Training Matters, located at 1104 Ames Hill Road in Brattleboro, Vermont, is pleased to offer occasional seminars, workshops and classes to introduce residents of Brattleboro and surrounding communities to the latest thinking on positive dog training and animal behavior. These sessions are packed with interesting and practical dog training strategies and information for other companion animal owners.

• Former zookeeper and professional dog trainer Sara Matters covers topics ranging from basic manners and obedience training for dogs to animal behavior across species, from parrots to pigs.  Future sessions may include:
• Basics of canine behavior,
• How animals learn,
• Operant conditioning in zoo animals and how it can work for your pet,
• How to keep your animals adequately stimulated when life gets hectic or the weather is lousy and why it’s important

Additionally, Training Matters hosts applied workshops and other educational seminars for animal training professionals, other animal care practitioners, and dedicated animal guardians at our Lemon’s Hope Sanctuary, a small farm animal sanctuary for rescued and re-homed animals. Applied workshops cover topics like evidence-based enrichment provision and force free husbandry training. Many include hands-on practice with our miniature horses, goats, sheep and guinea pigs. Informational seminars include topics such as the elements of applied behavior analysis that all trainers and animal care professionals should understand to do their best work, how to work with fearful animals, and the latest science on topics such as neuroscience and cognition.

Check back here periodically to find out about upcoming classes and events!

 

 

Animal Trainers’ Retreat: Training With Love + Science

A weekend of collaboration, education and relaxation centering on animal training, welfare and teaching based in applied behavior analysis

With presenters:

• Rick Hester, Director of Animal Care and Wellbeing at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and Behavior Consultant with Behavior Works
• Kiki Yablon, MA, KPA CTP, CPDT-KA, KPA and Behavior Works faculty, of Kiki Yablon Dog Training
• Mindy Waite, Ph.D., MS, CAAB, CPDT-KA, Clinical Assistant Professor in Animal Behavior at Carroll University
• Morgan Katz, MS, KPA CTP, Director of Behavior Services at MSPCA-Angell
• Maia Nahele Owen, MA, KPA-CTP, of Behavior Explorer
• Catja B Pedersen

Other participants include Laura Monaco Torelli, KPA CTP/ Faculty, CPDT-KA, TAGteach Level 2 of Animal Behavior Training Concepts;  Debbie Jacobs, CPDT-KA, RBT, award-winning author and creator of the Fearful Dogs website and Facebook group of the same name;  Keira Moore, Ph.D., KPA-CTP, of Pet Project Dog Training; Annie Grossman, KPA-CTP and author of How to Train Your Dog With Love + Science; and Dianne Keck, KPA-CTP, SDC, of NeuroDog Training LLC.

Topics include:

 

This is our annual signature event for trainers, educators and caretakers of any species. Most who attend are dog trainers, but many also train horses and work with people in one capacity or another. What we honor with this event is behavior, in all its complexity and beauty. A retreat in a sublime location,  this event offers a relaxed mini conference-type learning opportunity and hands-on training experience.

We have brought together a stellar lineup of some of the best trainers and presenters in the business to give talks and lead discussions on their latest research and behavior analytic-based training procedures. Kicking off the weekend is a panel discussion related to applied behavior analysis as providing an overarching framework for training and welfare, and why some well-established practitioners pursue advanced study in the discipline. Following the panel discussion, informational presentations will be interspersed with applied learning interactions using the Portable Operant Research and TeachingLab (PORTL), a tabletop training game, and working with the animals of Lemon’s Hope Sanctuary.

Animals at Lemon’s Hope include horses, guinea pigs, sheep, a goat, rats and resident dogs. Teaching even simple behaviors to different species and individuals than those one typically works with builds a trainer’s fluency in adapting and generalizing mechanics, reinforcement principles and teaching strategies, and deepens understanding. Your feed delivery, rate and criteria changes will vary by necessity.

The event will be hybrid in format, with both in person attendance and presentations, and remote attendance and presentations. Online attendance is for the talks only, which will occur throughout the weekend with breaks.

Ceus and various discounts available.

To learn more and to register, follow this link:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/animal-trainers-retreat-training-with-love-science-tickets-1988943082300?aff=oddtdtcreator

 

 

Dog Trainers’ Retreat on Aggression and Reactivity

with Emily Lewis, CDBC, Casey Matthews-Lomonaco,

KPA-CT, FDM, FFCP, and Sara Matters, MA, ABCDT, ABA certificant

 

Whether you’re just starting to work reactivity cases, or you’re interested in refining your skills, this workshop has something for everyone. A three-day event focusing on working with aggressive and reactive behavior in dogs, this workshop is aimed at professional dog trainers. In addition to providing the latest information on working with dogs exhibiting aggressive and reactive behaviors, how to promote relaxation for these dogs, and how to provide them with tailored enrichment as they move through training plans that may include restricted activities, the event will include four handler-dog teams. The dog-handler teams will be coached by Emily Lewis, certified dog behavior consultant through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants and Casey Matthews-Lomonaco, Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner. Emily will coach the teams on leash mechanics, training techniques and plans to modify each dog’s individual behavioral patterns. Casey will coach the teams in developing relaxation and providing enrichment.

