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Laurel Neufeld, B.Sc. (Hons) with
Eddie and Fergus
Laurel’s
career in animal behaviour began 21 years ago with a colony of 150 parrots right here in
Winnipeg. Laurel’s work with birds took her to seminars and conferences in Toronto
and Florida. She was also fortunate enough to work with captive and wild parrots in the
Canary Islands, Spain and South America. In her quest to learn more about animal
behaviour, Laurel earned a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree, majoring in Zoology, from
the University of Manitoba in 1998.
Laurel’s
education and experience are a natural match for her love of dogs. She started out as an
assistant pet dog trainer/instructor at an animal hospital. She graduated to teaching her
own classes and discovered the joy in teaching people how to live happily with their dogs.
After experiencing various punishment and lure/reward-based training methods, Laurel was
sure there had to be a way to train dogs that was easy, fun, successful, and most
importantly, enhanced the human-dog relationship. Once Laurel discovered the power of
Clicker Training, she was hooked.
In November of
2003, Laurel attended Karen Pryor’s ClickerExpo in Chicago – an intensive three
days filled with workshops on learning, practicing, and teaching Clicker Training.
Laurel’s goal was to make this method of training available to dog owners looking for
a gentle and respectful way to train their dogs. After almost a year of preparation,
Pawsabilities Dog Training was born. Laurel believes in constantly improving her skills
and knowledge and continues to attend every dog training conference and seminar that she
can (see list below).
Laurel shares
her life with three wonderful dogs: Eddie, an 11 year old big black rescue dog from the
Winnipeg Humane Society; Fergus, a seven year old Border Collie; and Penny, a nine year
old big brown WHS rescue dog. Laurel trains and competes in agility, disc dog and
obedience with Eddie. Laurel and Fergus train and compete in agility. Both Eddie and
Fergus have also earned their Canine Good Neighbour certificates. Penny is a
self-professed couch potato.
CONTINUING
EDUCATION
Seminars and Conferences
2009
Go For It: Relaxed & Ready
Helix
Fairweather and Megan Cruz, Winnipeg, MB
Based on Leslie McDevitt's CONTROL UNLEASHED Program
2009
Constructional Aggression Treatment for Dogs
Dr.
Jesus Rosales-Ruiz, Minneapolis, MN
2009
Tracy Sklenar, Winnipeg, MB
Agility Seminar
2008
Theresa Rector, Winnipeg, MB
Agility Seminar
2008
Tracy Sklenar, Winnipeg, MB
Agility Seminar
2007
Kathy Sdao, video seminar (2 day)
Advanced Clicker Training
2007
Barb Davis, Winnipeg, MB
Agility Seminar
2006
Renee Will, Winnipeg, MB
Rally Obedience Seminar
2006
Kim Collins, Winnipeg, MB
Agility Seminar
2005
Karen Pryor's ClickerExpo, Minneapolis, MN
Kay Lawrence - Holy Hoops: Learning Complex and Novel Behaviors Quickly
Kay Lawrence - Shaping From the Inside Out
Ken Ramirez - Left or Right? Modifier Cues - What They're For and How to Teach Them
Kathy Sdao - Sure You Should Lure?
Emma Parsons - Click to Calm in Action
Virginia Broitman and Sherri Lippman - Arriving at Fluency,
Distance, Duration, and
Dealing with Distraction
Theresa McKeon and Joan Orr - Teaching with Acoustical Guidance (TAGTeach)
2005 Kathy
Keats, Winnipeg, MB
Clicker Training and Agility Seminar
2005 Stacy
Peardot-Goudy, Winnipeg, MB
Agility Seminar
2005 Kim
Collins, Winnipeg, MB
Agility Seminar
2005
Suzanne Clothier, Regina SK
Understanding & Handling Behaviour Problems & Aggression
Your Athletic Dog: A Functional Approach
2005 Brett
Duke, Winnipeg, MB
Agility Seminar
2005 Terry
Smorch, Winnipeg, MB
Agility Seminar
2004 Brett
Duke, Winnipeg, MB
Agility Seminar
2004 Terry
Smorch, Winnipeg, MB
Agility Seminar
2003 Karen
Pryor's ClickerExpo, Chicago, IL
Karen Pryor - Get a Cue: Cues and Competition Skills
Karen Pryor - Click for Life: Clicking in the Shelter Environment
Karen Pryor, Sherri Lippman and Virginia Broitman - Speed Shaping
Kathy Sdao - A Moment of Science: Learning Theory in a Nutshell
Kathy Sdao - Clicking with Class: Teaching to Groups
Emma Parsons - Click to Calm: Healing Aggression and Fear
Steve White - Count on Me: Getting Reliability
Melissa Alexander - Clicker Solutions for Everyday Problems
Melissa Alexander - Teach Your Dog to Think
2003 Guy
Blanke, Winnipeg, MB
Agility Seminar
2003 Stevie
Mathre, Winnipeg, MB
Rally Obedience Seminar
2003 Janet
Ooms, Winnipeg, MB
Agility Seminar
2003 Sylvia
Lavalle, Winnipeg, MB
Canine Physiotherapy Seminar
2002 Gary
White, Winnipeg, MB
Agility Seminar
Subscriptions
Dog Sport
Magazine
Clean Run
Magazine
MEMBERSHIPS
Association of Pet Dog Trainers (www.apdt.com)
Agility in Manitoba (www.agilitymb.ca)
EDDIE'S TITLES
Canadian Kennel Club
Canine Good Neighbour (CGN)
North American Dog Agility Council
Novice Versatility Award (NAC, NGC, NJC, TN-N,
TG-N, WV-N)
Elite Agility Certificate (EAC)
Elite Tunnelers Certificate (TN-E)
Elite Jumpers Certificate (EJC)
Elite Gamblers Certificate (EGC)
Open Touch n' Go Certificate (TG-O)
Agility Association of Canada
Special Agility Dog of Canada (SADC)
Special Games Dog of Canada (SGDC)
United Kennel Club
Two legs towards United Companion Dog title
(1st and 2nd place showings in two trials)
FERGUS' TITLES
Canadian Kennel Club
Canine Good Neighbour (CGN)
North American Dog Agility Council
Elite Tunnelers Certificate (TN-E)
Novice Touch-n-Go Skilled Certificate (TGS-N)
Novice Jumpers Certificate (SNJC)
Herding Instinct Certificate (HIC)
Second place finish in The Clicker Challenge at ClickerExpo 2003
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