on 4 continents. International companies use her training programs & DVD on canine body language. Her latest book 12 Terrible Dog Training Mistakes is an Amazon bestseller.

MS. NANCY WILLIAMS an Associate Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist has worked in animal behavior modification as a veterinary technician, researcher, dog show judge and consultant. She promotes scientific, positive training methods to replace the pitfalls of many methods advised in popular media.

For 2 decades Dr. Hetts & Ms. Williams have successfully worked many hundreds of aggression cases.

DOG ETIQUETTE
We will not be permitted to have dogs in the meeting rooms (other than Service Dogs, of course).

PEOPLE ETIQUETTE
During the lectures, please turn off all cell phone and pager audio alerts. Please take all private conversations outside while the speakers are presenting.

BABIES
The presence of a baby is likely to be distracting to other participants, so we ask that you refrain from bringing any babies or very young children into the lecture hall.

VIDEOTAPING
No videotaping or audiotaping is permitted.

BOOKS & DVD's, ETC. FOR SALE
A selection of books, and DVD's will be available for sale.

PARKING
There is ample parking at the seminar location.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Thursday, November 3, 2016

REFUND POLICY
All deposits fully refunded, at any time, in case a person needs to cancel a reservation for any reason. There is never a cancellation fee.

Local drive & train times: About 1/2 hour from: most Fairfield County CT and Westchester County NY locations

About 1 hour from: All of NYC by car, or train from Grand Central Station; Northern NJ, Putnam County NY.

About 1 hr. 15 minutes from the following: Central NJ (e.g. Morristown); Hudson Valley NY(e.g. Poughkeepsie or Beacon); Nassau County NY; New Haven / Hartford and most other western and southern CT locations.

Largo Drive lies equidistant between the Merritt Pkwy and I-95 (CT Turnpike)

From the Merritt take Exit 36 (Rte 106). go South on Rte. 106 / Hoyt St. to Right on Camp Ave. just before St. John's Cemetery to 2nd left on Hope St. to 5th left on Largo Dr. #80 is at the end.

From I-95 take Exit 9, to very briefly on Rte 1 to North on Rte. 106/Courtland Ave. which leads into Hoyt street and and a left onto Camp just after the St. John's Cemetery to 2nd left on Hope St. to 5th left on Largo Dr. #80 is at end.

(Rates are approximate and will change seasonally.)

Holiday Inn Express (about $100)
2703 Summer St, Stamford, CT 06905
(203) 978-5600

Crowne Plaza Stamford (about $150)
2701 Summer St, Stamford, CT 06905
(203) 359-1300

Sheraton Stamford (from $125)
700 E Main St, Stamford, CT 06901
(203) 358-8400

Hampton Inn (from $149)

26 Mill River St, Stamford, CT 06902
(203) 353-9855

La Quinta Inn (about $115)
135 Harvard Ave, Stamford, CT 06902
(203) 357-7100

Amsterdam Hotel (about $110)
19 Clarks Hill Ave, Stamford, CT 06902
(203) 327-4300

Stamford Marriott ($145)
243 Tresser Boulevard, 2 Stamford Forum, Stamford, CT 0690

Hilton Stamford (about $115)
1 First Stamford Place, Stamford, CT 06902
855-605-0316