Mentorships are for serious canine enthusiasts, dog trainers, dog breeders, dog groomers, and dog owners. The goal is to improve your skill as a dog trainer.
To this end I will Train and Guide you to become a Cynologist. If you are not familiar with this term which is not well known in the USA, I will explicate. A Cynologist is an expert about canines (all canines) across many sub disciplines: behavior, genetics, history, learning, biology, ethology, etc.
Why would you consider a mentorship? Well, if you compare your options to learn how to train canines you will find that there are no end to in-person and solely online (or a mix) learning options. Unfortunately, most of the current choices are vested in some sort of ideology instead of producing the best results. And you will find that the legit schools are generally set around training working dogs with some emphasis on bite sports (you won’t find any that incorporate Movie/TV Dog Method, for example). And, it must be said that the Working Dog Schools are generally far, far better than the Pet Dog Training Schools. For one thing, the Pet Dog Training Schools will not offer a direct road to employment. You will be left on your own to maybe find a connection that will help you. In comparison, the Working Dog Schools have recruiters from different kennels, organizations, etc. that will offer jobs to the top students of the current graduating class.
To be upfront there are a few good working dog choices where you will be in a pretty intense learning and performing environment. However, be ready to be on site for at least 6 months and to spend more than $40,000.00 when all is said and done. In contrast, the online schools or the ideological schools will be less hands-on and stay away from High Tempo (High Drive powerful) dogs. These schools usually can be done in 3 months or so (Donaldson is 2 years, I believe) and you generally must prove that you go along with the cult thinking that they voice (or they won’t accept you, as they are ideological schools first and foremost). It won’t be cheap, either. In all honesty, there are lots of worthless Pet Store training programs that are so limited and so basic that their graduates are clueless and come out at best as “Little Leaguers.”
Apart from these options, there is another time honored way to learn and that is through apprenticeship. Be warned, this is becoming far harder to find–and sorry Mils and Sub Mils you’re not getting paid for any of it and you better pay your dues and do all of the hard work for a few years (e.g., clean kennels, transport dogs, take dogs to the vet, etc.). Because this method is a character test that never ends, it usually weeds out 90% of the people that would make it through other methods. It’s called paying your dues and proving yourself.
In contrast, I am presenting an opportunity to go beyond online video classes and surface level understanding of canines. I know every single method of canine training: from the structured methods to complete Operant and Respondent Conditioning (shaping, successive approximations, capturing, etc.). I’ve trained dogs for a very long time. I also have a degree in Behavioral Sciences. I passed specific intensive classes on Operant Conditioning where I had to train rats and cats to do complex behaviors. And I have established the Jedi Dog Master Challenge that no other dog trainer has yet to pass.
A side note of sorts: What lots of people thought was some sort of miracle with Karen Pryor and Gary Wilkes’ Clicker Seminars had actually been done during the 1800s with circus trainers and with silent cinema era dog trainers. My two mentors were both military dog trainers and huge names in obedience training as well as being famous Movie/TV dog trainers. Additionally, my background is far wider than anyone you will find: sled, bird, boar, protection, sport obedience, tactical, war, etc. I’ve have trained dogs from the Arctic to the Jungle on 3 continents
In a nutshell, my approach is to combine my 50 years of operational experience with a variety of dog training (e.g., sled, protection, obedience, bird dogs) and an academic background (I have a Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Sciences among other degrees) to offer a very profound functional learning experience. I might add that this approach is also a money saver in comparison to the previous options for learning.
What makes this vastly different from other canine courses is that canines will be approached in a holistic manner. This is addressed by studying and passing through different modules. It’s much like Medical School. There are some basics that everyone needs to know–and then there are specifics that must be learned depending on your ultimate goals (this is a Tier 2 and Tier 1 Option).This is for anyone that is serious about improving his/her understanding of canines and forming a better bond with canines. This process requires letting go of propaganda that you might have collected in your past endeavors. It also requires some scholarly adherence to structure in the learning bedrock. You cannot fake, slide, or coast your way through this even at the Tier 4 level. At all Tier levels you will be expected to produce academic work (where you can prove your thinking in a clear concise manner and not parrot back answers you read) and to pass performance tests where you work with your dog(s). This will mean several levels of frustration, breaking old learning methods, embracing discovery. It is NOT for those that easily give up.
I should add that Mentorships can be done at a distance or in person or a combination of the two.
One note–those that desire a total in person training regime be forewarned that it requires a great deal of personal character, desire, drive and accomplishment to earn this opportunity (contact me for more about the requirements).
For those that want to be mentored via distance here are the options.
OPTIONS for Mentorships
Tier 4: Regardless of Module you will be given a book list. These books are your responsibility to obtain (we try to use books that are found via used bookstores online). The actual booklist is not given until payment. You will be given a reading order. You will write reaction papers once a week on the readings. These are to be emailed to me and you will get a response and critique about your paper. Once a month you will have a 30 minute clarity and interaction via phone, Skype, Streamyard, etc.After registration there is monthly charge of $450 (read the section on fees etc)
Tier 3: Includes Tier 4 and requires more writing on the reaction papers. There will be a thought exam on material every month. There will also be 2 voice interactions of 30 minutes per month. This is harder than Tier 4. After registration $500 a month (see fees)
Tier 2: Includes everything from Tier 4 and 3 and requires videos to be filmed for review (it will depend on the module what the tasks will be) The readings will be far more thorough and the page count will be higher. The Goal is to move you through modules more rapidly than Tier 4 or Tier 3 After registration $570 a month
Tier 1: WARNING–this is NOT easy and you must keep up with the pace. Welcome to a graduate school level investigation of all things canines. To be certain that you are ready for this level of study you must write a paper detailing why you think you are a good candidate for this level of investigation and study. You will do everything from Tier 4, Tier 3, Tier 2 and you will be responsible for creating projects and far more video recordings. You will also speak weekly in voice or video calls on what you are covering, what you have integrated and your reflections. You also will be entitled to a 50% discount on consultations (and more leeway on what consultations could cover) Also, for future workshops, seminars, etc. you will have a discounted price. You will also, based on the quality of your work, be invited to do private in person training. If you are accepted this is $670 a month.
FEES and IMPORTANT INFO: There is a $50 registration fee that is non refundable. (As long as you stay enrolled it is a one time fee–if you stop and start you will need to pay another registration fee) When this goes through you will be given the reading list for your first module. You will pick what Tier you wish to do after you have the book list and once that money is in we start.Note: you can always move Tiers at the end of a month of study.
REGISTRATION PAYHERE– USE the BUTTON BELOW CLICK ON IT:
Please notice that Tier 1 requires a paper before acceptance, though. Monthly fees will be set up on a subscription level–meaning that you will automatically pay each month for the Tier you are at. You can stop or switch Tiers at the end of a month. Talk to us more if you plan on moving up or quitting. Modules are not equal in length and it depends on what Tier you are in how quickly you can move through different modules.We will try to set up voice or video calls that work for both of us–however, sometimes just like a university our schedule is going to dictate what are the final options to make the calls.
MODULES: There will be a listing of modules that will expand; however, there are some core modules that everyone will take regardless of what direction he or she wants to take as his/her final goal. We will start with those.And, of course, there are advanced modules that require the prerequisites be met.This description and listing is not exhaustive–more details will be added as necessary.
Contact us via email take out space before and after @: Top-K9 @ mail.com
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