Fear & Loathing: Trauma Assumed Training

Join Debbie Jacobs, CPDT-KA, RBT for two days of evidence-based information and practice related to learning and behavior change at Training Matters’ farm animal sanctuary in beautiful southern Vermont. Behavior change professionals, whether they are animal trainers or human educators or both, along with owners, shelter staff, rescue groups, foster caregivers, vets and other animal welfare professionals are invited to hone their training and teaching skills with the animals of Lemon’s Hope Sanctuary, sheep and a goat, horses, guinea pigs, rats, and resident dogs. Other individuals of other species may be recruited to participate as well. We hope to include animal trainers and behavior analysts who are interested in moving from working with people to working with animals.

Along with talks on applying the science of behavior analysis to training and interventions we will address:

• How to systematically plan for working with a member of any species
• Holistic training for animals who have experienced abuse, neglect, deprivation or trauma
• Behavior analysis of challenging behavior
• Using function-based assessments
• Developing successful interventions
• Using enrichment in interventions
• Task analysis (or, writing training plans)
• Shaping
• Data collection
• Training habits and practices to cultivate

In addition to listening to presentations on these and other topics, attendees will practice their training skills with sanctuary animals. The animals are almost all rescues, and they vary in sociability as well as physical ability. We will discuss each individual and what they are able to do or not able to do, and where things stand with their training and socialization. We will provide species and individual-specific considerations for working with these animals, and discuss beginning or more advanced training as appropriate for and interesting to the trainer/learner team. We may also compare teaching one behavior to more than one species, such as haltering.

Our location in Brattleboro offers many opportunities for relaxation in down time: swimming, biking, boating, walks or hikes in soothing landscapes. Unique local attractions will also be recommended, so that you can round out your educational experience drinking in the beauty of Vermont.

Dates: June 14 & 15, 2025, 9am-4:30pm

Location: 1104 Ames Hill, Brattleboro, Vermont

Cost: General admission, $399; early bird general admission discount, $349; shelter/rescue discount, $299.

Includes: 2 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner, training supplies for our fabulous community of animals

Ceus:

CPDT: 10.5 CEUs (3.00 Knowledge and 7.50 Skills) for trainers and 3 CEUs for behavior consultants

KPA: 16.8 CEUs

PPAB: 9 CEUs

IAABC: pending

Also check out other Workshops in Brattleboro, Sports events in Brattleboro.