Course Schedule

This workshop is designed to help handlers understand why many dogs struggle with focus, impulse control, or emotional regulation not because they lack training, but because they lack orientation.Before a dog can offer calm behavior, they need to understand where they are in space, what matters in the moment, how pressure works, and which choices lead to resolution. Without that information, dogs often default to extra movement such as pacing, circling, barking, grabbing, freezing, or disengaging.In this interactive workshop, students learn how to observe their dog’s problem-solving process and identify missing cognitive skills before attempting to change behavior.

Rather than focusing on obedience or performance, the class teaches participants how to recognize:

• how their dog responds to uncertainty• whether their dog solves problems through motion, avoidance, handler dependence, or scattered effort

• how their dog recovers from mistakes

• how pressure affects thinking

• where clarity is breaking down

Students will practice simple, low-pressure diagnostic exercises using everyday household objects. These are observation-based rather than performance-based and are designed to reveal each dog’s default coping strategies and decision-making patterns.

Handlers will learn when to wait, when to support, when to simplify, and how to reduce pressure so their dog can stay engaged with the problem rather than escalating behavior.

The workshop emphasizes three core concepts:

• Seeing Before Doing

• Orientation Under Pressure

• Recovery and Choice

Participants leave with practical observation skills, a clearer understanding of their dog’s cognitive strengths and gaps, and concrete ways to support calmer, more thoughtful responses in both training and daily life. The class is appropriate for dogs of all ages and experience levels, including sport dogs, working dogs, and companion dogs. No prior coursework is required.

 Watch the Trailer:

Lecture Publish Date: Sunday June 28th

Video Submissions Due Date:  Sunday July 5th @ 12pm noon PT 

Feedback & Questions Video Publish Date: Wednesday July 8th

Instructor: Barbara Lloyd

Founder and Lead Trainer, The Dog’s Den Training School Barbara Lloyd, with over 24 years of experience, is a trailblazer in the world of dog training. As the owner of The Dog’s Den Training School, she has dedicated her career to transforming the lives of both dogs and their human companions.(Click here for full bio and to view Barbara's upcoming courses)