The Good News thread

[AdrianneIsabel]

That's redonkulous. However, if you feel it's your calling, rock on.

[PWCorgi]

Originally Posted by AdrianneIsabel

That's redonkulous. However, if you feel it's your calling, rock on.

Yerp.

[Lyzelle]

Yay for: Camera, tablet, puppy.
Excited for: Traveling across the country, again, meeting some new people and visiting the old ones.

And generally speaking Zander is being super cute and cuddly lately, and I have no idea why. But I'm not complaining.

[SaraB]

Originally Posted by PWCorgi

Just make sure this is what you want to do. I know (or at least this is how it used to be) that you could lose your certification if someone reported you for using aversive techniques, and I know you use a prong with Cricket. Just saying that it would REALLY suck to spend all that money, and then not even be able to use the KPA certification on your resume.

But if it's really what you want to do then I say go for it!!

(I could never be KPA cause I'd probably fail all the exams for saying "ah ah" too much I just can't seem to get that out of my training vocab, nor do I think I need to in every instance)

This. I almost failed my last workshop because I let a eh-eh slip. Its all or nothing with those guys.

[AdrianneIsabel]

I came home, dinner was made, I cuddled my dogs, watched TV and cuddled the Denis.

It's the first night in too long that we're relaxing. I am so happy.

[Saeleofu]

DESTINY OF THE DALEKS IS HEREEEEEE!!!!! Now I can continue my adventures in Classic Who.

[skittledoo]

Originally Posted by PWCorgi

Just make sure this is what you want to do. I know (or at least this is how it used to be) that you could lose your certification if someone reported you for using aversive techniques, and I know you use a prong with Cricket. Just saying that it would REALLY suck to spend all that money, and then not even be able to use the KPA certification on your resume.

But if it's really what you want to do then I say go for it!!

(I could never be KPA cause I'd probably fail all the exams for saying "ah ah" too much I just can't seem to get that out of my training vocab, nor do I think I need to in every instance)

Originally Posted by SaraB

This. I almost failed my last workshop because I let a eh-eh slip. Its all or nothing with those guys.

Hmmm... That's actually really good to know. I know they focus on the clicker which is what I'm looking for. Ah-ah is definitely ingrained in my training vocab. I don't use the prong as often anymore mainly because Cricket has gotten so much better on the training side of things in regards to leash walking. But ya, I do still use it on rare occasions if we are going to places with much higher distractions. Bring lots of treats with to focus on training in distraction areas and never ever do I yank on her leash with the prong on. She has gotten to the point where she doesn't really need it anymore at all and I don't like the prong so I've been making it a point to focus a loootttt on her leash training. But still, KPA would frown on that.

We'll see. I need to do a lot more research to see what's the best road for me. The biggest thing drawing me to KPA is clicker training. I don't know of another program that emphasizes clicker work as much as KPA does and the majority of the training I do is clicker.

[stardogs]

You might also look into the programs that Pat Miller offers - similar in cost to KPA, but probably not quuuuiiiiite as nitpicky as KPA. They have a campus in MD and NC now.

Also, if you're just looking for additional skills with clicker vs wanting the title, trainer listing, etc. check out Clicker Expo. It's a 3 day conference with working labs that you can bring your dog for and it's AWESOME. I'm going this year for my 3rd time since 2007 and I am soooooo excited!

[skittledoo]

Originally Posted by stardogs

You might also look into the programs that Pat Miller offers - similar in cost to KPA, but probably not quuuuiiiiite as nitpicky as KPA. They have a campus in MD and NC now.

Also, if you're just looking for additional skills with clicker vs wanting the title, trainer listing, etc. check out Clicker Expo. It's a 3 day conference with working labs that you can bring your dog for and it's AWESOME. I'm going this year for my 3rd time since 2007 and I am soooooo excited!

I'll check out the Pat Miller programs as well. I didn't know Pat Miller offered training programs and MD is not a far drive from me at all. I definitely want to have a title and trainer listing. A LOT of people out this way are as my parents put it "credential snobs". They look for titles or some sort of proof of education in any given field and I feel like going through a program that will give me a title and list me in their trainer database will increase the potential of business as a trainer out here.

I'm going to check out the clicker expo as well because that sounds like a lot of fun! The expo they are having in MD this weekend that I'm going to have a few seminars they are offering. One of their seminars is for people that are interesting in actually starting careers as trainers so I'm planning on sitting in on that this weekend.

[stardogs]

I have several friends who have done different programs with Pat Miller's group and they say that they are great experiences.

CE fills up every year, so if you do want to go, make sure you sign up early. I'm going to the Stamford one in March and it filled earlier this month. Kestrel is my working dog this year, but I took Maggie in 2007 and Ziva in 2010. The only thing I didn't like about it was that it only lasts 3 days.

eta: Link to some of the new topics for CE this year: http://www.clickertraining.com/clickerexpo/whats-new