Have you ever wondered about the world of animal modeling and acting? What skills are needed for acting in TV commercials and movies?  How are they different from ‘traditional’ training for dog sports?  How can you utilize the skills and techniques used with animal actors to improve your dog’s understanding in other fields of training?

Sassie will answer these questions and more as she guides you through canine acting ins and outs with a balance of working sessions, lecture, creative problem solving, demonstrations, and Q & A time. 

Get the inside scoop on:

• The Dog: What type of dogs work and why? How color, body-type, training and attitude all come into play 

• Agents: Who, what and why you want one. How to package and present your pooch’s talents to an agent.

• The Shoot: What it will be like and how to be prepared

• Professionalism: What is expected, the do’s and don’ts

• Training: When to improvise and when to train. Are you creative in a pinch?
   

Theatrical animal trainers learn to think on their feet and teach new behaviors quickly, their dogs need to be happy and willing participants in training to be successful. The techniques that Sassie uses with her animal actors have also helped many students and seminar participants improve their success rate in freestyle, agility, obedience and other dog sports.

You will have plenty of opportunity to train your dog in basic and more advanced acting skills during the weekend. Behaviors you may get to pick from are: walking on leash with a stranger, stays with high level distractions, getting your dog to look in the right direction without breaking the stay, going to a foot target, hold, carry, speak, digging, opening doors, directing your dog from a distance, interacting and working for an “actor” and skills specific to your particular dog’s look and type-casting.

As your dog masters the essentials of a canine actor, you will learn how to chain simple behaviors into interesting performances as well as how to use it to improve general manners and dog sports skills. On Sunday, you will put it all together and show off your dog’s talent with a mock up still or simple action shot, depending on your dog’s skills.

Meet Sassie's canine acting family. She will bring at least one of her dogs to demonstrate different behaviors.

13 CEUs for CPDT-KAs.

WAYS TO PARTICIPATE:

Dog Training for Working Participants (limited - 30) 

Working Participants must sign-up for both days.

You and your dog will be paired with another handler/dog team during training exercises. You and your training partner will take turns alternating working the dogs. We suggest only bringing one dog as the training sessions build on each other. There will be multiple training sessions each day.

Requirement for working participants - Dogs should have basic obedience/pet manners skills and be under control of the owner. Your dog’s ability to progress through the different training exercises will depend on his/her foundation training.

Dogs must be able to stay quietly in a crate or ex-pen out of owners sight and must be tolerant of people and dogs working in close proximity. No reactive dogs.

Auditors (unlimited spaces)

If your dog does not meet the requirements, or you prefer to observe, come and watch the dogs and handlers work through the progressions. Auditors will help with props, distractions and pose as "actors". 

Auditors, please leave your dogs at home or in the car if appropriate.

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