Course Details
Have you ever finished a training session or trial and thought, "Why did my dog do that?" Was your dog distracted, confused, worried, feeling pressure—or something else entirely? The answer matters because every mistake has a different cause, and effective training begins with understanding the "why."
Many people believe that successful trainers simply have a natural gift for reading dogs. The truth is, reading your dog isn't a talent—it's a skill that anyone can learn. In this workshop, Petra will teach you how to recognize what your dog is communicating in the moment so you can respond with clarity, confidence, and empathy.
You'll learn how to:
- Recognize the subtle signs that reveal how your dog is feeling.
- Distinguish between confusion, stress, pressure, distraction, and lack of understanding.
- Understand why the same behavior can have different meanings depending on the context.
- Learn a systematic approach to analyzing your dog's behavior instead of relying on guesswork.
- Strengthen communication and build a deeper partnership with your dog both in training and in the competition ring.
Whether you're training new skills or preparing for competition, your ability to accurately interpret your dog's behavior has a tremendous impact on your success. When you understand what your dog is trying to tell you, you'll make better training decisions, solve problems more efficiently, and create a more confident, trusting teammate.
This workshop is perfect for anyone who wants to develop the essential skill of reading their dog and become a more thoughtful, effective trainer.
Watch the Trailer:
Coming Soon!
Lecture Publish Date: Sunday October 11th
Video Submissions Due Date: Sunday October 18th @ 12pm noon PT
Feedback & Questions Video Publish Date: Wednesday October 21st
Instructor: Petra FordI have been training and competing for several decades in a variety of sports including Hunt Tests, Field Trials, Nosework, Agility and Rally. My first love has always been competition obedience. I have been fortunate to win the AKC National Obedience Championship four times with three different dogs. (Click here for full bio and to view Petra's upcoming courses)
