Free 7 week dog training class in Santa Rosa, CA.

[Fozzybear]

Hey guys, I've been working on my final project for my bachelor's degree. I thought I'd share it on here in case any of you guys are local and want to take advantage of a very very cool opportunity to get some free training for you and your pet.

Bergin University of Canine Studies
5860 Labath Ave.Rohnert Park, CA 94928
(707) 545-3647​

- What is Bergin University of Canine Studies?

Bergin University of Canine Studies, home of The Assistance Dog Institute, has a singular mission: to advance the human-canine partnership through research and education.​

That mission is expressed in a growing range of programs, inspired and informed by the breakthrough work of Dr. Bonnie Bergin. Using leading-edge academic coursework along with daily hands-on experience, you can expand your knowledge and skills for scholarly or career purposes, or enhance the parameters of your existing specialty using the unique perspective and potential provided by human-canine studies.​

Since our founding in 1991, hundreds of people from 16 countries and 34 states have attended our University programs and we have graduated over a hundred service and social/therapy teams. Our groundbreaking research in teaching dogs to read, early pup training, and High Schooled -Assistance Dogs demonstrates new ways to optimize human’s interactions with dogs, These findings are shared worldwide.​

- Where We’re Going

Formally designated a university in early 2004, Bergin University of Canine studies is young and growing. Our facilities and student body are compact, our faculty is passionate, our potential is as unlimited as the discipline itself. As our alumni and current students will tell you, you will receive an exceptional education here today. You will also become part of the growth of an institution and a new way of seeing the human-canine partnership. Join us in our academic and research advancement.​

We are the Class of 2012 at Bergin University of Canine Studies, as a part of our LIF 490B “Motor Skills IV” class, led by Dr. Bonita Bergin we are teaching a basic obedience class to the general public free of charge, in order to gain valuable skills and experience culminating our two years of study.​

In those two years we have each trained 4 adult service dogs and one puppy from ages 3 weeks to 6 months. We have travelled to Burbank, CA to attend the California Narcotic Canine Association conference to gather valuable information in the most recent scent detection and vocational canine training techniques. We’ve studied canine psychology as it relates to social rival learning, object permanence, violation of expectation, number sense, use of mirrors and many more exciting traits and ability’s. We’ve each trained 4 dogs for the Humane Society of Sonoma County with 100% successful placements and are beginning a training program with the Rohnert Park Animal Shelter. Additionally we have attended classes ranging from Canine Law and Canine Anatomy and Physiology to the Role of the Dog in Modern Literature, all of this with our trusted service dogs in training at our sides.​

Our goal is to share the basic skills and principles utilized in advanced dog training with the general public in order to improve the canine-human partnership in our community, and synthesize the information and techniques that we’ve gathered into a usable methodology for the pet dog and their handlers.​

In this class we will teach a combination of motor skills and behaviors using the BUCS Touch method and basic aspects of canine behavior and psychology. Class time will be divided between socialization for the handlers and dogs, classroom lectures and kinesthetic practice sessions. Our goal is to give the student handlers the skills and theory needed to engage their dog cerebrally; Thereby allowing the canine-handler team to take part in a variety of real world situations in a manner that is both effective and enjoyable to both dog and handler. You and your dog can expect to learn to sit, down, stay, come and even kiss, bow, and many more useful and fun commands.​

- When and where:​

· Classes will be held for seven weeks on Thursdays 3/29/12 through 5/10/12 for an hour and a half (90 minutes) from 5:30PM to 7:00PM.​

· Classes will be held at Begin University of Canine Studies Campus, located at 5860 Labath Ave. Rohnert Park, CA 94928 (707)545-3647​

· Map: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=5860+...bath+Ave,+Rohnert+Park,+California+94928&z=17.​

