Lisa Clifton-Bumpass is a dog trainer in transition. She spent 10 years developing her career in teaching group dog training classes, private consultations and public speaking for shelters and rescue groups. Facing career burn out, Lisa happened to see the fruit bat training sessions at the Oakland Zoo and immediately fell in love with the program. She signed up to volunteer in the animal management division for the Zoo. The zoo staff soon learned that she was a trainer and Lisa was put to work helping in the training and behavior modification of several different species. In the past three years, Lisa has gone from pushing a broom and dicing food in the kitchen to coaching and training of several species. Lisa’s background allows her to consult on many levels of animal training, training mechanics, behavior management and research projects. Additionally, Lisa served on the Board of Directors for the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, is the Chair for the CCPDT Examination Development Committee and is a member of the Board of Advisors for Animal Behavior Professionals.
BSL - Breed Specific Legislation - Is your dog safe?
Boston Terriers a dangerous breed?
Drayton Michaels, SFSCPA Academy for Dog Trainers graduate, has produced a short clip highlighting problems and dangers in Breed Specific Legislation. Thes clip is gaining popularity as the movement to roll back breed specific legislation, insurance rules grows. It includes interviews with Nicholas Dodman, Jean Donaldson, and others.
"41 states have communities which have BSL or proposed it. Various insurance companies consider 75 different dog breeds to be dangerous. The Pit Bull dog is singled out as one of the worst. Yet historically, scientifically and mathmatically Pit Bull dogs are safe. How did this happen?"
Contratulations to Alice, Alison, Arnita, Corinne, Donna, Jennifer, Jenny, Lisa, Mikkel, an Sarah. You join the ranks of the over 450 CTC graduates from the SF/SPCA Academy for Dog Trainers in the past 10 years.
Successful completion of projects and exams show you are ready to carry out the SPCA mission as you extend our leadership role worldwide.
Your class joins over 450 graduates who have received the honor of a Certificate in Training and Counseling (CTC) since the Academy began 10 years ago.
Impact of our graduates is world wide.
Our graduates have major impact on dogs and communities while contributing to the core mission of the San Francisco SPCA.
“ … to save and protect animals, to provide care and treatment, to advocate for their welfare and to enhance the human-animal bond.”
This is quite a high standard, and I'm certain our graduates are supporting this mission far beyond the walls of out shelter and hospital.
Based on a recent survey of our graduates:
Every year, our graduates help thousands of dogs and people!
Our graduates:
Teach 50 to 75 thousand people in obedience classes attended by about 50 thousand dogs
Work 6,000 cases of aggression and separation anxiety
This represents thousands of dogs saved and thousands of families enjoying a stronger human-animal bond because of your fellow graduates.
Our graduates
Are active in efforts to support dog-friendly legislation and defeat breed specific legislation
Are rising in management of animal shelters
Are in demand at shelters or rescue organizations
Have written several books on training, veterinary behavior
Have regular columns in newspapers
Have regular blogs side by side with Ian Dunbar
Have helped overturn Breed Specific Legislation
Have presented to conferences, medical schools, zooz, and hospitals
Helped 10,000 children in ER rooms
Worked with animal handlers in zoos to provide stimulation and help with animal husbandry. (over 50% of giraffes die during routine dental work because anesthesia is deadly. )
Many are earning advanced degrees in behavior analysis.
Come from Brazil, Russia, Italy, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Canada, Australia, Ireland, UK, and the Unites States.
Many work with little or no support from local shelters in areas where animals are routinely trained with pain, making inroads using the style of training taught at the economy.
The future is in good hands.
Some of you will face challenges when you return home, but you’ve proven you have the training and thinking skills to stand up to those who whisper.
Get out and start working with people and dogs;
Share your gifts, apply the tools.
Continue learning
Question. Everything! Even what we’ve taught!
I hope the Academy continues to educate highly qualified trainers, such as the 10 of you, for many years to come.
p.s. I want to personally thank your for helping me work out details in my attempt to modernize academy instructional techniques.
Improving the way we use Chickens to teach basic mechanics.
Video taping and analyzing the training of each of your project dogs.
Working with interns helping team training. This is an improvement to the internship program AND the academy experience.
Teaching your dog a trick to prove you can design and implment a training plan from start to finish, rather than the cookie cutter plans we start you out with.
Online quizzes to improve instruction and provide faster feedback.
