Understanding Pet Dogs in their Relationship with Humans

• The Role of Today's Pet Dog
• High Aggression Thresholds
• Sociability--what is it, what does it mean, why it's critical, testing for it, observing it

Understanding Highly Problematic Dogs & Dangerous Dogs

• Low Aggression Thresholds
• Categories of Aggression; Observing Aggression
• towards family; with handling; unwanted demands; resource guarding;
• towards strangers; territoriality

Puppy & Adult Mouthing Behaviors

• Normal Puppy Mouthing: what role does it play?
• How temperament influences mouthing behaviors
• Resource Guarding: An Ethogram of Resource Guarding Behaviors

Resource Guarding continued:

• Assessing for Resource Guarding Aggression Thresholds;
• Meaning of low resource guarding thresholds for:
• the dog
• the shelter
• the owner
• other care takers;
• Resource Guarding towards humans
• Resource Guarding towards other dogs.

Defensive Handling Strategies: Safety Around Aggressive Dogs True aggression is fast--much faster than a human can process.  By the time you become aware that a dog has decided to bite, you will likely have been bitten.

Plan A: What to do when you are being bitten or attacked;

• What should your first response be?
• Learn how to minimize the damage.
• Learn how to diffuse the dog as soon as possible.

• Quick Muzzling Techniques
• Protecting Yourself When It's Too Late to Talk the Dog Off The Ledge

Sue Sternberg is the head of Rondout Valley Animals for Adoption, a community not-for-profit animal shelter serving the local (upstate New York) community, which was featured in an HBO documentary called Shelter Dogs (www.shelterdogs.org). She has also developed national programs, such as Training Wheels®, dedicated to ensuring the quality of life of animals in their community, at animal shelters and in safe animal adoptions, around the world. She has over 23 years of canine behavior experience, including as an animal control officer, a behavior consultant at the ASPCA, a kennel and animal shelter owner, a successful competitor in a variety of dog sports, and a teacher of dog trainers. Her recent shelter guide book is Great Dog Adoptions: A Guide for Shelters (Latham Foundation Press, 2002, www.latham.org). Her first book written for the general public, Successful Dog Adoption was published in September '03, by Wiley Publishing.

DOG ETIQUETTE
Due to space limitations, we will not be permitted to have dogs in the meeting room (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. A selection of videotapes and books will be available for sale.

BOOKS & TOYS, ETC. FOR SALE
A selection of books, videos and toys will be available for sale.

PARKING
There should be ample parking at the seminar location.

SEATS
The lecture hall provides metal folding chairs. If you prefer, you may bring another chair or cushion for your comfort.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Thursday, April 30, 2015

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.

The Hall is located about 4 miles from Exit 54 Of the I-495 Beltway. Take Rte. 620 (Braddock Rd.) to left at Rte. 645/652 (Burke Lake Rd.) to left on Burke Rd. First left is Old Burke Lake Rd. and Hall is mid-block on the left. Drive times: 10 to 15 minutes from Fairfax, Annandale & Woodbridge VA; 30 to 35 minutes from Arlington VA, Washington DC & Silver Spring MD; one hour from Baltimore and one and one-half hours from Richmond VA

For registration inquiries, contact:
email: events@puppyworks.com