My Top Reasons to Take the Wonderdogs Professional Dog Trainers Program
By Breeanne Roberts (Fall 2012 Graduate)
There are many reasons to consider taking Ben Kersen’s Professional Dog Trainers course!
First of all, it’s offered by the only accredited school in Canada, which is huge, and gives you bragging rights! J
I’ll mention some reasons I would recommend this course, and go into a bit of detail concerning each point in the following paragraphs.
Multiple locations/venues: This allows for exposure to different environments and keeps things fresh and exciting. It also allows you to see more of what beautiful Victoria has to offer, and exposes the dogs to different environments while keeping things exciting.
High distraction areas: The locations that the training takes place in are high traffic zones where many people and animals pass through every day. This allows your dog and the dogs you will be working with to be exposed to many different stimuli, such as horses, other dogs and people, squirrels, deer, rabbits, etc. This gives you the opportunity to increase the dog’s focus on you by learning how to gain the dog’s attention quickly and positively in these situations.
Fun Fridays: Every Friday, nearing the end of the course, you will be going to different locations that you had not previously visited. This strengthens the distraction work you will be working on, and gives the dogs even more experience in new environments. It usually includes a hiking and allows some beautiful sight-seeing.
Different instructors with different backgrounds and the same training techniques: different points of view and ways of explaining things, with the same consistent technique across all of the trainers. Each brings a different perspective and flair or style to their training while retaining the same concept and method that Ben Kersen himself uses.
Techniques are straight forward and easy to apply once learned: This not only helps you, as it’s easier to retain and use, but it will help your future clients! The easier the techniques, the easier to teach, and the easier that the dogs will learn it!
Video feedback: You’d be surprised what you might be doing without realizing it! With video feedback you can see yourself and your body language from an external point of view. This includes feedback on your technique from instructors about what you need improvement on, and how to achieve it.
Techniques work with all dogs: Regardless of breed or age!
Multiple training techniques/methods are covered: This way you will have many different approaches that you can take towards one dog’s potential problems or obstacles in order to succeed.
Course covers many subjects: From business and marketing, to trick shows and special events, you’ll get info from some of the top dog trainers in the world about their live events and how they organize and run them.
Guest speakers: During the course, you will be meeting different guest speakers from various different fields (all dog related) with in-person demonstrations and lots of time for Q & A.
Speak with past graduates: In person and via speakerphone to listen to lectures on varying topics and to ask any questions you may have. You will hear about their personal success and any obstacles they faced and how they got over them.
Program focuses on FUN and PRAISE: The whole training method revolves around engaging and motivating the dog to perform, with incredible results.
Run club: This concept, developed by Ben Kersen, is quite unique and has dramatic long lasting effects that take hold very quickly. The concept involves movement, pack, and covering distance. The dogs natural instincts to move with their pack takes hold and you will have a dog that is always looking at you for where you might want to go next. Every Saturday morning you will be welcomed to go along with Ben and some of his clients for run club to increase the bond you have with your dog.
Interactive games: Sometimes you will play interactive games including all classmates and your dogs. These games can be used in your future careers and definitely involve some laughter. Although these games are fun, they also hone the dog’s skills and boost their confidence. Whose dog can sit back down the fastest in ‘Duck, Duck, Goose!?’
Grad Facebook group: Once you have graduated you will be invited to the past graduate’s Facebook page, where you will be able to network with hundreds of past grads, now working in a variety of fields. If you ever have a training question, you can ask in this group and get advice from many extraordinary trainers about what you might try next. Sometimes there are unique training situations that are not covered in any course and this would be your opportunity to learn from those that have been working in the field for years about their personal technique or method to overcome whatever obstacle may be blocking the dog you are working with. You will feel the support of many who have been and are in your shoes!
Lots of video footage and literature: There are hundreds and hundreds of videos available to view, but not enough time to cover them all during course hours. These are always available to take home with you. There are also hundreds of books that you are welcome to borrow.
Make new friends! You will meet people with the same interest and passion for working with animals that you have. Some of these people will likely become your friends and you could form a long lasting friendship. Knowing other trainers is a huge advantage. You would have the opportunity to work together or to create a partnership of some kind as well if you decided to do that.
Bring your own dog(s) or a family member or friend’s dog: Go home with an incredibly trained dog or dogs! You dog will be your ambassador, and you will go home with a highly trained dog that you can show off to family, friends, and clients! Your dog and you will have a better, stronger relationship, and your dog will gain a lot of confidence and patience. Your dog will have the skills to potentially save its life in the future. Just going for a simple off leash walk could promote your business! When people see the fun that you are having they will want to talk to you J
Free training: Work with other people’s dogs to get you hands-on experience working with new client’s dogs. From novice puppies to old dogs learning new tricks, you’ll get to play with them all! Afterwards, you’ll get to listen to the instructors answer any questions that the clients have about that day’s training (as they will be watching). Listening to the instructors and clients talking after the training gives you valuable insight on working with people.
Increase your self-confidence: Speaking from self-experience, this course dramatically increased my self-confidence! I have heard the same thing from classmates and past graduates. During the course I witnessed other classmate’s self-confidence go up as well. Confidence makes a big difference when it comes to dog training! It also helps with marketing yourself and speaking with clients.
All of these points are the reasons that I would recommend thinking about taking Ben Kersen’s course. There are many other positive things to take away from the course, such as community service, and going out on the town with classmates!
I very much enjoyed my time in Victoria and on the field with students, the instructors, and all of the dogs, and look forward to visiting soon!
If you have any questions about being a student in the course feel free to contact me at Breeanner@gmail.com and I would be happy to chat with you and answer any questions you may have!
Happy training!
Breeanne Roberts