Attendance entitles students to visit specified Sheila Harper Ltd’s classes and behaviour counselling sessions as observers by arrangement. Current students come from a variety of backgrounds – from pet owners to professionals working full time with dogs, frequently travelling from other European countries.
A range of practical and theoretical issues will be covered, and therefore student numbers will be strictly limited. Students should ideally have a dog with them when required as a case study. Where handling is required students without dogs may be able to handle the dogs of other students or those of the staff with adequate notice. There will be practical work to do between seminars, including observation and training. However, please don't expect to do the "sit, down, stay" or other traditional types of training! From personal experience we realise that a well-trained dog is not necessarily a well-behaved dog. We aim to build relationships in order to ensure a better quality of life.
Although each seminar comprises self-contained topic areas there is a progression, building upon behaviour and training knowledge acquired. It is preferred that students complete the entire course in sequence. Those missing a particular seminar may have another opportunity to make up the gaps in their knowledge at a later date, but 85% attendance is required with the first two areas of study being mandatory.
This course is offered as an accredited course in England and Switzerland and it is hoped to offer this for the first time in Austria in 2011 and Holland in 2012. From time to time similar non-accredited IDBTS courses are also offered in a number of other countries delivered by Sheila Harper with Sally Askew as a guest speaker.