For the prevention and treatment of dog fighting and biting problems, trainers require a thorough understanding of normal social development. In order to conduct objective "temperament" tests, offer realistic prognoses, and suggest a variety of expedient prevention and treatment protocols (behavior and temperament modification), trainers need to know what is normal and what is not, and how to objectively assess what is serious and what is not.

Dog trainers need to know how to objectively determine whether or not a dog is friendly, and whether or not a dog is dangerous. Most "temperament" tests assess reactivity rather than danger, and focus on a dog's occasional bad behavior rather than objectively quantifying and assessing its good behavior. Many dogs are cavalierly categorized and pigeon-holed according to presumed etiology, supposed breed predispositions, anthropomorphic motives, and unseen hypothetically-constructed cognitive states.

Far too often, utterly normal social behaviors, especially including play and appeasement behaviors, are misinterpreted. The dog is often labeled as aggressive, "alpha", or dominant, and many recommended "treatments" are unfriendly, unpleasant, ineffective, and counterproductive. Following punishment, some behaviors may actually increase in frequency and force - including pawing, jumping-up, submissive urination, barking, growling, fighting, and biting. Often the "treatment" is the cause.

Dr Dunbar will be lecturing and presenting with slides and videos throughout the three day program.

• Sexual differentiation of social development, intra-sex and inter-sex hierarchies.
• Female amendments to male hierarchical law.
• Puppy-adult relationships - developmental no-contest, psychological "dominance", and subordinance hierarchies.
• The silly but serious extrapolation of the growly-wowly alpha-fallacy, the physical "dominance" myth, and rampant "lupomorphism" to pet dog training.
• The purpose of play and the importance of play-fighting and play-biting.
• The complexity of cooperative social structure - friendships, allegiances, & sharing.
• Good and bad play groups - producing social mannerly dogs with good bite inhibition, or inattentive, social loons, and bullies

• Etiology and antecedents of disputes between pet dogs Đ lack of socialization, baiting, unintentional reinforcement, and negative classical conditioning.
• Objective assessment of the severity of fighting problems based on Fight/Bite ratios.
• Prevention, treatment, and control of dog-dog aggression.
• Positive classical conditioning and confidence building exercises to teach dogs to enjoy interacting with other dogs.

Most people interpret dog behavior acoustically. Barks, growls, and snarls are almost always considered as signs of aggression, even though more commonly, they are signs of play and excitement. It is important to objectively assess a dog's social savvy and friendliness (and unfriendliness) by reading dog body language and quantifying play behaviors and "atmosphere cues" to arrive at an overall Friendly Quotient.

• Misleading breed biting statistics and unrepresentative and sensational media coverage.
• A variety of behavioral models for the etiology and antecedents of dog bites, including - instincts, drives, traits, interactive traits, situational behavior, subliminal bite stimuli, superstitious bite stimuli, and provocation.
• "Rage Syndrome"
• Controlling aggression by common sense precautions and sensible and effective legal ordinances, emphasizing the target of the attack (human, dog, other animal), the severity of the wounds, and the level of owner irresponsibility.
• Assessment of the severity of biting problems based on an objective evaluation of the severity of wound pathology.
• The relative danger of four types of dog, based on whether or not they are socialized and whether or not they have well-developed bite-inhibition.
• Prevention, treatment, and control of dog-human aggression - four stages of bite-inhibition training during early development, progressive desensitization for human approach, proximity, staring, handling (collar, ears, paws, and jaws), hugging (restraint), and possessiveness around valued objects (e.g., food bowl, bones and toys).
• Classical conditioning, and confidence building exercises to teach dogs to enjoy interacting with people, especially children, men, and strangers.
• Safety advice for dog professionals, owners, and especially children to avoid and/or defuse incidents.

Basically, dogs bite, because that’s what dogs do, because they are severely under-socialized, and because by and large, people are not very nice to them (provocative triggers). Many "training" techniques are unfriendly, combative, and physically and psychologically abusive. Nonetheless, by and large dogs are extremely tolerant of their human companions/guardians.

Dr Ian Dunbar is a veterinarian, animal behaviorist, dog trainer, and writer. He received his veterinary degree and a Special Honors degree in Physiology & Biochemistry from the Royal Veterinary College (London University) and a doctorate in animal behavior from the Psychology Department at the University of California in Berkeley, where he spent ten years researching the development of hierarchical social behavior and aggression in domestic dogs. For seven years Dr. Dunbar ran a behavior clinic specifically for biting and fighting dogs.

