It has been long established that the dog can provide many health benefits to mankind, in guide work, assistance and therapy work, even education. With our world becoming ever-more stressful and mental health more understandable and common place, we are now beginning to talk about and discuss those things that only a generation ago were seen as ‘best kept quiet’

How can we now train and allow our canine partner to help us assist those who suffer mental health issues?  As a retired police dog trainer of over twenty five years, and now an assistance dog trainer, I wish to take you on a personal journey that highlights the amalgamation of two very different training disciplines - A brief description of how scent work can be used to combat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

• Identify the advantages of the human/dog dyad as an aid to wellbeing
• Understand the methodology of anxiety alert 
• Apply the value of scent dog training within the assistance dog world 
• Realize the importance of ‘multi-agency’ methods of training
• Know the ‘golden-thread’ of therapy/assistance dog training dog training

Robert Hewings is a highly experienced, qualified Canine Trainer and Management Consultant with a solid background in the design, development and delivery of bespoke programs for pet and service dog training institutions. He is also a qualified pet dog behavioral consultant. Rob is a part-time lecturer at Bishop Burton College (Hull University) U.K., where he specializes in Canine Training and Behavior, and Bergin University California USA, where his subjects include scent training for the Assistance Dog.

Following on from an exemplary career as a dog handler and dog trainer with the Metropolitan Police spanning a 30-year period, he has now taken the decision to follow his passion, and channel his experience into ‘Training and coaching dogs, to help their people!’

To realize this ambition, alongside his varied experience as a Police Dog Instructor, Rob began a learning journey that was to become life changing, not only for himself but for others. His academic career started with a BSc in Canine Behaviour and Training, then an MA in Professional Practice Police Dog Training, and he is now engaged in a Doctorate of Professional Practice Service Dog Training, where two leading projects within the doctorate have been:

• Ambient scent can affect the emotional learning and memory of the dog,  how  this be used to benefit the successful placement of the assistance dog?
• Human anxiety attacks, nightmares and night terrors. Is there a scent cue for the assistance dog?
  

Rob has designed and developed a training program where the scent cue is a unique step forward in the training of the Assistance Dog for Anxiety attacks, and in providing comfort and support when the handler is suffering nightmare or night terrors.

Rob is the education consultant with the International Working Dog Association, a board member of Southern Diabetic Retrievers Louisiana USA, where his training programs and course design are being used in diabetic alert. He is currently engaged in the design, development and instruction of an epileptic seizure alert training program working in partnership with a local authority. The methodology for this canine training is based upon his knowledge and experience within search and assistance dog training.

CEUs: PPAB 1.5, CCPDT 1.5, IAABC 1, KPA 1.5

Nose-work has been around for a while now, and at the moment dog trainers are seeing a new progressive step in sharing the benefits of many aspects of scent-work for all. In this webinar ask yourself this simple question.

“Given the choice, what would be the dog training your dog would love you to do?”

The objectives for this webinar will encourage the candidates to think about and address the following.

• ‘The seeking system’
• Natural canine behaviours
• Taking that first step toward scent detection, and/or behavioural consultations

About Your Presenter

Dr. Robert Hewings

Author of the award winning ’Scent Training for every dog’ (First Stone Publishers) and head of learning and development for the UK College of Scent Detection, Dr Robert Hewings is a highly experienced Canine Trainer.

Rob retired from London’s Metropolitan Police after 30 years’ exemplary service, 25 of which was as an operational police dog handler. The final nine years as a full-time police instructor with the world-famous Metropolitan Police Dog Training Establishment. He has successfully underpinned his valuable operational experience with the highest academic qualifications, his Doctoral study is entitled ‘Is there a better way? Can humanistic education improve operant conditioning in canine scent detection training?'