· Cost:​

- The class will be taught free of charge.​

· Who can come:​

- We welcome all types of pet dogs, ages 8 months and older to attend.​

- We would also welcome 1 or 2 additional family members, who would like access to the information, in addition to the primary handler, but require that the primary handler handles the dog in all practice sessions throughout the class.​

- We would also welcome no more than two dogs per household given that there is a primary handler for each dog.​

- We will neither accept one primary handler with multiple dogs or multiple handlers sharing the same dog.​

· Who will be teaching?​

- Instructing this class will be four of our Senior Bachelors students working collectively to impart a well-rounded perspective on the curriculum.​

· What to bring:​

- For classes you will need to bring yourself (the primary handler), your dog, a flat (non-retractable) leash preferably 4’ to 6’, treats, a flat collar or harness (please no prong or pinch collars), a pen and paper if you like to take notes, and an enthusiastic desire to learn.​

- You will also need to bring your dog’s vaccination records to the first session. These may be obtained from your veterinarian’s office.​

For consideration for admission, please fill out the following application and return to bergintraining@gmail.com or to Dee Dee Ford at the Bergin University of Canine Studies main office by Tuesday 3/27/12. You must be 18 years of age or older to apply.

Application

Name: __________________________

Current city of residence: ______________________

Dog’s Name: _____________________

Age of Dog: ______________________

Breed of dog:_____________________

Sex of dog: _______________________

Date of vaccination expiration:
- Rabies [mo/day/year]: _________________
- Distemper, Adeno, Para, and Parvo components (DAPP) [mo/day/year]: ___________

How many people will be attending [maximum of 3]:___________________

Briefly describe your dog’s personality in your own words: ______________________________________________________________________________

Briefly describe your [the primary handler’s] previous training experience: ______________________________________________________________________________

Does your dog have a history of violence, aggression or fear? Briefly explain: ______________________________________________________________________________

Briefly list your expectations of this class: ______________________________________________________________________________

Briefly describe your dog’s background [training and otherwise]: ______________________________________________________________________________

How would you describe your relationship with your dog? ______________________________________________________________________________

How would you describe your training methodology? ______________________________________________________________________________

Are there others in the household who maintain a meaningful relationship with the dog?_____________________________________________________________________________



PLEASE POKE HOLES IN THIS!!!!!!! You guys are my testing ground before we shoot this over to the paper and put it up on the website and craigslist etc.

 

[Fozzybear]

Bumpity bump bump...seriously...if you're in northbay and have a dog this is worth it, also 10 bucks to the first person to find me a grammatical error or typo

 

[kriskitty23]

"High Schooled -Assistance Dogs demonstrates new ways to optimize human’s interactions with dogs, These findings are shared worldwide."

Period instead of comma after dogs.

"For classes you will need to bring: Yourself (the primary handler), your dog, a flat (non-retractable) leash preferably 4’ to 6’, treats, a flat collar or harness (please no prong or pinch collars), a pen and paper if you like to take notes, and an enthusiastic desire to learn."

I'm not sure how you are submitting this for grade/review, but you might want to consider breaking it up into further categories/bullet points. It tends to run together and the mind begins to wander when reading such lengthy sentences.

For example, you might create a separate headline for who you and your classmates are, separate headline for what your goals are/experience is, etc.

Just some thoughts. Good luck on your assignment and project!

 

[Fozzybear]

thanks, I'll go make those changes, our grade on this is whether or not our clients actually walk out of the glass with a more meaningful relationship with their dogs, so the real goal here is to simply get the right sort of people interested and enrolled. Also, the class has actually been bumped back a week, the first class will be next Tuesday 4/3/12 followed by weekly Thursday classes from 4/5/12 - 5/10/12, so if you've got a dog its not too late to sign up. If you're in the Northbay fill out that application and email it back to bergintraining@gmail.com this really is a fantastic deal. the four of us that are teaching this class have allot of experience training many different types of dogs to do lots of different kinds of work and we do it all in a manner that is really allot of fun for both dog and handler.