Saturday, August 3rd: Connecting the Dots in Agility
Sunday, August 4th: You Talking to Me?! Attention Around Distractions
9AM-4PM each day

Attend one day or both – the choice is yours!

Saturday: Connecting the Dots in Agility

Is your dog over-stimulated when you are working with them in agility? Do they hold their Start Line Stay? Once released, do they start running the course? Or do they go off sniffing? Or maybe visit ring crew and possibly the Judge? Many times, these sequences are accidental behavior chains that have been rehearsed countless times. Once identified, they can be turned around, and success can prevail. Foundation behaviors also must be tested, and possibly redefined.

In this workshop, you will have personalized help on how to better connect with your dog in the agility ring. We will go over necessary Foundation Behaviors as well as troubleshoot various behavior issues such as: reactivity in the queue, disconnection while running the course, fear of certain obstacles, etc.

Video will be taken during this workshop and will be available to students at no extra charge.

Sunday: You Talking to Me?! Attention Around Distractions

It is common for dogs to struggle with focusing on their guardian in high distraction environments. We see this everywhere: in an obedience or agility class, in the park, in a veterinary office, etc. For this dynamic to improve, we, as handlers, need to understand Learning Theory as well as how and when reinforcements are given.

The goal is to create a behavior chain where the dog sees the distractions (whatever they are) as the cue to look at the handler voluntarily. The presence of the distraction in the environment becomes the cue to reorient to the handler. Once the handler has the dog’s attention, they can cue a set of reliable behaviors.

This workshop is also for dogs who might bark and lunge in challenging circumstances.

Online Registration

Full Weekend Packages
Sign up for both days & save $50 by using the links below!
working spot both days ($400 + tax)
one working, one auditing ($275 + tax)
auditing spot both days ($150 + tax)

IMPORTANT: After purchasing a full weekend package, you still need to register! Use the single day registration links below to sign up yourself/your dog. 

Single Day Registration

Saturday Working Spot ($225 + tax)
Saturday Auditing Spot ($100 + tax)
Sunday Working Spot ($225 + tax)
Sunday Auditing Spot ($100 + tax)

***CEUs pending. If you would like CEUs from a particular organization, please contact us prior to registration.***

About the Instructor: Emma Parsons, CDBC, KPA Faculty

Emma Parsons is currently a Canine Behavior Training Consultant at Gemini Dogs in Littleton, MA as well as owning her own business, Emma Parsons, LLC. She specializes in managing and rehabilitating the reactive and aggressive dog and has authored three books on the subject. Emma also works with agility competitors who are having emotional difficulties with their dogs. Emma is a faculty member of Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training & Behavior (KPA-CTP) as well as of the Karen Pryor Clicker Expo conferences. She is also certified by the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (CDBC).

She taught reactive dog classes for twelve years at Masterpeace Dog Training in Franklin, MA.

Emma holds a BA degree from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, and shares her life with her husband, Greg, and their three clicker-trained competition dogs—two Golden Retrievers, Austyn-Roque and Spirit-Rayne, and a Border Collie, Joshua Lee Hunt.

About the Host: Crossbones Dog Academy

Crossbones Dog Academy is an 8,000 square foot dog training, daycare, & retail facility located right off I-95 in Providence, RI. Our training hall is 45×75′ with Great Mats interlocking agility flooring. Our facility is climate controlled with ample off-street parking. Indoor crating space is available for quiet working dogs in a space adjacent to the training hall, or you may work out of your car. Chairs will be provided.

Crossbones is less than 20 minutes from TF Green Airport and approximately an hour from Logan Airport in Boston.