Pet Dog Fundamentals 2026
$2,000.00
September 29th-October 3rd, 2026
in Santa Rosa, CA
Attendance: Capped at 30, we are looking for 8 working slots for demo and coaching. After you register, if you are interested in one of the working slots, please email info@michaelellisschool.com for an application.
In-Person Only: The event will run live and in-person only, but it will be recorded and added to the membership service after editing. There will be no live stream option.
Location: The Michael Ellis School, 3641 Stony Point Rd, Santa Rosa, Ca. 95407
Event Details
Course Description:
This class is designed to take the core principles students learned in our Obedience Intensive and apply them specifically to companion dogs. We will cover the behaviors most common and useful for pet dog owners, how to shorten your training timelines while still being fair to the dog, criteria setting for companion dog owners, how to structure your training programs and offerings, common problems in client interaction, the fair and safe use of pressure, how to fade/reduce rewards, alternative/functional rewards, and a discussion of electronic collar work for the companion dog, and much more. While this course is designed with the professional pet dog trainer in mind, it would benefit anyone with an interest in training companion dogs. I recommend our Obedience Intensive course as a primer for this class (available in our membership service).
Core Concepts:
Relationship: What is it and why is it important?
Engagement: A foundational principle, includes focus, readiness to learn, and value in handler.
Communication system for pet dogs (simplified markers and the importance of a conditioned punisher, as well as other forms of verbal and physical communication).
What is the appropriate level of motivation for a pet dog? When is less more?
What behaviors do we teach, and why?
What should the behaviors look like (criteria setting)
Black and white versus grey behaviors.
Goal setting (what does the dog/handler team need, and in what environments do they need to perform)
Consistency, Consistency, Consistency
Developing interactive rewards (it’s not what you get, it’s the interaction)
How do we fade, or reduce the frequency, of rewards? When and how to transition from continuous to intermittent reinforcement.
Alternative rewards and alternative forms of feedback.
How do we shorten our timelines while still being fair to the dog?
Leash pressure and “layering” the leash over behaviors.
Combining luring and leash pressure for shortened timelines.
How and when to use negative reinforcement and negative and positive punishment.
Verbal cues versus physical cues.
Handling drills for grooming and vet visits.
Management for pet dog owners (an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure).
Conditioned Arousal and its role in allowing calmness.
Electronic collar work for the pet dog.
Do I want/need to be free of the tools?
Handler body language, energetics, tone of voice, and controlling arousal levels.
Should pet dogs play (tug/retrieve), and what are appropriate games?
Enrichment/Exercise for the pet dog (things for clients to do beyond obedience).
Biological fulfillment and its role in preventing behavior problems and making a happy dog.
Finding your niche; what programs/services you should offer your clients.
Behaviors:
- Recall + terminal behavior
- Raised-bed work or place work
- Crates vs. tethering.
- Down/drop
- Redirection and stationary and moving focus
- Loose leash walking
- Pet dog “heeling”
- “leave it”
- Switch/trade/value transfer
- Wait
Start date: September 29, 2026
End date: October 03, 2026