This affordable course is designed for people with any level of LGD experience. The weekly live Zoom sessions and the Discussion function on every slide allow me to tailor the course to the specific needs of every student.
Yes! Get results quickly using science-based training that dogs love and owners find easy to understand. I will help you become a skillful and confident trainer/manager of your LGDs.
Yes! I am a friendly, thorough, well-organized, dedicated trainer and instructor. I believe anyone can learn what I have learned and I will show you how. References from training clients past and present are happily provided - just ask!
This course was created to help protect LGDs through education. To encourage participation, discounts are available to prospective students who help to protect LGDs in circumstances of need and to group enrollments. Please email me if you think a discount might apply to you.
$50 Discount for group enrollments of 5+. LGD breeders! This course, offered to buyers of your pups, would help to protect them.
$50 Discount those who work or volunteer at rescues or shelters that support LGDs.
$50 Discount to those who foster LGDs or have adopted an LGD from a rescue or shelter.
Zoom sessions will be held 1-4 times a month, depending on the needs of the students and graduates. Answering student's questions is of primary importance to me. Graduates of the course are welcome to continue to participate in the Zoom sessions for one full year after completing the course and are welcome to submit questions. These will be answered, as time allows, after the questions from current students are handled. Zoom sessions are recorded and uploaded to the Zoom 101 library. Graduates may become members. Access to the full course all Zoom sessions will be available to members through an annual fee.
Zoom sessions will allow you to continue learning long after you graduate from this course.
Click here to email me if you have questions!
The Thinkific platform considers every PDF and Video a Lesson. In order to have this important content follow each slide that it is related to, some of the Lessons only consist of one slide. The course lists 167 Lessons. That is a little misleading, in terms of figuring out how much time is required to complete the course. This course can easily be completed within the 3 months allowed.
Recognition for Kristen and Eileen
FREE PREVIEWSection 1-1: What is a Livestock Guardian Dog?
Reading: Common Reasons LGDs Fail and the Human Contribution
Knowledge Check: Section 1-1
Section 1-2: Common Myths (1)
Reading: Using a Mature LGD to Raise a Puppy
Section 1-2: Common Myths (2)
Reading: Raising a Single Puppy or a Pair of Pups
Section 1-2: Common Myths (3)
Reading: What Does LGD Bonding With Livestock Look Like?
Knowledge Check: Section 1-2
Section 1-3: Is An LGD Right for Me? (1)
Reading: The Biddability of Livestock Guardian Dogs
Section 1-3: Is An LGD Right for Me? (2)
Reading: Andy’s Letter to His Neighbors
Section 1-3: Is An LGD Right for Me? (3)
Reading: Appropriate Fencing Options For Use with LGDs
Reading: Compassionate Use of Electric Fencing
Knowledge Check: Section 1-3
Section 1-4: How to Find the Right Dog (1)
Video: Understanding Hip Conformation
Reading: PennHIP Certificate with Recommendations for Supporting a Dog with Imperfect Hips
Section 1-4: How to Find the Right Dog (2)
Reading: Considerations for Purchasing One Dog or Two
Reading: What to Look For In a Breeder
Reading: The Value of a Contract
Knowledge Check: Section 1-4
Section 1-5: What is Owed to the Dog (1)
Reading: How to Manage An LGD's Coat
Video: How to Groom an LGD with a Heavy Coat
Section 1-5: What is Owed to the Dog (2)
Reading: How to Trim Toenails Without Drama
Video: How To Trim Toenails with a Worried Dog
Section 1-5: What is Owed to the Dog (3)
Reading: How to Manage Spaying and Neutering
Reading: Ranch Rules of Conduct for People and How to Touch An LGD
Knowledge Check: Section 1-5
Section 2: How Dogs Learn (1)
Video: How Do You Know a Dog Is Happy? Behavior Is Movement, Not Emotions
Reading: The Danger of Using Labels to Describe Behavior
Section 2: How Dogs Learn (2)
Video: Understanding Appeasement Behaviors
Section 2: How Dogs Learn (3)
Reading: How to Support a Frightened Dog or Pup
Section 2: How Dogs Learn (4)
Video: Differences In Social Skills
Section 2: How Dogs Learn (5)
Reading: Adolescent Changes & Why They Happen
Section 2: How Dogs Learn (6)
Reading: The Truth About Why Dogs Guard Empty Food Bowls
Section 2: How Dogs Learn (7)
Knowledge Check: Section 2-1
Section 3-1: Tools In the Training Toolbox (1)
Reading: The Attributes of a Great Trainer
Reading: Clicking the Shelter Dogs
Section 3-1: Tools In the Training Toolbox (2)
Reading: Just Tell Me What You Want
Section 3-1: Tools In the Training Toolbox (3)
Reading: Treat Selection and Preparation
Video: Treat Delivery Strategy
Section 3-1: Tools In the Training Toolbox (4)
