Qualifications
including Training, Certification
and Memberships:
We consistently participate in webinars,
seminars, workshops and conferences.
1.
Tellington Touch
for Companion Animals: July 2011 Six-day Workshop in Bloomington, MN.
Bodywork and groundwork for body awareness and stress reduction in pets.TTouch
is a gentle approach for influencing behavior, health and performance
with bodywork, body wraps, and balanced movement exercises. TTouch can
easily be used in conjunction with other non-invasive, reward-based
methods and behavioral modification, thus enhancing and accelerating
treatment.
2.
From
shelter to new home: introduction of cats in transition, July 2011
Course description:
When a cat comes from the shelter it's not uncommon for the
family to expect kitty to immediately recognize his good fortune and fit
right into the family. Sadly, many shelter cats have emotional issues
due to the initial reason for the relinquishment or abandonment. These
issues must be addressed in the new home. This presentation will help
the animal professional to guide owners through the process of bringing
a shelter cat into the home, setting up a sanctuary room, bonding
issues, and introduction to family and other pets.
It Takes Two:
Successful Cat and Dog Interactions, APDT Webinar, June 2011
Introducing pets and ensuring they are
able to live peacefully together.
Two Behavior Problems:
Socialization Issues and Possession,
Trish King,
Raising Canine, Jan 2011 Two
related problems – proper socialization and resource guarding. If
early socialization is done properly, we can avoid problems such as
resource guarding.
Puppy Socialization the Right Way - Grisha Stewart, Raising Canine, Feb 2011
Developmental periods, pitfalls to avoid
Association of Pet Dog
Trainers' Conference, October 2010 Attended the Feisty Fido's
workshop, K9 Nose Work seminar, Advanced Lure Reward Training, and other
seminars.
3.
Fear and Conflict
telecourse with Trish King, September 2010 Conflicted emotions in dogs and
modifying their behavior.
4.
Raising Canine's Learning Theory Series Telecourses, August 2010 Concepts most
beneficial to Animal Behaviour Consultants (12 hours) Session 1: Science, Language, Nature vs Nurture, the Humane Hierarchy Session 2: Functional Assessment, the Stages of Learning Session 3: Respondent Learning: Overshadowing, Blocking, Counter
Conditioning & Desensitization Session 4: Operant Learning: the Quadrant, Shaping Session 5: Operant Learning Continued - review Session 6: Shaping, Extinction (respondent and operant), Primary & Secondary Reinforcers,
Shaping, Punishment and potential fallout Session 7: Reinforcement Schedules,Practical
Applications, ie. desensitization, BAT, CAT, etc.
Session 8: Reinforcement Schedules Shaping
5.
ABC Certified Dog Trainer, August 2010
Karin graduated from Animal Behaviour College's dog trainer educational
program. This was a
comprehensive program taken over a period of 10 months with textbook study, hands-on experience in training dogs
in a group class environment at the Winnipeg Humane Society, and volunteering with rescue shelters
- Deebo Dogs in Selkirk, MB and Winnipeg Pet Rescue Shelter.
6.
Attended Pet Sitters
International's Regional Conference in Atlanta, GA, September 2009 This was a great experience.
Enjoyed the workshops and meeting so many others in the industry. The
day included Pet Emergencies led by a DVM, a session on Legal
Considerations for Small Business Owners led by an attorney, and a
session on Business Branding led by the 2008 PSI pet sitter of the year.
7.
Accredited Pet
Sitter, 2005 & 2010
This accreditation
requires renewing every three years and CEU's are required in order to
be recertified.
The educational program includes animal behavior, health and
nutrition, pet first aid, and many other topics related to pets.
To view the certificate:
Pet-Sitter-Accreditation.gif
As
graduates are considered to be less of an insurance risk this
certification is recognized by the insurance provider, and as a result
we receive a discount on our annual premium.
8.
The
following two accreditations are from the previous program offered
through PSI. Accredited
Pet Sitting Technician
and Advanced
Pet Sitting Technician(program content is listed
at the bottom of this page*).
9.
Associate
(clinical) member of
the International Association of Animal Behaviour
Consultants. We
are working towards certification specializing in both canine and feline
behaviour. Associate members are
consultants in practice, on the path to Certified membership.
10.
Trained
in pet first aid.
Our latest training was St. John Ambulance's Pet First Aid course,
October 18, 2008. We also took Pet Tech, Inc's, 8-hour Pet Saver workshop in July
2006. We
carry a first aid kit and have pet crates for
transportation of pets. We also carry a cell phone for safety and client
convenience.
11.
Member of Pet Sitters International (PSI), International Association of
Animal Behaviour Consultants (IAABC) and a number of other professional business
organizations.
12.
Prepared
and have an emergency plan in place.
13.
Fully
insured
and bonded in providing pet services.
14.
Certificate
in Project Management, 2003 - Red River College
15.
Continuing
with additional training - always learning more.
16.
Licensed
with the City of Winnipeg.
* We also
completed the earlier programs from PSI prior to 2005. The syllabus
follows.
Accredited Pet Sitting
Technician program content:
-
Quality Standards
for Excellence
-
Emergency/Disaster Planning
guideline
-
Animal Handling & Restraint Proper handling and restraint techniques for various types of
animals without causing undue discomfort or harm, including equipment used.
-
Animal First Aid Symptoms of the most common animal medical emergencies, administering CPR
-
Bandages & Dressings Basic techniques for bandaging, dressing and re-dressing wounds
-
Animal Lore and Mythology
-
Animal Behaviour and
Intelligence Animal psychology, stimulus-reinforcement theory, training techniques,
socialization, behaviour modification
-
Care of Older Animals Includes nutrition and exercise, effects of aging on body systems
-
Sanitation Importance of sanitation, creating a sanitary environment for animals
-
Guide to Medical
Terminology Medical vocabulary for the veterinary office