Service Dog Training Lecture Series – Selecting and Training Guide Dogs for the Blind
This webinar on selecting and training guide dogs for the blind will provide an overview of the specific characteristics desired in a working guide dog (physical and temperamentally). The presentation will also describe the unique training skills a guide dog receives, as they differ from other service work behaviors. Also included will be the changes in training methods since 2005 (from traditional to positive reinforcement).
Speaker: Michele Pouliot
Learning Objectives:
Participants will become familiar with the following:
- How the physical and temperamental characteristics of working guide dogs differ from those of other types of service animals.
- The ways in which guide dog skills are specialized and differ from the skills and tasks that are taught to most other service dogs working with disabled handlers.
- The history of guide dogs, and how that history is relevant to the evolution of current training methods.
- Know some of the historical importance of guide dogs.
- Acceptance of working dogs in the community and public access rights for people with disabilities and their service dogs – began with guide dogs.
- Guide dogs first came into being during and after World War I, in Germany.
- The first guide dog school in the United States opened in 1929 with several other schools opening in the 1950’s.
- The first guide dog team in the USA was Buddy and Morris Frank.
- Modern guide dog work and the requirements in an effective guide dog have transformed dramatically to adjust to cultural changes.
- Community culture and environment greatly impact how a guide dog is developed and trained.
Access to the recording is for 32 days.
Cost: $25.00 USD
CEU’s Available:
2 IAABC CEU’s
2 CCPDT CEU’s (1 CBCC-KA)
2 ABCDT-L2 CEU’s
2 NADOI CEU’s
2 PPAB/PPG
Speaker: Michele Pouliot worked 42 years as a professional guide dog trainer for the largest guide dog school in North America. Before entering the guide dog field, she studied under Linda Tellington Jones and Wentworth Jones at The Pacific Coast Equestrian Research Center, working for them after graduating with honors. In 1972, Michele acquired her first dog, sparking her interest in dog training. Michele discovered Clicker Training in 2000 and has never looked back. Michele has been responsible for promoting science based Clicker Training to the international guide dog field. Michele actively assists and consults guide and service dog programs around the world in adopting positive reinforcement techniques. In addition, Michele has successfully competed in horse and dog sports since 1970, having competed in extensively in Competitive Obedience, Agility and, Canine Musical Freestyle. Over 18 years in competitive obedience, she gained 3 OTCH titles on her Labradors and numerous titles on clients’ dogs.
Since 2006, Michele has been involved in the sport of canine musical freestyle. She thoroughly enjoys the creative challenge in this artistic sport that combines precision movements with trick behaviors to music. Michele has won 5 international competitions and attained 8 Championship Titles with 3 canine partners. In 2008, Michele made freestyle history in the World Canine Freestyle Organization when she received perfect scores of double 10’s for Technical and Artistic in a performance. Michele repeated this remarkable accomplishment with her celebrated Australian Shepherd “Listo” an incredible 24 times. Currently, Michele is performing with her English Springer Spaniel “Déjà vu” and her Australian Shepherd “Saké”. Since 2007, Michele has been an admired member of Karen Pryor’s faculty for Clicker Expo Conferences, presenting at all Clicker Expos in the USA and Europe. Michele’s enthusiasm in teaching effective clicker training is infectious and she has a remarkable amount of hands on experience (over 45 years) to draw upon. Michele is sought after for seminars and workshops due to her clarity of instruction, incredible training skills, along with her entertaining presentation style. Michele’s website: michelepouliot.com