The adolescent brain is truly special! The adolescent dog has a learning base of life experiences, so they come to adolescence with opinions. But their brains are still truly neuroplastic by default. This is very different from the adult brain.

Adolescents are taking in new information at a phenomenal rate. They are wildly impressionable and their interpretations of the world are processed through emotional pathways (the amygdala) rather than thoughtful pathways (prefrontal cortex, which is still underdeveloped). That can be a big problem if we are not paying attention. We have to address emotional states first. That approach to training remains a strength throughout life, but is by far the best and fastest road to success with an adolescent.

In puppyhood, a wide base of positive experiences is great, but we’re truly in trouble if our mindset is that the little puppy will retain their ‘learned’ responses without testing them once their hormones activate in puberty. Any parent of a teen can tell you that testing limits and conflicted emotions are hallmarks of adolescence. We can take advantage of this major shift in mental operation!

We can guide this new learning phase the way we want it to go. We can help our young dogs develop a base of cooperative mental flexibility as they want more freedom and independence. We need to pay attention to changing needs and operate within a framework of intentional educational opportunities. Not just formal training sessions!Think of ‘teaching moments’ and a ‘dog’s choice’ training approach. Lots of attention to the antecedent arrangement so we can allow lots of personal freedom within the educational opportunity itself.

All of the 5 puppy skill sets will be taken further in this webinar. They are the Potty, Social, Reinforcement, Name/Recall, and Restraint/Handling skill sets. Here we will also work on the mental gymnastics of problem solving, on and off switches, self modulation, and the ability to adjust to disappointment according to cues from us or from the environment. That’s a lot of brain power to coordinate, and adolescence is the very best time to dive in! The Mental Flexibility approach to adolescent learning will enhance your dog’s optimism and confidence as they transition to adulthood.

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$19.95 - This pre-recorded presentation including lecture and Q&A will show in your Webinar Library after purchase.

About the Presenter:

Julie Daniels is certified in Control Unleashed (CCUI) and TAGteach methodology. She teaches CU online and presents seminars in person, specializing in overaroused, reactive and sensitive dogs. She has been on the faculty at FDSA for nearly 10 years. For 28 years, she ran dog training camps at her world-renowned White Mountain Agility School in northern NH. Some of the theme camps she developed there were Wild Child, Speed-Em-Up, Novice Genius, Jumping Genius, and the WMA Instructor Certification Course, which honed the skills of hundreds of teachers and thousands of dogs worldwide.

Agility was Julie’s sport for many years. She is a two-time international champion and two-time national champion as well. She has written four agility books. Julie was also the expert voice of Cynosport agility for many years, doing livestream video commentary at international events seen all around the world.

Julie has worked with interesting and challenging dogs her entire life. She lives in Deerfield, NH with two Border Collies, two Australian Koolies and a Staffy mix.

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