Kim has been asked to present the following 2 talks during the CANIS conference:
Control Unleashed Patterns for Every Dog
Control Unleashed Pattern Games are much more than they appear on the surface. When we see them for the layered, complex games that they are, we can discover a world of uses and benefits to CU Patterns for the sports dog, working dog, and family dog!
This workshop will be a deep dive into a few of the most popular CU Patterns. As a working spot attendee, you will learn how to teach these patterns to your own dog, and auditors will enjoy observing and discussing how to teach patterns to private clients and for use in dog training classes. Certified Control Unleashed Instructor Kim Palermo will coach teams on how to teach their dogs each CU pattern in detail; perfecting mechanics, using a fine-toothed comb to identify all challenges, and troubleshooting common problems. Uses for each pattern will be discussed, and individualized coaching will center on how to adjust the patterns to meet your specific needs – whether it’s for reactivity, sports, or good manners.
These Control Unleashed Pattern Skills, created by Leslie McDevitt, allow a dog to use voluntary behaviors to initiate a simple, repetitive chain that creates a predictable pattern. This will help to normalize the environment and allow the dog to process information from the safety of the pattern. Once we understand this, the possibilities in how CU Patterns can help dogs are endless!
Enrichment Transformed with ACE Free Work
ACE (Animal Centred Education) Free Work, created by Sarah Fisher, uses individualized enrichment stations to provide a physically and emotionally comfortable activity for our dogs. Free Work allows our dogs to forage, snuffle, lick, smell, and move in ways that will relax their nervous system, improve confidence and body awareness, and build emotional resilience and physical strength.
ACE Practitioner Kim Palermo will walk attendees through how to introduce enrichment activities in a way that will develop calm feelings from the get-go, or how to reintroduce these activities to dogs who already find them arousing! She will then coach each team through choosing the right height, angle, and setup for the Free Work stations, considering their dog’s physical structure and preferences.
Once a foundation is established for Free Work stations, you will be able to practice how to utilize these stations as reinforcement strategies and opt-out stations, and your dog will be able to enjoy a mini Free Work session!