Course Details
Understanding what motivates our dogs and how that motivation changes over time, is key to successful training. In this webinar, we’ll explore how to build, strengthen, and maintain reinforcers that grow with your dog. From establishing food and toy value in puppies to adapting reinforcement strategies through adolescence, you’ll learn how to keep your dog engaged and responsive at every stage.
We’ll cover strategies for:
- Identifying and developing reinforcers
- Building toy and food value
- Managing reinforcement shifts during developmental changes
- Maintaining motivation through environmental challenges and distractions
- Creating reinforcement plans that support long-term training goals
Whether you’re working with pet dogs or perspective sport dogs, this session will help you create engaging and adaptable reinforcement strategies that evolve as your dog does.
About the Instructor:
Sara Brueske (she/her) has been training dogs since she was a young child, and has experienced a large variety of breeds and sports during that time. After graduating as a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner in 2011, she jumped into the professional dog training world. She began teaching group classes and private lessons at On the Run Canine Center in Minnesota. At the time she was also competing in agility, disc dog as well as fostering for local rescues.
In 2014, Sara was hired by Purina as a dog trainer to perform dog sport shows at Purina Farms in Grey Summit, Missouri. Her number of dogs quickly grew to fill the need of the job. Currently she has thirteen dogs of varying breeds and origins including a boston terrier mix, a papillion, several Australian koolies and Belgian Malinois. Sara and her dogs work to convince people to do more with their dogs, teach about responsible pet ownership and to get involved in the dog sport community.
After six years working as a full-time performer, Sara now teaches on the topic of dog sports full time. While disc dog and tricks are some of her specialities, she also is passionate about creating clear communication between handlers and their dogs as well as teaching how to build a solid foundation for any sport. Sara believes in positive reinforcement not only for dogs, but for their handlers as well. Her biggest joy in training is watching a handler and dog become partners and grow as a team.
Currently, Sara trains in the sports of disc dog, agility, IGP, mondioring, scentwork and dock diving as well as being a trick dog enthusiast. She actively competes and performs in agility, disc dog, dock diving, dryland mushing and is planning on trialing in scentwork soon.
