The next Classes Start on April 14, 2022 

Animal Behaviour Apprenticeship – 3 

The overall goal of the ABA Level 3 is to focus on advanced animal training and the conceptualization of behaviour as a force of change and development. Animal-Assisted Therapy students will join this class for their internships.

- Learning Theories: You will learn new learning theories; however, we will focus on imitations, improvisation, and how to think outside the box, literally. We will emphasize dog training based on the concepts studied in levels 1 and 2 and push them further. We will also discuss cognition, neurobiology, and sensory acquisition, specifically transduction. 

- Advanced Training: Teach the imitation rule to the dog using the three behaviours you trained (on verbal cue only) before this class. If more than two people pass Imitation Level 1, they can try getting certified for Imitation Level 2.

- Dealing with Difficult Clients: You will learn to conduct interviews, paraphrase, ask questions, mirror projections, and improve client relationships without overstepping ethics. You will practice your skills with each other and real clients with in-school consultations. 

- Confidence Building: You will design, build, and practice various exercises to develop your confidence using the clicker and non-clicker tools. The goal is to internalize learning theories and their practical application. The activities will challenge your skills and ideas about training. 

- The Scientific Method: You will establish a hypothesis, design a simple experiment, research, collect data and present your findings to the class. You will learn the intricacies of reading research papers and understanding their limitations. 

- Social media video Homework: You will learn how to film, edit, and upload a training video on social media such as Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube. We will also look at practical ways to market yourself through branding and visual media. 

Books: Coursepack and Do As I Do: Using social learning to train dogs by Claudia Fugazza (mandatory)

Apps: 
Mendeley (laptop or pc) 

- Teaching Methodology: I present the Animal Behaviour Apprenticeship in class with PowerPoint Presentations (.ppp). We will watch videos of group exercises and conduct ABCs. Overall the program is intended to develop the students applied animal training knowledge and intervention skills. I designed the course content to address all three VAK learning styles (visual, auditory, and kinetic).