Dr. Dunbar is a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, the California Veterinary Medical Association, the Sierra Veterinary Medical Association, the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, and the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (which he founded).

Over the past 30 years, Dr. Dunbar has given over 750 one-day seminars and workshops for dog trainers and veterinarians in an effort to popularize off-leash puppy training classes (which he pioneered), temperament modification, and owner-friendly and dog-friendly dog training. Dr. Dunbarâ books, videos, and AKC Gazette "Behavior" column (which he created), have won numerous awards.

Dr. Dunbar is currently Director of the Center for Applied Animal Behavior in Berkeley, California, where he lives with Kelly, Claude, Ollie, and Mittens. Photo

PEOPLE ETIQUETTE
During the lecture, please turn off all cell phone and pager audio alerts. Please take all private conversations into the hotel lobby area while the speaker is presenting.

FOOD AT THE CONFERENCE
The facility has the following eateries:

• GrandView Cafe
  Monday-Saturday 8:00 am - 2:00 pm
• Rooftop Garden
  Open daily 8:00 am - midnight (weather permitting)

VIDEOTAPING POLICY
No videotaping or audiotaping is permitted. This course will be videotaped and you may order a copy.

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

CANCELLATION/REFUND POLICY
A full refund will be issued if requested before Friday, May 2, 2003. Any refunds requested after May 2nd will be issued a 50% credit slip that may be applied to future Puppyworks events. All refunds must be requested by email or phone. No credits or refunds after 9:00 am on May 9th.

HOTEL ROOM SHARING
In an effort to help those individuals who wish to share a hotel room, a room listing will be compiled and distributed by February 9th. Individuals may contact others seeking a "roomie". To be included on and to receive the room share list, please check the box on the Registration Form.

MONONA TERRACE
One John Nolen Dr
Madsion, WI 53703
www.mononaterrace.com

DISTANCE
Located in south central Wisconsin, Madison is easily accessible via several major highways. The city is a 1-1/2 hour drive from Milwaukee (via I-94), a 2-1/2 hour drive from Chicago (via I-90), and a 4-1/2 hour drive from Minneapolis/St. Paul (via I-94).

Monona Terrace is conveniently located two blocks from the Capitol building in downtown Madison. The University of Wisconsin-Madison, the Dane County Expo Center, and Dane County Regional Airport are all just minutes away. MAP

From the North via Interstate 90/94 (Minneapolis, LaCrosse, Wausau, Stevens Point, Portage)
Take I-90/94 to the Highway 151 exit (southwest) going toward the State Capitol. Take 151/East Washington Avenue all the way into downtown.

* As you approach the Capitol Square, follow 151 from East Washington left onto Blair Street. Take Blair two blocks and turn right onto Wilson Street. A few blocks up Wilson, just past Olin Terrace, turn left into the Monona Terrace parking structure.

From the Northeast via Highway 151 (Green Bay, Fox River Valley)
Follow Highway 151 toward the State Capitol. Take 151/East Washington Avenue all the way into downtown. Follow * directions above.

From the East via Interstate 94 (Milwaukee)
As you approach the city, follow Highway 30 into Madison. Take the "State Capitol" exit off of highway 30, and you will then be on East Washington Avenue. Follow * directions above.

From the Southeast via Interstate 90 (Chicago, Beloit, Janesville)
Take the Hwy 12&18 (Beltline) exit to Madison. Exit at John Nolen Drive and follow John Nolen 2 miles to the Monona Terrace parking structure entrance.

From the Southwest via Highways 18 & 151 (Dubuque, Platteville, Dodgeville)
As you approach Madison, enter the Beltline (Hwy 12 & 18). Take the John Nolen Drive exit off the Beltline, and follow John Nolen 2 miles. The entrance to the Monona Terrace parking structure will be on your right.

Parking
Monona Terrace includes a 600-space parking cashier-operated parking structure. It is accessible via East Wilson Street (near the Capitol building) and the eastbound lanes of John Nolen Drive. Parking is $0.85 per hour or $10.50 per day and is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Depending on what other city activities are scheduled in the area, the parking structure may fill quickly.

For more hotels outside the downtown area, go to www.visitmadison.com

BEST WESTERN INN ON THE PARK
(2 blocks away)
22 S Carroll St
Madison, WI
$109.00 per night
800-279-8811
No dogs allowed

For all airline and car rentals, please contact Diane Polss at All Travel.

For registration inquiries, contact:

events@puppyworks.com