Speaking of Dogs Presents: TACT (Touch Associated Clicker Training) featuring Julie Robitaille

Sunday September 15th, 2013

Toronto Don Valley Hotel and Suites, Toronto ON

9 AM to 5 PM

Cost: 135.00

CEUS will be applied for

For more information visit www.speakingofdogs.com or call 416-444-4190 email

Positive, practical solutions for the most challenging behavior problems

Living with a dog exhibiting fearful, reactive or aggressive behavior can be heartbreaking. It can leave pet owners with little to no hope of sharing a peaceful life with their canine companions. This one day seminar introduces a new innovative training methodology designed for the mostchallenging behavior problems faced by pet owners.

TACT, Touch Associated Clicker Training creatively combines the science and art of learning theory, clicker training and massage therapy. This unique approach is used specifically to rehabilitate and prevent shy, fearful, reactive, and aggressive behavior in dogs and puppies utilizing positive training methods.

TACT utilizes a ritualized protocol designed with safety, structure and predictability. TACT develops confidence and coping skills while changing the emotional response in fearful dogs. TACT incorporates a detailed home management and real world exposure control program for owners to follow to coincide with their training protocol. TACT is beneficial for all dogs, including puppies, shy dogs, and shelter dogs.

Both pet owners and experienced trainers will learn how to use the TACT program to:

Desensitize a dog’s fear of people and new environments

Build confidence and coping skills, while changing the emotional response in fearful dogs

Provide structure, bringing predictability to the dog’s life

Develop and deepen the canine/human relationship

Recognize canine body language and how to use this knowledge to set their dog up for success to maximize training results

Implement an effective home and real world management program

Develop a two way communication system between dog and handler

Enlist pet owners to become part of the solution in a creative and fun way

An effective tool in the canine professional’s behavior modification toolbox

TACT’s Caregivers Fatigue program provides a plan for healthy self care

Whether you are a canine professional or a pet owner this seminar will be provide valuable information to add to your training toolbox.

TACT Seminar Schedule Outline

8:30 to 9:00: Registration

9:00 to 10:30: TACT History, Four Year Behavior Case Study

Clicker Training 101 Review, Reactive Dog Principles

TACT Management Program - Home and Real World

TACT Foundation and Emergency Foundation Behaviors

Reactive Dog Vacation Review

10:30 to 10:45: Break

10:45 to12:00: Dress Rehearsal Review and Video

TACT Training Stage OneReview

TACT Case Study Stage One Video

Advanced Stage One Video

12:00 to 1:00: Lunch Break and Roundtable Discussion

1:00 to 3:00: TACT Training Stage Two Review

TACT Case Study Stage Two Video

Advanced Stage Two Video

Incorporating

In Touch/Massage: TACT Relaxation on Cue Review

TACT Relaxation on Cue Video

3:00 to 3:15: Break

3:15 to 5:00: TACT Training Stage Three Review

TACT Case Study Stage Three Video

TACT Training Stage Four Review

TACT Case Study Stage Four Video

TACT Stage Four Discussion, Getting Creative with TACT

Q&A Wrap Up

Julie Robitaille Profile

Julie Robitaille, CAMT, CPDT-KA, is the Founder of Animal Wellness Massage Therapy and Touch Click Calm, LLC, a Certified Small Animal Massage Therapist and a Certified Pet Dog Trainer. She is a graduate of the Bancroft School of Massage Therapy and completed an internship at Sterling Impression Animal Rehabilitation Center of New England where she currently works. Julie is best known for her work with reactive and aggressive canine behavior modification and is the Founder of the TACT methodology, Touch Associated Clicker Training. Julie has been a canine behavior consultant with Emma Parsons author of Click to Calm: Healing the Aggressive Dog in reactive dog training classes and seminars since 2006. Julie has presented seminars for TACT in the US and in Europe. Robitaille and Parsons recently published the TACT methodology as a 5 set DVD and Companion Workbook through Clean Run Productions.

TACT began its experimental stages in early 2007 when Julie was repeatedly requested by clients to provide canine massage therapy services to dogs that did not welcome the touch of human strangers. Julie experimented with Parsons Click to Calm methodology and over time developed a new training methodology specifically designed to prevent and rehabilitate fearful, reactive, and aggressive canine behavior directed at people. She is the Operations Committee Member of the State of Massachusetts Animal Response Team (SMART), and the Co-Team Leader for SMART’s Search and Rescue Team. Julie has completed the ACOAM, Animal Control Officers Association of Massachusetts Certification Program for Massachusetts Animal Protection and Law Enforcement and currently works with many Animal Control officers with canine behavior modification programs.