New Van for Wonderdogs! By Ben Kersen

New Van for Wonderdogs!
By Ben Kersen

Finally got the raised roof on my long overdue new van!  Check it out!

Until Next Time,
Ben Kersen
Ben Kersen & the Wonderdogs
http://www.wonderdogs.ca
Victoria, BC

 

Reasons to Take Ben Kersen’s Pro Dog Trainers Program -PART 2 – by Breeann Roberts

Reasons to take Ben Kersen’s Professional Dog Trainers Program – PART 2
By Breeann Roberts

Techniques are straight forward and easy to apply once learned: This not only helps you, as it’s easier to retain and use, but it will help your future clients! The easier the techniques, the easier to teach, and the easier that the dogs will learn it!

Video feedback: You’d be surprised what you might be doing without realizing it! With video feedback you can see yourself and your body language from an external point of view. This includes feedback on your technique from instructors about what you need improvement on, and how to achieve it.

Techniques work with all dogs: Regardless of breed or age!

Multiple training techniques/methods are covered: This way you will have many different approaches that you can take towards one dog’s potential problems or obstacles in order to succeed.

Course covers many subjects: From business and marketing, to trick shows and special events, you’ll get info from some of the top dog trainers in the world about their live events and how they organize and run them.

Guest speakers: During the course, you will be meeting different guest speakers from various different fields (all dog related) with in-person demonstrations and lots of time for Q & A.

Speak with past graduates: In person and via speakerphone to listen to lectures on varying topics and to ask any questions you may have. You will hear about their personal success and any obstacles they faced and how they got over them.

Program focuses on FUN and PRAISE: The whole training method revolves around engaging and motivating the dog to perform, with incredible results.

Run club: This concept, developed by Ben Kersen, is quite unique and has dramatic long lasting effects that take hold very quickly. The concept involves movement, pack, and covering distance. The dogs natural instincts to move with their pack takes hold and you will have a dog that is always looking at you for where you might want to go next. Every Saturday morning you will be welcomed to go along with Ben and some of his clients for run club to increase the bond you have with your dog.

Interactive games: Sometimes you will play interactive games including all classmates and your dogs. These games can be used in your future careers and definitely involve some laughter. Although these games are fun, they also hone the dog’s skills and boost their confidence. Whose dog can sit back down the fastest in ‘Duck, Duck, Goose!?’

Grad Facebook group: Once you have graduated you will be invited to the past graduate’s Facebook page, where you will be able to network with hundreds of past grads, now working in a variety of fields. If you ever have a training question, you can ask in this group and get advice from many extraordinary trainers about what you might try next. Sometimes there are unique training situations that are not covered in any course and this would be your opportunity to learn from those that have been working in the field for years about their personal technique or method to overcome whatever obstacle may be blocking the dog you are working with. You will feel the support of many who have been and are in your shoes!

Lots of video footage and literature: There are hundreds and hundreds of videos available to view, but not enough time to cover them all during course hours. These are always available to take home with you. There are also hundreds of books that you are welcome to borrow.

Make new friends! You will meet people with the same interest and passion for working with animals that you have. Some of these people will likely become your friends and you could form a long lasting friendship. Knowing other trainers is a huge advantage. You would have the opportunity to work together or to create a partnership of some kind as well if you decided to do that.

Bring your own dog(s) or a family member or friend’s dog: Go home with an incredibly trained dog or dogs! You dog will be your ambassador, and you will go home with a highly trained dog that you can show off to family, friends, and clients! Your dog and you will have a better, stronger relationship, and your dog will gain a lot of confidence and patience. Your dog will have the skills to potentially save its life in the future. Just going for a simple off leash walk could promote your business! When people see the fun that you are having they will want to talk to you J

Free training: Work with other people’s dogs to get you hands-on experience working with new client’s dogs. From novice puppies to old dogs learning new tricks, you’ll get to play with them all! Afterwards, you’ll get to listen to the instructors answer any questions that the clients have about that day’s training (as they will be watching). Listening to the instructors and clients talking after the training gives you valuable insight on working with people.

Increase your self-confidence:  Speaking from self-experience, this course dramatically increased my self-confidence! I have heard the same thing from classmates and past graduates. During the course I witnessed other classmate’s self-confidence go up as well. Confidence makes a big difference when it comes to dog training! It also helps with marketing yourself and speaking with clients.