Emily owns and operates Vermont Dog Behavior in northern Vermont. She specializes in aggressive behavior and other behavior challenges in dogs, and has more than 20 years of professional experience as a dog trainer, shelter behavior consultant and veterinary technician. Recently, she has been featured on the podcast Simplifying Shelter Behaviour.

Casey runs Wit’s End Dog Behavior Consulting in Rochester, NY. Casey has more than 20 years experience working with dogs of all breeds and specializes in virtual training, supporting clients in far-flung locations. Prior to opening Wit’s End, Casey was a behavior consultant with Behavior Vets in NYC. She has been widely published in numerous dog behavior and training-related publications.

Sara Matters, MA, ABCDT, ABA certificant, owns and operates Training Matters and Lemon’s Hope Sanctuary in Brattleboro, VT. Sara specializes in taking a behavior analytic approach to solving behavior and training problems as well as developing enrichment plans. At Lemon’s Hope, Sara cares for horses, sheep, a goat, rats, guinea pigs, and of course her dogs. Sara will present on the science behind the behavioral discipline of enrichment.

Dog-handler teams need to meet certain requirements established by the instructors. Email sara@mattersdogtraining.com with any questions.

See other workshop details and register via https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dog-trainers-retreat-on-aggression-and-reactivity-tickets-1222353324699?aff=oddtdtcreator

Dates: Friday, May 30-Sunday, June 1, 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Location: 1104 Ames Hill, Brattleboro Vermont.

General admission: $374. Early bird and shelter/rescue discounts available.

Working dog slots: $399.

Provided: 1 dinner, 2 lunches, 3 breakfasts.

Ceus available:

CPDT: 15.5 CEUs for trainers and 4 CEUs for behavior consultants

KPA: 22.5 CEUS for trainers in working dog teams; non-working attendee CEUS pending

PPAB: 12 CEUS

IAABC: 17 for non-working attendees; 22 for trainers in working dog teams

 

Fear & Loathing: Trauma Assumed Training

with Debbie Jacobs, CPDT-KA, RBT and Sara Matters, M.A., ABCDT, ABA certificant

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, miniature horses, guinea pigs, cockatiels and resident dogs and cats. Other individuals of other species may be recruited to participate as well. We hope to include beginning animal trainers and behavior analysts who are interested in moving from working with people to working with animals.

We will also incorporate the use of PORTL into the experiential learning during this fun and educational event.

Along with other seminars on applying the science of behavior analysis to training and interventions we’ve added another great one!

• 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 and other 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: $399

Register (and have something absolutely amazing to look forward to!)

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

CEUs available:

CPDT: 10.5 CEUs for trainers and 3 CEUs for behavior consultants

KPA: 16.8 CEUs

PPAB: 9 CEUs

IAABC: 12 CEUs

 

Classes:

Winter Puppy Class

Saturdays February 22-March 15, 2025, 2 p.m.

1104 Ames Hill, Brattleboro Vermont.

Puppies ages 8 weeks to 5 months.

$150

 

Periodic classes with Sara Matters and Debbie Jacobs

Periodic single-behavior group classes conducted by Debbie Jacobs and Sara Matters, reviewing training and management solutions to common behavioral issues pet owners face. Email sara@mattersdogtraining.com for a schedule.

 

Teaching Your Dog to Come When Called

Two-class course to teach your dog to reliably come when called typically held in the spring. Email sara@mattersdogtraining.com to learn more.

 

Event Recordings

 

Understanding Your Rescue Dog: Why they do what they do

This seminar focused on the difficulties adopters of rescue dogs often face. Adopters learned what they need to know about their dog’s behavior to make life easier for dogs and humans alike. Debbie Jacobs, CPDT-KA, RBT and fearful dog specialist, provided expert help on addressing safety hazards for dogs and their owners. Cost is $25. Email sara@mattersdogtraining.com to receive an invoice and make payment.

 

An Introduction to Fear-Based Behavior Across Species

With Debbie Jacobs, CPDT-KA, RBT; Michelle Martiya, equine trainer; Katenna Jones, ScM, ACAAB,CCBC, CDBC, CPDT-KA; Emily Strong, CDBC, CPDT-KA, SBA

This event was held via Zoom in February of 2021. The focus was on how we address fear-based behavior challenges in multiple species to provide a deeper understanding of the challenges professionals face and how they handle them. Species discussed were dogs, horses, cats and birds. The event was two hours in length. Once the recording is purchased, Training Matters will send a link to access the recording via the email address associated with the payment. There may be a delay as this is not an automated process. Cost is $45. Email sara@mattersdogtraining.com to receive an invoice and make payment.