DIVE DEEP: AN ADVANCED ANIMAL TRAINING COURSE
Dive Deep explores and introduces trainers to key skills and aspects of various advanced applications.
Advanced animal training topics include working animal challenges, scent detection, non-food reinforcers, aggression-treatment protocols, research training, conservation training, an introduction to concept training, behavior chains, people skills, advanced training games, and more.
The course is ideal for the self-professed “training geek” who wants to understand the uniqueness, complexities, and differences of training in contexts and disciplines with which they are unfamiliar.
Dive deep with us and reveal the intricacies in advanced animal training!
Catch the Early-Bird Savings!
October 6 - 10, 2025
Course Focus
The Dive Deep course focuses on six themes: Core Concepts, Classical Conditioning, Aggression, The Right Tools, The People Factor, and Unique Environment & Unique Challenges.
Over 5 days, we cover more than 15 topics including working animal challenges, scent detection, non-food reinforcers, research training protocols, conservation training, an introduction to concept training, behavior chains, people skills, advanced training games, and more.
This course teaches through lecture, video Q&A, exercises, and open discussions with colleagues. Daily sessions with The Ranch animals are also woven into the course to reinforce the concepts, help with visualization, and provide practice.
Over the week, Ken will use training and/or demonstration sessions in different ways—to demonstrate skills and steps, to have students work on a specific training goal for the week or practice a set of skills, and/or to allow students to experience an introduction to how certain advanced training is started.
We keep it real. Even working with the animals residents at The Ranch, this course won’t make you fluent in these topics. These advanced training skills require practice and a training relationship that is built over a period of time longer than five days at The Ranch.
Curriculum
There are more than 15 topics covered in the five days including working animal challenges, scent detection, non-food reinforcers, research training protocols, conservation training, an introduction to concept training, behavior chains, people skills, advanced training games, and more.
These topics group into these six themes:
The Core
The Classic
Aggression
Our focus will be on understanding, appreciating, comparing, and contrasting the major protocols that are in place for treating aggressive behavior. The course will delve into the science behind the protocols and how they are applied. Too often, labels and language confuse the approaches and protocols associated with the process of changing aggressive behavior.