Comprehensive review of body language and facial expression. Live dogs (& video) show the range of dog signals. Attendees will also evaluate the interactions, to develop the observation skills and learn to interpret what they see, up close and personal.

Monday: Dog-Dog interaction: a day of live dog assessments, forming play groups for appropriate dogs, then assessing play and dog-dog interactions; greetings, play styles, risky play & socializations. Participants will work on scoring behaviors using Assess-A-Pet score sheets with reviews of some participant scoring to help you hone your skills.

Tuesday: Dog-People interaction: assessments for aggression thresholds & sociability--video ethogram in the morning and all shelter dog assessments in the afternoon: how aggressive dogs telegraph a bite long before they growl, snarl or snap. You will read and record the subtle signals of aggression.

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 permitterd to have dogs in the meeting room.

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.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Thursday, December 2, 2010

REFUND POLICY
A full refund (excluding food orders) will be issued if requested before Wednesday, December 1. No refunds or credits issued after 12:00 pm on Friday, December 3. All refunds must be requested by email or phone. There are no exceptions to this policy.

New York State Thruway (I 87) to Exit 19 Kingston (91 miles north of New York City or 51 miles south of Albany, NY).

After toll, stay to the farthest right at the round-about, and follow signs for Route 28 to Route 209. After about 1/4 mile on Route 28 go through one light and almost immediately thereafter take Route 209 South in the direction of Ellenville. Stay on Route 209 South for exactly 13 miles, and just past Sparrow Hawk Bed and Breakfast, you will come to Rondout Valley Animals for Adoption on the right. Workshop will be held in the large blue training building closest to the road.

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