Course Details
If you’ve ever watched your dog in the middle of a session and thought, “There’s more going on here than just the behavior,” this workshop is for you. Underneath every game, every cue, every interaction, your dog is making a prediction: What is this about to feel like? That prediction matters. It shapes what happens next.
This workshop is for handlers who are curious about what their dog expects in the moment. For the ones who notice hesitation, sniffing, big feelings, or sudden intensity and think, “Okay… what is that about?” Not in a judgmental way. In a curious way.
In this workshop, we’ll explore play and engagement through the lens of emotion and conditioned emotional response. What does this picture predict? What has history built here? What does the leash mean? The jump? The marker? The new person stepping into the game?
Through video examples and practical breakdowns, you’ll see how platforms, snuffle mats, and clean game loops can transform big feelings into sustainable engagement. A platform that becomes a start button. A snuffle mat that becomes an opt out and a regulator. A jump game that works because sniffing isn’t removed, it’s integrated. This workshop is about considering what your dog expects to feel in the moment and using play and activities to shape that expectation.
If you care about clarity, resilience, and connection… and you want engagement that’s sustainable, not forced… I think you’ll enjoy this one. Because engagement doesn’t start with behavior. It's an interplay of emotions and expectations.
Audit spots will get to ask questions while working spots will have the opportunity to submit short video clips afterward so we can practice looking through the emotional lens together. This workshop can stand alone, but it pairs beautifully with the Relational Lens workshop.
Watch the Trailer:
Coming Soon!
Lecture Publish Date: Sunday March 8th
Video Submissions Due Date: Sunday March 15th @ 12pm noon PT
Feedback & Questions Video Publish Date: Wednesday March 18th
Instructor: Crystal WingCrystal Wing (she/her) taught high school art for 23 years. She has been training dogs since 2006 and traveled the nation learning and competing in various protection sports. ...(Click here for full bio and to view her upcoming classes)
