The iHeart Community Calendar

Clear communication and understanding between dog and handler is key to a successful outcome during training and real life situations. This informative workshop will teach participants how to clearly communicate to their dog what his options are in any specific situation or environment. Dogs learn to look to their handlers for guidance and “permission” when deciding how to respond or react to changes in their environment i.e. distractions such as other dogs or people. By providing the dog with a finite number of acceptable options a handler puts the dog in the position to make a decision that leads to a successful outcome for both the dog and handler. 

This technique takes advantage of the dog’s individual motivations, making it a must have in every handlers and/or trainers toolbox. Option ~ No Option™ has been successfully used and taught by Monique for years when working with dogs of all breeds and ages (puppies to adults) including those labeled as high drive or temperamental. 

Learn to recognize and understand:

1. What you see in front of you & what you have
i.e. You always have something to bring the dog in the direction you,
the handler, wants to go

2. Where is your rewarding point 
I.e. What is the first thing you are going to reward the dog for

3. How to better communicate with your dog in a way he understands 

4. What’s on your dog’s mind
i.e. Recognize the difference between what your dog is “doing” behavior wise (what you maybe seeing) vs where he is actually focused & where his intentions are (what you actually have)

Option ~ No Option™ has been used successfully for:

Behavior Modification
- Moderating Arousal Levels
Reducing reactivity toward other dogs and humans
Teaching Foundational Skills
Teaching Impulse Control

Monique’s clients include:
- Family dogs
- Shelter/Rescue dogs

Working Dogs
There will be eight (8) working spots available for this seminar. All Participants will be required to submit full payment at the Auditor rate via deposit at the time of registration. Participants may request a working spot during registration by submitting a case history. Those chosen for working spots will be notified in advance of the seminar and billed accordingly. Dogs experiencing difficulty with impulse control, arousal, fear, lack of confidence and/or focus may be good candidates for this seminar. 

Video Review
We will schedule time for a number of video review sessions. Those wishing to submit a video must do so at least 1 month prior to the start of the seminar. Videos submissions must be short no longer than 2 minutes in duration.

Tuition includes light continental breakfast, lunch and beverages on both days. 
(Single day registration is not available for this event).

We will have chairs available, but, encourage participants to bring a comfortable chair of their own.

Accommodations List will be sent after registration is confirmed.

About Monique

Monique De Roeck was born and raised in Belgium. She has been working in the field of dog training for over 25 years. Though she maybe new to dog training professionals here in the United States she is well known and in great demand in Europe. Monique regularly shares her expertise with dog trainers, pet dog owners, professional handlers, veterinarians, ethologists and behaviorists in Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Italy and Spain. Past seminar topics include: assistance dog training, scent discrimination, tracking and search and rescue for professional working dogs; aggression, resolving communication issues during training, finding solutions to problems during training exercises and instructor courses for other training enthusiasts and instructors.

Monique’s experience as a trainer include training professional working dog’s for professional handlers in the fields of law enforcement, military and conservation. One of her most recent projects included training dogs for the government of Catalunya, Spain to assist them with their conservation efforts to relocate wolves and bears away from populated areas into more remote locations. In addition, she has worked with pet dog owners, trainers and behaviorists to help solve behavior problems. She is recognized as one of Europe’s best experts in working with dog’s exhibiting aggression issues. Her instructor training programs have been well attended and have produced many professional trainers over the years. 

Through her assistance dog organization, Alfa Centrum voor Hulp en Geleidehonden VZW located in Belgium she has trained and continues to supervise and direct the training of all kinds of assistance dogs including: guide dogs for the blind, therapy dogs for children with autism, seizure alert dogs for diabetics and people with epilepsy and assistance dogs for disabled individuals or those with hearing impairments. 

Recently Monique started a new business, Alpha K9 Academy for Dogs and Trainers, LLC, here in the United States located in St. Johnsville, NY. Her new training center was completed in early 2016! Program offerings at the new training center include; private consultations and behavior modification for problem behavior, residential training programs including boot camps for instructors and pet dog owners on various topics and residential training programs for professional handlers and their working dogs. To compliment her training programs Monique will begin her breeding program as well in late 2016. Monique’s dogs have gone on to have successful careers as police, military and assistance dogs.

Monique shares her home with her partner and their 6 dogs; 2 Dutch Shepards, 2 German Shepard Dogs, 1 Malinois and 1 Mix Breed. Five of the dogs are professional working dogs with various in skills such as tracking scent discrimination, protection work and narcotics. The sixth dog and newest addition to her family was adopted from a shelter in Catalunya, Spain just prior to Monique’s relocation to the United States.