Video: The Choice To End a Training Session
Section 3-1: Tools In the Training Toolbox (5)
Video: Breaking My "String"
Section 3-1: Tools In the Training Toolbox (6)
Video: Shaping In Action
Section 3-1: Tools In the Training Toolbox (7)
Reading: Let’s Talk About Bella
Video: Redirection In Action
Section 3-1: Tools In the Training Toolbox (8)
Video: How To Reinforce Behaviors with Multiple Dogs
Section 3-1: Tools In the Training Toolbox (9)
Reading: What to Look For In a Mentor or Trainer
Knowledge Check: Section 3-1
Section 3-2: Feeding Protocol and Resource Guarding (1)
Reading: It Is Appropriate for Dogs to Guard Resources - People Do Too
Reading: How To Teach a Dog To Eat Calmly
Section 3-2: Feeding Protocol and Resource Guarding (2)
Video: How Much to Feed An LGD and Feed Storage
Section 3-2: Feeding Protocol and Resource Guarding (3)
Video: Where to Feed and Why
Section 3-2: Feeding Protocol and Resource Guarding (4)
Reading: How to Support a Resource Worrier
Section 3-2: Feeding Protocol and Resource Guarding (5)
Reading: Tying a Dog While He Eats
Knowledge Check: Section 3-2
Section 3-3: What Skills Does an LGD Need to Work with People? (1)
Reading: What Manding Is and Why to Teach It
Reading: What Happened When Odie Learned to Sit
Section 3-3: What Skills Does an LGD Need to Work with People? (2)
Video: How to Teach a Nose Target and Follow a Target
Section 3-3: What Skills Does an LGD Need to Work with People? (3)
Reading: How to Teach My Gate Protocol
Video: How to Teach My Gate Protocol and Stop Sign Hand
Section 3-3: What Skills Does an LGD Need to Work with People? (4)
Video: How to Teach Recall
Section 3-3: What Skills Does an LGD Need to Work with People? (5)
Video: Touching a Novel Surface and First "Car" Ride
Section 3-3: What Skills Does an LGD Need to Work with People? (6)
Video: How to Enter a Building and How to Move Around In a Building
Section 3-3: What Skills Does an LGD Need to Work with People? (7)
Video: How To Introduce a New Dog
Reading: Use Caution With Companion Dog Trainers
Knowledge Check: Section 3-3
Section 3-4: What Skills Does an LGD Need With Livestock? (1)
Video: The Language of LGDs with Livestock
Section 3-4: What Skills Does an LGD Need With Livestock? (2)
Reading: Three Common Reasons LGDs Bark
Section 3-4: What Skills Does an LGD Need With Livestock? (3)
Video: Introducing a Young LGD to Chickens
Knowledge Check: Section 3-4
Section 3-5: Training a Puppy (1)
Video: How to Teach the First Clicker Behaviors to Puppies
Section 3-5: Training a Puppy (2)
Reading: Missy the Cowardly Pup
Video: A Perfect Environment For Puppies (Or Dogs) In the First 24 Hours In Their New Home
Section 3-5: Training a Puppy (3)
Video: Perfect Environments to Foster Livestock Bonding to Puppies
Section 3-5: Training a Puppy (4)
Reading: My Five-Week-Old Puppies Learn About Sheep
Video: Introducing Puppies to New Livestock
Reading: No Illusions
Reading: Training Instructions - Whelping to Sixteen Weeks of Age
Video - How To Support a Dog Who Is Afraid - Training Options
Knowledge Check: Section 3-5
Section 3-6: Training an Adolescent (1)
Reading: Sasha As an Adolescent - Fast and Capable
Section 3-6: Training an Adolescent (2)
Video: Working On Clicker Skills with a Fast Adolescent Dog
Section 3-6: Training an Adolescent (3)
Video: Managing An Adolescent LGD Livestock Interaction On a Long-line
Section 3-6: Training an Adolescent (4)
Video: Adolescent Changes with Livestock
Section 3-6: Training an Adolescent (5)
Reading: Training Instructions for Adolescent Dogs
Knowledge Check: Section 3-6
Section 3-7: Bringing Home an Adult LGD (1)
Reading: See the Dog In Action Before Bringing Him Home
Section 3-7: Bringing Home an Adult LGD (2)
Reading: Steve and the Snow Leopard
Reading: Strategies for Using Food Reinforcement with LGDs
Knowledge Check: Section 3-7
Section 3-8: Adding a New Dog to an Old Dog
Knowledge Check: Section 3-8
Section 3-9: How to Deal with Changing Livestock
Video: Introduction to Novel Livestock While On a Long-line
Knowledge Check: Section 3-9
Section 3-10: Troubleshooting (1)
Reading: Training Options for Barking
Section 3-10: Troubleshooting (2)
Reading: Training Options to Improve Recall
Section 3-10: Troubleshooting (3)
Reading: Training Options to Encourage a Dog to Trust People
Section 3-10: Troubleshooting (4)
Reading: Training Options for a Dog Who Chases or Harasses Livestock
Section 3-10: Troubleshooting (5)
Reading: Training Options for Dealing with Aggression
Reading: Training Options for Supporting a Dog Who Is Sensitive About Resources
Reading: What a Dog Learns from Wearing a Dangle Stick
Reading: What a Dog Learns from Wearing a Shock Collar
Section 3-10: Troubleshooting (6)
Reading: Training Options with a Dog Who Challenges Fences
Reading: Realistic Expectations of An LGD Crossed with a Companion Dog
Knowledge Check: Section 3-10
Video: Course Completion Thank You and Choices Going Forward
