Dog TIP Volunteer Training Program

Dog T.I.P.

The Dog Training Internship Program (Dog T.I.P.) aims to educate committed volunteers at shelters and rescue groups around the nation so that they can learn the necessary skills to humanely and effectively train and mentally stimulate dogs at their shelters.

The training of volunteers and the program itself is comprised of independent yet related “modules.” The goals of each one of the four modules are:
• To reduce the distress levels of shelter dogs and dogs at rescue
organizations
• To increase their adoptability by teaching them skills that adopters
expect of their pet
• To support shelter staff by volunteers as a result of increased
knowledge in the areas of animal learning and humane
methodologies of animal training
• To provide volunteers with guidelines to aid them in the adoption
counseling process and placement protocols

Moreover, we believe that when committed volunteers are part of the solution instead of just doing necessary “tasks” for the shelter/rescue organization such as cleaning pens or walking dogs, they experience less burn out. Therefore, their commitment and enjoyment as a shelter volunteer increases.

Those of us that have experience working or volunteering at shelters or rescue groups can attest that a strong and motivated group of volunteers is at the core of saving more lives, more successful adoptions and the reachable possibility of making shelters more humane for the dogs in their care.

While we encourage organizations to embrace the full program we understand that at times it is not realistic. However, even implementing some of the fundamental concepts will help in creating a more humane and wellness - based shelter or rescue group environment.

Our goal for the presentation at the Humane Conference 2016 is to unveil to Conference participants all that our program entails. We expect that shelters will find our program not only provocative but also attainable. During the presentation we will look at the program in some detail, share case studies, as well as discuss the requirements for shelter’s participation in Dog T.I.P.

Who is Dog T.I.P.?

Dog T.I.P. is a joint project created by professional dog trainers: Almudena Ortiz Cué and Erica Beckwith.

Our Credentials:
About Almudena:
Almudena is a graduate of the renowned San Francisco SPCA Academy for Dog Trainers (CTC), a Certified Professional Dog Trainer by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CPDT), a professional member of The Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) and the owner of C.H.A.C.O. Dog Training & Behavior Consulting LLC, located in the Santa Fe, New Mexico area. io

She is also a certified Tellington TTouch® Practitioner for Animal Companions. She was a staff trainer for two years at Tony La Russa Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) in Walnut Creek, CA. where she worked with under-socialized dogs who had experienced lengthy shelter stays or scored poorly in the SAFER test. Her training was designed both to improve the lives of the dogs while at the shelter and to prepare them for successful adoptions. Ms. Ortiz Cué designed and implemented the shelter’s first Dog Training Internship Program (Dog T.I.P.).

With over 15 years of teaching experience, she loves teaching people as well as dogs. Ms. Ortiz Cué is keenly interested in working with dogs that suffer from emotional issues such as fear, anxiety and aggression as well as working with rowdy adolescents, puppies and everyday problem solving for guardians and their dogs. For more information please visit her website: www.chacodogtraining.com


About Erica:
Erica is a graduate of The Academy for Dog Trainers, an esteemed training school founded by Jean Donaldson, where she received a Certificate in Training and Counseling. She is committed to the school's force-free, science-based methods and principles and aspires to increase the use of rewards-based training in the industry. She is the owner of A Matter of Manners Dog Training in Santa Fe, NM, where she enjoys working with pets and their people on everything from aggression to tricks.

She rediscovered her love for animals while living in South Korea and volunteering at a local dog sanctuary. She soon was a constant face at the sanctuary and spent many hours working with the fearful dogs there. Once back in America, she started working in the behavior department at the Santa Fe Animal Shelter and Humane Society where she evaluated and trained dogs of all breeds and temperaments. She has a passion for shelter dogs and desires to make their stay in a shelter as pleasant and enriching as possible.