SFSPCA Academy for Dog Trainers Graduate, Drayon Michaels has produced the The Pit Bull Hoax is an educational DVD. Its intended purpose is to remove existing Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) from the law books and prevent any cities, counties and states from enacting BSL.
As of 2009, 41 states have BSL or are considering it in its legislature. Additionally, various insurance companies, housing authorities and other groups have a list of "dangerous dogs" that totals 75 breeds.
Featuring interviews with: Dr. Nicholas Dodman, Jean Donaldson, Dr Ian Dunbar, Diane Jessup and Jane Berkey.
Copies of The Pit Bull Hoax DVD are offered free of charge to legislators, media and anyone who is attempting to educate people as to why BSL is not effective in reducing dog bites or human fatalities related to dog bites.
Almudena Ortiz Cué of C.H.A.C.O Dog Training & Behavior Consulting hosts a free seminar called "Dogs at play."
Almudena will discuss different types of dog play, how to be safe at the dog park, how to manage dogs at play, and how to intervene if play goes wrong.
Wednesday June 3 at 7 p.m. in Berkeley. Free of charge but reservations required.
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or call 510-524-1058
SFSPCA Academy for Dog Trainers graduate releases trailer for Pit Bull movie on You Tube. A short trailer for The Pit Bull Hoax DVD. Dispelling myths about Pit Bulls and educating the public and polliticians on why BSL is not a good way to address concerns about dogs. Features Dr. Ian Dunbar, Dr. Nicholas Dodman and Jean Donaldson, Jane Berkey and Diane Jessup. Check out The Pit Bull Hoax DVD at www.pitbullguru.com/hoax Produced by K9 SON MEDIA
Mikkel is an evaluator for national Disaster Search Dog Foundation's Washington branch, where she tours shelters looking for homeless dogs to turn into lifesaving search dogs.She is also involved with training shelter dogs and with serving as the education coordinator for the Whitman County Humane Society. Mikkel has been a contributing author to Knight Ridder newspapers, House and Home, Cat Fancy Magazine and her work has appeared in Chicken Soup for the Horse Lover's Soul II. She coauthored the three books in the Ultimate Pet Lover series with part of the Pet Connection team,.
Academy grad Joan Mayer has a weekly column on NoozeHawk. Joan earned her CTC and was an active participant in the SFSPCA Academy intern progah. Her columns subjects ranging from health to aggression. Here's a link to a recent column about a rude and jumpy dog; and a link to an index of the columns.
This article corrects the misinformation spread by some popular trainers that affection will harm the pet's home situation. Her answer is to the point and right on target.
"As a dog trainer, I explain to my clients that dogs, like all animals (including us humans) do “what works.” They do all they can to get more of what they want and avoid anything unpleasant. If you and your hubby smother Sophie, and she enjoys it, then she’s going to do whatever she can to get more of it. This includes behaving in such ways that may lead you to believe she wants to “change her position in the pack.” Allow me to remind you, she’s just doing what she can to fulfill biological needs and urges, including love, attention and feeling safe."
Kudos to Joan! See more abou the Inquisitive Canine at her website.
The latest edition of the CHACO Chimes is available. The Chimes is published by SF/SPCA Academy Grad Almudena Ortiz Cué.This issue features training tips, article about Canine Freestyle, as well a nutritional information.
T-Touch is a gentle and very effective way of influencing behavior and overall well being in our animal companions by improving the dog’s self-confidence, self-control and by teaching him alternative ways of responding to novel situations and fear induced experiences. In addition, the practice of T-touch gives dog guardians the necessary tools to understand and improve their dog’s anxieties and fear responses.
Any CTC grads who want to list their site, provide information about events, or simply brag about accomplishments, send me information and I'll post and link back to your site. Free of charge. I want to hear about books, seminars, conference presentations, magazine articles, blogs, organizations founded, etc.
Academy Grad News
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Almudena will discuss different types of dog play, how to be safe at the dog park, how to manage dogs at play, and how to intervene if play goes wrong.
dogs.She is also involved with training shelter dogs and with serving as the education coordinator for the Whitman County Humane Society. Mikkel has been a contributing author to Knight Ridder newspapers, House and Home, Cat Fancy Magazine and her work has appeared in Chicken Soup for the Horse Lover's Soul II. She coauthored the three books in the Ultimate Pet Lover series with part of the Pet Connection team,.
