This information-packed day with Steve White turns Police K9 training on its head to help you, the dog owner or trainer. You'll learn new ways to read canine behavior and how to control stimuli--the triggers that effect behavior. (Are you working with a dog that always barks, or lunges at every child, old person with a walker or other dogs?)

After reviewing what K9 trainers look for in police dogs when they stimulate aggression, you will learn seven steps to reading any dog. By practicing with video clips and live dogs you'll see the value of "thin-slicing" the information dogs and their people give you.

It's a simple, effective, seven-step model (incorporating positive reinforcement) for helping dogs, owners and trainers to resolve behavior problems, while avoiding the two most common mistakes trainers make when problem solving. (Among which are asking more than the dog can deliver and not gathering sufficiently detailed information before proceeding.)

Technically, you'll be learning all about "triggers" and "thresholds" of behavior--and how understanding them can make you anticipate situations that you used to dread!

9:00 - 9:45 -- Seven Steps to Reading Any Dog
9:45 - 10:30 -- What K9 Trainers Don't Want Crooks to Know About Canine Aggression
11:00 - 12:00 -- Don't Blink! Thin-slicing Behavioral Cues for Quick Answers
1:00 - 1:45 -- The Three Essential Qualities of Thresholds and Triggers
1:45 - 2:30 -- The How and Why of Multiple Thresholds
3:00 - 4:30 -- The Dance. How to Waltz Past Thresholds

Ever looked at your dog and wondered how much her emotional life is like your own? Learn the biology behind emotion in both species, and why good science suggests that you and your dog share many of the same emotions. We'll compare the expressions of basic emotions like happiness, fear, anger and sadness on human and canine faces, and discuss the controversy over whether dogs can have "complex" emotions like jealousy, pride and guilt.

We'll look at how genetics, in-utero experiences, and early development can influence a dog's emotions, and how emotions influence behavior. The seminar will contain lots of practical ideas about how to understand your dog's emotions, and how to influence them to have the relationship you want with your dog. This slide and video presentation is a preview of Dr. McConnell's new book, coming out in the Fall of 2006, that compares the emotional life of dogs with the emotions of the people who love them.

9:00 - 10:00 What ARE emotions anyway? (And why don't they get any respect?)
10:00 - 10:30 Emotions and the development of your dog's brain.
11:00 - 12:00 No wonder we love dogs! A comparison of emotional expressions in humans and dogs.
1:00 - 1:45 The Biology of Fear and Anger, and how to influence them.
1:45 - 2:30 How thinking Influences Emotions, and how Emotions Influence Thinking.
3:00 - 4:30 For the Love of a Dog - love and grief in two species.

PATRICIA MCCONNELL PH.D. Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist Dr. Patricia McConnell received her Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison researching dog behavior and communication between professional trainers and working domestic animals. She is currently the owner of Dog's Best Friend Ltd., and Adjunct Associate Professor in Zoology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, teaching "The Biology and Philosophy of Human/Animal Relationships."

Co-host of Wisconsin Public Radio's "Calling All Pets," Dr. McConnell gives advice about behavior problems on over 100 radio stations across the country. She is the behavior columnist for the BARk magazine ("the New Yorker of Dog Magazines") and a Consulting Editor for the Journal of Comparative Psychology. She is the author of the much acclaimed book "The Other End of the Leash," as well as a highly respected series of booklets on the treatment of behavioral problems. McConnell is a sought after seminar speaker, giving seminars and speeches about canine and feline behavior around the world.

Her new book "FOR THE LOVE OF A DOG; UNDERSTANDING EMOTION IN YOU AND YOUR BEST FRIEND" will be available to seminar participants before it hits the bookstores, in a special, early release!"

Patricia has four dogs, one confident cat and a very spoiled flock of sheep on a small farm in Southwestern Wisconsin. Her two Border Collies keep her outside and active, and her Great Pyrenees, Tulip, keeps her humble. Trisha suffers from Separation Anxiety each time she leaves her dogs at home when she leaves on her numerous speaking engagements around the country.

STEVE WHITE: More than half of Steve White 's 30 year law enforcement career has been in K-9. He currently serves as supervisor and trainer for one the largest police K-9 units in Washington State. Accredited as a Master Trainer in 1993 by the Washington State Police Canine Association, Steve is also a past Executive Board Member of that body, and past Vice President of the Certification Council for Pet Dog Trainers. He has served as an instructor for the K9 Academy for Law Enforcement and has taught at police K-9 seminars in the U.S. , Canada , Mexico , and the U.K. . He has taught obedience classes at parks, community centers, and kennels. His articles have appeared in police K-9 and dog training publications in the U.S. and Canada . He has been a guest presenter at Karen Pryor's and Gary Wilkes's "Don't Shoot the Dog" seminars and has taught with Karen at her ClickerExpo. Steve has taught classes at the international conferences of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, Canada's CAPPDT, and Mexico's AMAPAC. He has been an invited presenter at the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's Plume Tracing Symposium and the Mountain Rescue Council of the United Kingdom.

The force-based methods Steve was originally taught troubled him. Through the years he came to realize there is a better way to train. Marine mammal trainers and behaviorists taught him how to achieve superior performance using positive reinforcement, and that the principles apply across species lines. Steve specializes in teaching behavior modification, tracking, and scent work through the use of positive reinforcement-based operant conditioning. Through his business, i2i K9 -- Professional Training Services, he provides consultation and training to private parties, industry, K-9 units and SAR organizations on training, administrative, and legal issues. Steve has been recognized as an expert witness by Washington courts in police K-9 and dog behavior matters.DOG

DOG ETIQUETTE

Due to severe 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 into the hotel lobby while the speakers are presenting.

VIDEOTAPING
No videotaping or audiotaping is permitted. A selection of videotapes will be available for sale at www.tawzerdogvideos.com

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

REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Thursday, October 26, 2006.

REFUND POLICY
A full refund (excluding food orders) will be issued if requested before Wednesday, October 25. No refunds or credits issued after 12:00 pm on Friday, October 27. 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. Seminar will be held in the large blue training building closest to the road.