Engage Students

Enroll as early as possible, but no later than October 22, 2024. Early enrollment offers more learning time!

Excel Students

Enroll by October 15, 2024, to allow enough time to start training and submit videos for instructor feedback before the first real-time class on October 23, 2024. Please note that there are only 6 Excel spots available.

LIVE stands for Learning that's Interactive and Virtually Engaged.

As a student in a KPA LIVE class, you will experience a unique learning environment where interactivity and engagement are key. You will have the opportunity to receive personal coaching or to observe as others are coached, witness training breakthroughs, ask questions directly, and benefit from the questions posed by other participants. This interactive and community-oriented class ensures that every participant always has the best "seat" in the house! 

KPA's LIVE class integrates three learning components: 

•  A week-by-week curriculum, meticulously crafted by each instructor, ensures that students know what to expect each week. 
• Real-time weekly classes conducted over Zoom, including real-time training, video review, student coaching, and Q&A. 
• An online platform hosting a class discussion forum where students can connect, share training videos, and access instructor feedback.

This combination of elements, along with KPA’s exceptional LIVE class instructors who excel in teaching real-time online classes, sets the LIVE learning experience apart. 

Some LIVE classes also include the opportunity to earn KPA's SkillCheck designation via an assessment of a skill or protocol.

Engage Students: $199

Excel Students: $399

KPA CTP Professional Members: Check the Resource Center for special rates!

See pricing and compare experiences

This LIVE class includes:

• Four real-time LIVE classes conducted over Zoom.
• Access to an on-demand curriculum, including video lectures and weekly exercises.
• A class discussion forum where you can share videos, ask questions, receive feedback, and interact with fellow students. All students can view the instructor’s feedback on Excel-level students' videos and the responses to Excel students’ questions.

All students receive access to the complete week-by-week curriculum approximately two weeks before the discussion board opens. The weekly real-time classes are recorded in case you miss or want to review a class. The discussion board opens on October 16, 2024. You will have access to the course curriculum and class recordings for one year.

Engage and Excel experiences include:

• Weekly live virtual classes.
• Integrated step-by-step curriculum and recorded lectures.
• Hands-on training exercises.
• Access to the class discussion forum, where you can view the instructor’s comments and responses to questions, share your training progress videos, and/or cheer on your classmates.

Excel experience:

• Limited to six (maximum) actively coached by the instructor throughout the course.

For more details on the Engage vs. the Excel experiences, see the Engage or Excel Experience? FAQ below or this detailed side-by-side comparison.

This class is designed for dog trainers, dog guardians, and training enthusiasts looking for a reliable, positive, field-tested, and fun way to train dog(s) to wear a muzzle with duration. This class is packed with fun handler-dog games for each step of the muzzle training process with any dog and the techniques that work when teaching clients. Students and their dogs will be most successful if they have some experience with clicker training and are committed to consent-based, pressure-free muzzle training. This class welcomes teams that have started the muzzle training process and have hit a plateau and students with dogs that currently have a negative association with the muzzle.

Choose the experience that's right for you!

• Engage Experience: Ideal for trainers with less experience or less time for weekly exercises with their dogs.
• Excel Experience: Suitable for trainers with some training fundamentals and time for weekly training sessions. Note the specific criteria for this class (see FAQ: Is This Class Right for Me?).

For the Excel experience, active participation is critical to both your experience and that of other students. Please keep up with the lessons, work closely with your instructor, record and post videos of your training progress, ask questions, and come prepared to participate in the weekly LIVE classes over Zoom.

For all students, enrollment includes one year of access to the course curriculum and class recordings. Each real-time LIVE format class will be recorded and available for self-study after each class.

Engage Experience:

• Includes four real-time Zoom classes where you observe the LIVE virtual class and participate in the Q&A.
• Access to the weekly step-by-step curriculum with engaging lectures and hands-on training exercises.
• Access to the class discussion forum to share your video submissions, view other students' videos, and benefit from the instructor’s written feedback on Excel students' videos and questions.

Excel Experience:

• Limited to a maximum of six actively coached participants.
• Includes access to the integrated step-by-step weekly curriculum with lectures, instructional videos, and assigned training exercises.
• Special opportunities for real-time coaching during the LIVE virtual class, feedback on practice videos, and answers to your questions on the class forum between sessions.

