A Ranch Workshop
KEN RAMIREZ PRESENTS
Effective, Non-Food Reinforcement
Join Ken Ramirez in person for an in-depth two-day workshop to learn how to develop new reinforcers for your dog and how to make existing reinforcers more powerful.
Ken will show you how to condition powerful new reinforcers for your dog, horse, cat, or any other learner. Turn clapping or a simple thumb wiggle into a reinforcer as powerful as chicken! Learn to evaluate existing toy and play reinforcers and how to make them more effective and more useful. Discover how creating new reinforcers aligns with the concept of intermittent schedules of reinforcement. This workshop is designed to elevate your skills and enhance your ability to use reinforcement effectively.
ABOUT THE WORKSHOP
In this two-day workshop, you will learn Ken's step-by-step process for teaching novel reinforcers. Ken will guide you through how to prepare a learner to accept unique reinforcers that will allow you to reduce your reliance on food reinforcers. Ken will work with as many as eight dog-handler teams to demonstrate the steps for teaching this concept and to illustrate different approaches and challenges to the process. He will also share strategies for achieving long-term success with companion animals, dogs in sports, working dogs, horseback riders, and even exotic animals when food is not an option.
Whether you attend with your dog or come as an observer, you will learn valuable skills that are helpful for every trainer.
If you're interested in booking a private group session, please get in touch with us at theranch@clickertraining.com.
AGENDA
Sample daily schedule:
Each day consists of lectures followed by hands-on training sessions. Working teams will train with their dogs, while observers participate by observing and taking data. Participants also have the opportunity to meet some of the Ranch animals after class on Day 1.
A sample day would look like this:
9:00 am: Lecture - Intro and Description of Training Process
10:30 am: Training Session # 1- Dog Participants are Introduced to Step One of the Process
11:30 am: Lecture - Using “Natural” Reinforcers
12:30 pm: Training Session #2 - Dog Participants Try Step # 2 of the Process
1:00 pm: Lunch
2:00 pm: Training Session #3 - Dog Participants Try Step # 3 of the Process
3:00 pm: Group Discussion and Questions About Using the Process Long-Term and Common Pitfalls
4:00 pm: Lecture - Schedules of Reinforcement
5:00 pm: Training Session #4 - Dog Participants Work on Skills Learned So Far
5:30 pm: Discussion and Q&A
6:00 pm: End of Day
6:15 pm (EXTRA): Tour the Barn and Meet the Animals
PRICING
This workshop is designed for up to 30 students and 8 working dog-handler teams; it will be offered just once in 2026. Spots are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Dog/Handler
Team Requirements
CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS
Stay tuned for 2026 CEUs!
In previous years, this course received CEU credits from the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT), the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC), and Karen Pryor Academy (KPA).
LEARN ABOUT OUR SPEAKER
OTHER WORKSHOPS
Ken Ramirez presents
Rock-Solid Reliability Anywhere: Train Behaviors That Never Fail
May 16 - 17, 2026
Susan G. Friedman, Ph.D
& Ken Ramirez present
The Animals Are Waiting: Engineering Engaging Environments featuring Rick Hester
August 22 - 23, 2026
Details are subject to change