2013 SEMINAR ANNOUNCEMENT
Clicker Training in Guide Dog Programs
An International Guide Dog Clicker Seminar Hosted by Guide Dogs for the Blind
Located near Portland, Oregon USA

Dear guide dog colleagues,

We continue to receive a high level of interest in the successful clicker program we have developed at Guide Dogs for the Blind since 2005. Our preliminary presentation at the IGDF Conference in Paris this past May (“Quality Guide Dog Teams from a Toyota Assembly Line?”) has resulted in requests from numerous guide dog schools to learn more about our modern programs. We are happy to announce that we will be holding our 3rd week-long international clicker conference in June of 2013, at our Oregon campus. Our 2009 and 2011 conferences were attended by guide dog instructors from 11 different countries and very well received by all participants.

GDB continues to openly share our learning experiences and the knowledge we have gained over our eight year process of major program change.

GDB is pleased to invite you to our 3rd week-long conference on Clicker Training for guide dog work. Newly included in this next seminar will be an overview of the process we used to successfully make dramatic changes in our client training and dog training programs. The 2013 seminar will take place from June 4th through June 28th at our campus located near Portland, Oregon USA. This five day, in depth, seminar will include education and hands on practice in proven Clicker Training techniques for guide dog work.

Included subjects:

• Motivating staff and volunteers for major change
• Applying proved “Continuous Quality Improvement” (CQI) techniques to facilitate progressive change
• Transitioning experienced traditional trainers to Clicker Training
• Food reward use conquering the challenges that impact guide dog work
• Formal guide dog training training the majority of guide dog behaviors
• Client use of positive reinforcement techniques - Instruction and practical application
• Puppy Development application
• Problems we have encountered and how we learned to avoid them

Accommodation and meals: Participants to provide
Information on hotels in proximity to the school will be provided. The hotel fee is not included in the seminar fee.

Please return the reservation form by April 1, 2013. Number of participants is limited and reservations will be considered in the order of receipt.

We look forward to sharing our experiences and knowledge with more of our colleagues worldwide!