Pawfect Manners | Continuing Education

This is what I've been doing to keep improving my ability to give you the best possible information on training your pets.

*September 2022 - Attended course - Resolving Challenging Behaviour! by Karolina Westlund.

*July 2022 - Attended online Master Class - Decoding Your Canine! hosted by Ness Jones.

* April 2022 - Attended course - Exploring Advanced Animal Traininig Concepts by Karolina Westlund.

* January 2022 - Attended Pet Summit with Dr. Ian Dunbar and others.

* January 28-30, 2022 - Attended ClickerExpo Live.

* January 29-31, 2021 - Attended ClickerExpo Live.

* January 15, 2021 - Attended Masterclass - Advanced Animal Training by Karolina Westlund.

* January - December 2021 - Monthly live webcasts from Ken Ramirez and guests at "Live from the Ranch".

* September 17, 2020 - Attended mini-course - "How to Make Your Animals Happy" Karolina Westlund on animals, emotions and training.

* April - December, 2020 - Weekly live webcasts from Ken Ramirez and guests at "Live from the Ranch".

* January 14, 2020 - Attended course - Exploring Advanced Animal Traininig Concepts by Karolina Westlund.

* September 2019 - Attended mini-course "Why Animal Emotions Matter" by Karolina Westlund.

* June 7, 2019 - Watched webinar - "Modern Principles of Shaping" by Karolina Westlund.

* April 11, 2019 - Attended Masterclass - Exploring Advanced Animal Training Concepts by Karolina Westlund.

* Feb 2018 - Took online course "Treatment & Prevention of Dog Aggression: Biting & Fighting" by Dr. Ian Dunbar. Course completion certificate.

* March 17, 2017 - Completed Dr. Ian Dunbar's SIRIUS Dog Trainer Academy - All 4 Days online course.

* Nov 2016 - Attended online "Growl Class - Workshop Demo for Reactive Dogs" by Dr. Ian Dunbar.

* August 9, 2016 - Completed Petco Dog Training Instructor Program.

* January 30, 2016 - Attended Feline-Friendly Handling webinar with Dr. Ilona Rodan.

* September 30, 2015 - Attended seminar "Fear of the Veterinary Clinic and Veterinary Procedures" by Dr. E'Lise Christensen.

* September 17, 2015 - Attended seminar "Behavior and Bowels" by Dr. Ellen Lowery with Hill's Pet Nutrition.

* April 28, 2015 - Attended seminar - "Disorders of Anxiety, Fear and Panic" by Dr. E'Lise Christensen.

* November 10, 2013 - Training Your Dog 101 - by Treatpouch, online class with Udemy. Certificate.

* February 2, 2013 - Attended ORCA's 5th annual Art and Science of Animal Training Conference at the University of North Texas.

* October 29 -December 17, 2012 - attended online seminar by Dr. Debra Horwitz - "Introduction to Canine Aggression."

* September 2010 - Attended Southwest Veterinary Symposium seminars by Julie Shaw on Behavior Modification.

* Summer 2010 - Read The Dog Whisperer by Paul Owens, Help for Your Fearful Dog by Nicole Wilde, and Chase! Managing Your Dog's Predatory Instincts by Clarissa von Reinhardt.

* April 2010 - Took Basic Obedience class with Pecos at Happy Hounds Training. Even trainers need to take their dogs to class.

* 2010 - Attended Elanco PET Program - Behavior Management: Canine Separation Anxiety.

* Spring & Summer 2009 - Read Emma Parson's Click to Calm, Temple Grandin's Animals Make Us Human, and Karen Pryor's Reaching the Animal Mind. Check out my recommended reading section for some great books on training and animal behavior.

* July 2009 - Attended online seminar by Dr. Debra Horwitz - "Stress and Anxiety Induced Behavior Issues in Cats."

* January 2009 - attended ClickerExpo in Austin, Tx.

* Mid January - February 2008 - taught online clicker seminar for Musical Dog Sports Association.

* January 26 & 27, 2008 - attended Advanced clicker seminar by Kay Laurence in Sugarland, Tx.

* Fall 2007 - Took an advanced Freestyle class with Emily Pyle.

* July 2007 - TARVT/TVMA Summer Seminar - Clicker and Body Language with Dr. Lore Haug.

* September 2006 - attended Southwest Veterinary Symposium behavior seminars by Dr. Lore Haug.

* September 2004 - attended Southwest Veterinary Symposium behavior seminars by Dr. Victoria Voith.

* 2004 - began teaching my own classes.

* February 2003 - attended clicker seminar by Kay Laurence.

* December 2002 - completed Novartis 'Introduction to Pet Behavioral Therapy' training module, designed by board-certified behaviorist, Dr. Debra Horwitz.

* May 11, 2002 - attended Aggression Seminar by Dr. Lore Haug in Houston, Tx.

* 2001 took first clicker based obedience class and began assisting Barbara West's classes.

In 1996 I took my first 'traditionally-based' obedience class with my first dog, Dreamer. She already knew how to sit, I wanted to learn how to teach her to do all the other basic stuff. All I really learned was how to 'make' a dog do something... some of the time.

In 1998, I was introduced to Barbara West and decided to take one of her obedience classes to 'fix' some of the things I didn't like about Dreamer's behavior or lack thereof. At the time, Barb was not using the clicker, but she was using positive, humane reinforcement and learning theory to teach 'us' how to train our dogs. I learned so much in that first class, but the biggest thing was how good I felt about not 'forcing' my dog to do something. Dreamer was doing the commands because she knew that doing so would get her what she wanted, whether it was food, praise, petting, or a game.

At the end of that class, Barb introduced me to Flyball and I soon took a Flyball class she and one of the local teams were holding. I was hooked.

Later, Barb would also introduce me to Freestyle and Carolyn Scott and her boy, Rookie. Once again, I was caught - hook, line and sinker. Putting cute dog tricks to music... dancing with your dog. If you've never seen Carolyn and Rookie dance, check out this link.

Anyway, by this point dog behavior was starting to fascinate me and it still does. I have to credit Barb for getting me started and starting me down the right path. I sincerely hope to pass the joy of working with your pet to my students as Barb did with me.

I would love to help you with your pet's training needs. Please drop me a note if you enjoyed this site or if you have any questions about classes or any other pet related questions. Check out our classes!

Thank you,

Judy Seils and Ruby