All of these points are the reasons that I would recommend thinking about taking Ben Kersen’s course. There are many other positive things to take away from the course, such as community service, and going out on the town with classmates!

I very much enjoyed my time in Victoria and on the field with students, the instructors, and all of the dogs, and look forward to visiting soon!

If you have any questions about being a student in the course feel free to contact me at Breeanner@gmail.com and I would be happy to chat with you and answer any questions you may have!

Happy training!

Breeanne Roberts

 

Your Dog and Small Critters – By Ben Kersen

Your Dog and Small Critters
By Ben Kersen

In this video clip I talk about how to create a dog that is good with small critters whether it’s chickens, squirrels, rabbits or cats.  If your dog has already established bad habits with these animals, the approach may vary.

Until Next Time,
Ben Kersen
Ben Kersen & the Wonderdogs
Victoria, BC
http://www.wonderdogs.ca

crittering ben kersen

 

Rats!! By Ben Kersen

Rats! 
By Ben Kersen

If you’ve ever had a problem with a rat infestation  you know it is awful.  Proper storage of food, whether dog or human is one of the biggest keys in resolving and preventing this problem.  Watch the clip to hear my take:

Until Next Time,
Ben Kersen
http://www.wonderdogs.ca
Victoria, BC

 

Individual Training Options – Ben Kersen

Individual Training Options for Your Dog Training Clients
By Ben Kersen

We all know there a number of ways to get a dog trained, but less thought about is how to best get the owner trained too!  There are a few options to consider when starting an individual training client.

Until Next Time,

Ben Kersen
Ben Kersen & the Wonderdogs
Victoria, BC
http://www.wonderdogs.ca

Pros and Cons of Boarding & Training Client’s Dogs – By Ben Kersen

Pros and Cons of Boarding & Training Client’s Dogs
By Ben Kersen

In this clip I discuss the advantages and disadvantages of dog boarding and training your client’s dog as opposed to doing individual or group lessons with them.  There is definitely some good arguments for both sides.  Which do you prefer as a trainer?

Until Next Time,
Ben Kersen
Ben Kersen & the Wonderdogs
Victoria, BC
http://www.wonderdogs.ca

Two Sets of Rules for Dogs? – By Ben Kersen

Two Sets of Rules for Dogs?
By Ben Kersen

If you’re a trainer you have probably heard clients complain that their spouse or visitors or kids aren’t being consistent with rules for the dog.  Is it possible that the dog can learn there are 2 (or 3 or more) sets of rules he lives by depending on  who he is with?

Until Next Time,
Ben Kersen
Ben Kersen & the Wonderdogs
Victoria, BC
http://www.wonderdogs.ca

Ben Kersen - 2 sets of rules

Can you have your stick and eat it too? Is it possible to have a dog that understands 2 sets of rules?

Get Your Body Moving! – By Ben Kersen

Get Your Body Moving!
By Ben Kersen

It can be tough to find the time in a day to get in a workout at the gym but even if it’s only a 20 minute walk, your body will thank you!  How do you find the time to exercise?

Until Next Time,

Ben Kersen
Ben Kersen and the Wonderdogs
Victoria, BC
http://www.wonderdogs.ca

Ben Kersen and Run Club Dogs

Common Client Complaints – Housebreaking Issues – By Ben Kersen

Common Client Complaints – By Ben Kersen (written by Nancy Noden)
Housebreaking Issues

A common complaint that we hear from future clients of Ben Kersen and the Wonderdogs is difficulty in teaching a puppy or young dog to be housebroken.

Ben Kersen’s approach is one of prevention, make sure that your dog does not have the opportunity to do it’s business in the house.  Ben says “If you are holding your puppy in your arms, very few will have an accident in this situation”.  If you are using a crate with your dog, put them in the crate if you are unable to watch them.  Another safe situation is to put the dog outside in a secure fenced yard as ideally this is where you want them to go.

DSC_0034Clients will often forget to watch their puppy when they are inside and this is when the accidents happen, the pup will go off into a corner of the house and do it’s business.  Instead, Ben recommends watching your puppy like a hawk and taking it outside frequently.  Don’t forget the importance too of praising it immediately when it does it for going in the correct area.

Ben has had great success using this method with his own Wonderdogs to the point that one of his dogs, Shiloh, never had an accident in the house in her many years in the Kersen household.

Until Next Time,
Ben Kersen
Ben Kersen & the Wonderdogs
http://www.wonderdogs.ca