No matter how good we are as a trainer or how smart the dog is, our ability to teach and influence the dog owner about their "role" is the key to a successful class. Dealing with the owners can be one of the more complicated challenges facing dog trainers. It is often said, "The dog's are easy! It's the people who are difficult!" Yet we must reach the owners so they can learn to be effective with their dogs. This one-day workshop is geared to providing dog trainers with specific concepts; tools and practice that will help them effectively teach people how to train their dogs. The workshop is designed to ensure that participants have opportunities:

To discuss and practice ways to help dog owners...

acquire dog training knowledge and skills
hear feedback as constructive
learn to alter their behavior in relation to training their dog

• To review adult learning methods that help dog trainers be both effective and empathetic

Participants will learn about and practice eight specific tools that are key to establishing a safe, conducive environment in which people feel comfortable learning, making mistakes, listening to corrections and asking questions. These important tools will help dog trainers:

1. Consider How Adults Learn: Traits and Principles
2. Watch Their Own Filters and Pre-Conceived Notions
3. Be Aware of Different Learning Styles
4. "Professionalize" Their Non-Verbal Communication
5. Use Words That Make A Difference
6. Give the Reason First: Help People Understand
7. Deliver Feedback Appropriately
8. Sharpen Their "People" Teaching Skills in Warmth, Respect and Empathy

The workshop is experiential so that good "people" trainer behavior is modeled and participants have the opportunity to practice the eight tools. Depending on the size of the group, each participant will have the opportunity to practice (or see others practice) his or her skills with a dog owner and a dog.

"The Art of Teaching People: Tools for Dog Trainers" is designed to be enjoyable, eventful and enlightening!

COURSE FEE: $95.00 (includes course booklet)

PRICING: This program is usually priced at $120.00 and is always limited to 50 attendees. However, we have been able to cut our expenses because the speaker is already scheduled in San Jose to present at another event. In an effort to keep this course fee as low as possible, we ask that you help us keep our costs down by bringing your own comfortable chair. A few metal chairs are available for seating. Light snacks will be provided and an optional lunch is available. You are welcome to bring your own food. THANK YOU for your cooperation!!

Jan Elster, M.A. has been an Organizational Development Consultant specializing in groups that work with animals for over 18 years. She provides communication workshops on subjects such as customer service, interpersonal styles and techniques, interview skills, team building, working with difficult people, the art of teaching people as well as an array of workshops on leadership skills. She strongly believes that people are harder to train than dogs, so she especially enjoys offering people-training skills for dog trainers and has done so for several years at many conferences and academies. Having been a repeat student in obedience level one many times, she has a good sense of how adults learn best in these situations. She offers a humorous point of view from a perspective of understanding the "mind" of the learner and the dilemmas of the trainer. She enjoys assisting groups that work with animals to design their strategic plans, to facilitate group work and to present workshops at their conferences.

Dogs may lay by your chair in the seminar room as long as they remain quiet, leashed and under control at all times. Crates and exercise pens allowed in the back of the room.

If your dog can't be confined in a crate or x-pen and remain quiet, please don't bring your dog. Any dog that is disruptive or behaves in an aggressive manner as determined by event staff will be requested to leave. Any dog that has "personal space issues" is not allowed in the seminar room. Remember chairs are right next to each other and people and dogs may be stepping over your dog. It is not a nice experience to be snarled at when dogs/people have to walk "over" your dog.

Dogs well-socialized to other dogs are welcome to exercise off-leash in the facility play area. If your dog shows any aggression in this off-leash area your dog must leave at your discretion or at the request of the event staff.

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

VIDEOTAPING/AUDIOTAPING POLICY: No videotaping or audiotaping is permitted.

CANCELLATION/REFUND POLICY: Full refund issued if requested by email or phone no later than Monday, February 25, 2003. Refunds requested after Monday, February 25, 2003 will be issued a 50% credit slip that may be applied to future Puppyworks educational events. No credits or refunds after 9:00 am on March 1st.

PARKING: You may park your vehicle on San Carlos St and enter through the back entrance or park in the main entrance on Columbia Ave (near Bird Ave). See MAP. There are six parking stalls in the main entrance and plenty of street parking on Saturday.

Downtown Dogs' Daycare is conveniently located at 564 West San Carlos St, near Bird Avenue in Downtown San Jose. Our main entrance is accessible from Columbia Ave, parallel to San Carlos St. MAP.

Doubletree Hotel
2050 Gateway Pl, San Jose, 408-453-4000
Dogs allowed
10 miles from downtown, 3 blocks from the airport

Hilton San Jose
300 Almaden Blvd, San Jose, 408-287-2100
Dogs allowed
In downtown San Jose, 15 minutes from the airport

The Fairmont San Jose
170 South Market Street, San Jose, 408-998-1900
No dogs allowed In downtown San Jose, 15 minutes from the airport

For all inquiries, contact:
events@puppyworks.com