Compare the Excel and Engage experience (summary table).

This class will teach you how to identify and address the multifaceted, complicated, and sometimes debilitating condition of noise sensitivity in dogs. In learning how to address and identify this condition, you will learn the importance of identifying the ABCs (antecedents, behaviors, and consequences), employing environmental modifications, and developing healthy coping strategies. Your dog will learn skills to help self-soothe and rebound from a noise event.

For a more detailed overview of each week's curriculum, please refer to the description provided above the frequently asked questions (FAQ) section.

This class will be eligible for CEUs from the following organizations:

• Karen Pryor Academy (KPA)
  • CEUs Excel: 20-25
  • CEUs Engage: 10-15

• The Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT)
  • CEUs Excel: 20-25
  • CEUs Engage: 10-15
• The International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC):
  • CEUs Excel: 12-22
  • CEUs Engage: 6-10

Please note that the range of CEUs awarded by each organization is provided as a guide. The finalized CEU credits will be communicated to all enrolled students.

The four-unit, five-week class includes three major components: the online curriculum (video lectures and weekly exercises), the online discussion forum, and the weekly virtual LIVE class.

• Online Discussion Forum: Opens on October 16, 2024, enabling Excel students to begin submitting videos of their initial training for review and feedback from the instructor.
• Live Classes: Conducted online via Zoom on Wednesdays for two hours, starting at 12:00 PM Pacific/3:00 PM Eastern on the following dates: October 23, 2024, October 30, 2024, November 6, 2024, and November 13, 2024.

If you are unable to attend a virtual class, don't worry; the LIVE classes will be recorded and made available approximately 24-48 hours after the class.

*Please note that it may take up to 48 hours for Excel students to receive access to the student portal after registration.

To participate in the class, you'll need the following:

All Students:

• A computer or device with high-speed Internet access.

Excel Students (those seeking personalized feedback):

• A camera or phone to record training videos, along with a stable setup like a tripod or gimbal.
• A camera for video conferencing during the LIVE class sessions.
• The ability to clip videos to a maximum length of five minutes, preferably in one-minute increments.
• A private YouTube or Vimeo channel to share video links (videos cannot be hosted within the discussion platform).
• A clicker or distinct sound to mark good behavior.
• Training treats that your dog enjoys (dogs and cats LOVE our On Cue! Training Treats in any flavor).
• A non-slip, comfortable, and portable mat such as a memory foam bath mat. 
• Multiple stationary food puzzle toys that are relaxing for your dog to engage with.
• Lickable treats your dog enjoys.
• Access to a Bluetooth speaker or device to play various sounds while being able to control the volume easily.

Consistent access to a dog is required for Excel students and recommended for all students.

To guide you, on a weekly basis, you should plan to:

• Attend the LIVE classes that meet over Zoom on Wednesdays at 12:00 PM PT/3:00 PM ET. Each meeting will be approximately two hours long.
• Before the LIVE class, watch the weekly skills video, each roughly an hour long.
• Practice training the weekly behaviors.
  • Excel students should spend at least an hour and a half, spread out over several days, practicing the weekly behaviors.
  • Optional: Build in time for videography. Excel students can submit videos of their practice sessions to the instructor for written feedback via the class forum. Limit: Up to five minutes of video in total per unit, with a maximum of four submissions. Each video submission should be two minute(s) or less. The video submission must be shared by 12:00 PM PT/3:00 PM ET on the Monday before the LIVE class meeting.

Engage Students: Plan on spending as much time training as Excel students to get the most out of the class, although this is not a requirement. Follow and contribute to the discussion forum at your leisure.

The weekly LIVE classes are recorded and will be available in the student portal approximately 24 hours after the class. Excel-level students must attend the weekly LIVE class to receive real-time coaching.

The LIVE classes meet over Zoom on Wednesdays for two hours, starting at 12:00 PM PT/3:00 PM ET on the following dates: October 23, 2024, October 30, 2024, November 6, 2024, and November 13, 2024.

Once you have registered, your class fee is non-refundable.

Upon registration, you will have access to the full curriculum. All classes and the curriculum are recorded and available for one year.

If you wish to be an Excel student, remember that spots are limited to six students. Please ensure you can participate before you register. We are not responsible for Internet connection or other issues that interrupt your training.