Course Details
This course is designed to offer a unique look at how to harness our dogs’ innate tendencies. Natural instincts and drives are necessary for success in both dog sports and surviving life in general.
However, how do we maintain a significant connection in a high state of arousal when competing with instinctual abilities? And conversely, how do we bring forth and expand upon a softer dogs’ natural skills? How do we teach them when to listen to us and when to listen to themselves?
‘Instinct Games - Leadership in Drive’ is a course designed to teach connection in action, in the disguise of fun games. These games can be adjusted across a wide range of difficulty to meet the needs of various levels of teams. Let’s make sports feel like the ‘play’ they should be.
Registration
There are no scheduled sessions for this class at this time. We update our schedule frequently, so please
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Registration will begin at 9:30 AM Pacific Time.
Enrollment limits: Gold: 12 students, Silver: 25 students, Bronze: unlimited.
Gold Level includes access to all course materials and the ability to post questions and videos to the course forums. Students will receive instructor feedback on written and video assignments.
Silver Level includes access to all course materials and the ability to participate in the discussion forum. Students may ask GENERAL questions about course materials and may submit two, one-minute videos for instructor feedback. Any questions specific to your dog MUST be accompanied by a video.
Bronze Level includes access to all course materials and the ability to read all questions and answers posted in the class forums. Students will not post questions or submit written or video assignments.
For more details, refund policies, and answers to commonly asked questions see our FAQ page.
Syllabus
Week 1
Natural Drives, Stimulation, and Arousal
Evaluating Your Individual Dog
SENSE-ible Stimulation
Foundation Skills
Week 2
Skill Progressions
Games: Red Light – Green Light, Freeze!
Leadership - what is it?
Visual Triggers, Cues, and Uses
Week 3
Skill Progressions
Games: Alert!, Follow Me to the Smells, Shaping the Cage, Red Light/Green Light Applied
Exploring Auditory and Olfactory Triggers, Cues, and Uses
Week 4
Skill Progressions
Games: I Touched the Butt!, Chicken Breast Retrieve
Gustatory Exploration – all about taste
Week 5
Skill Progressions
Games: Flex or Reflex, Flip the Switch
Tactile Stimulation – the touchy feely stuff
Week 6
Skill Progressions and Longterm Maintenance
Games: Leave It Games, Flying Hot Dog
Exploring operant states with increased arousal
Summary
Prerequisites & Supplies
There are no prerequisites for this course. We will work with each team at the appropriate level – from puppy or beginner to the experienced competitor.
Supplies:
Ample Supply of Toys/Treats/Your Dogs’ Favorite Things
4 X Small Portable Food Bowls
Flirt Pole or Wooden Dowel at least 2 ft long
Paracord (100 feet – you probably won’t need this much)
Breathable Container (locking metal/mesh cage or Tupperware with holes poked in it)
Long Line (optional)
Leash/Collar
Testimonials
A sampling of what prior students have said about this course ...
This was my first experience with FDSA. Took a little getting used to, but I really enjoyed the class and felt that even as a bronze member I learned a lot. I felt the instructor paid very close attention to each student and tried to work with them as individuals on each exercise. And best of all, she has a sense of humor!
Wonderful class! My dog is not a gun dog, she is a Jack Russel Terrier, but she loves your games a lot!
Each dog is different, and I like how the instructor tried to truly work with each individual team to find something that worked for them. Cassia is wonderful!
The concepts were fascinating, things I had never considered before that could be relevant to my dog's training (not a sporting dog). I can see how this can be a lot of fun for a dog, in their animal way of thinking.
Great class! I haven't had time to implement most of this, but it seems as though I have already started some of these games on our own, and I can see how many of these will really help out in the long run!