During his time at the prestigious Metropolitan Police Dog Training Establishment (2007-2016) Rob headed the training for SWAT dogs, and was active in the instruction and development in all aspects of Police Search Dog Training. He played an active role in the instruction and development of the ‘Canine Training Instructor’ authoring two training manuals, and designing coaching programmes that have enhanced the effective performance of operational dog handlers.

After his retirement in 2016 Rob, took on new challenges to complete his desire to learn, lecturing at university (BSc Canine Behaviour and Training) where he specialised in ‘Assistance Dog Training’, writing his book, and practical assistance dog training using scent-work within epilepsy alert, diabetes alert and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder alert. He also attended Bergin University of Canine Studies where he gained a valuable insight into assistance dog training, particularly for PTSD sufferers.

Rob is now head of learning and development with the UK College of Scent Detection where he has been invited to share his knowledge world-wide, lecturing in USA, Australia and Europe. He is presently engaged in writing two academic papers for enhancing scent detection within the assistance dog community and emotional learning in our dogs.

However, prior to joining the Police Service Rob was a member of the British Army, and as a veteran himself, he has now combined his dog training and academic knowledge becoming a training advisor and consultant for the UK Charity Bravehound (www.Bravehound.co.uk). Here he has pioneered an assistance dog training methodology to incorporate scent alerts for PTSD. Realising the potential of ‘Scent Alert’ for PTSD assistance dogs, where the dog will alert to the onset of a nightmare, or day time anxiety attack. Rob is coaching a Phd student who is writing her thesis supporting and researching Robs hypothesis that dogs can detect these disturbing events, giving our veterans life changing assistance from the dogs.

Finally, Rob truly understands the importance of a positive training schedule with the dogs he trains and the people he coaches. He wishes to share his love and experience of search training with you and your dog. Witnessing the enjoyment, enthusiasm and excitement the dogs get from being engaged in the natural process of ‘nose-work’ has been his guilty pleasure for the last 25 years, long may this continue!!

CEUs: PPAB 1.5, CCPDT 1.5, IAABC 1.5, KPA 1.5

In order we can make small yet fundamental changes to our dog training we must, at times, be prepared to change some of our plans and our techniques. For this webinar I would like you to open you mind, and remember something that Admiral Grace Hooper once said ‘The most damaging phrase in the language is … ‘It’s always been done this way’

Why not be a little more human with your dog training?

The objectives for this webinar will encourage the candidates to think about and address the following:

• How can we create the ‘ideal’ learning environment?
• How can our attitude affect our training?
• Would Humanistic learning theories work with dogs?

About Your Presenter

Dr. Robert Hewings

Author of the award winning ’Scent Training for every dog’ (First Stone Publishers) and head of learning and development for the UK College of Scent Detection, Dr Robert Hewings is a highly experienced Canine Trainer.

Rob retired from London’s Metropolitan Police after 30 years’ exemplary service, 25 of which was as an operational police dog handler. The final nine years as a full-time police instructor with the world-famous Metropolitan Police Dog Training Establishment. He has successfully underpinned his valuable operational experience with the highest academic qualifications, his Doctoral study is entitled ‘Is there a better way? Can humanistic education improve operant conditioning in canine scent detection training?'

During his time at the prestigious Metropolitan Police Dog Training Establishment (2007-2016) Rob headed the training for SWAT dogs, and was active in the instruction and development in all aspects of Police Search Dog Training. He played an active role in the instruction and development of the ‘Canine Training Instructor’ authoring two training manuals, and designing coaching programmes that have enhanced the effective performance of operational dog handlers.

After his retirement in 2016 Rob, took on new challenges to complete his desire to learn, lecturing at university (BSc Canine Behaviour and Training) where he specialised in ‘Assistance Dog Training’, writing his book, and practical assistance dog training using scent-work within epilepsy alert, diabetes alert and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder alert. He also attended Bergin University of Canine Studies where he gained a valuable insight into assistance dog training, particularly for PTSD sufferers.

Rob is now head of learning and development with the UK College of Scent Detection where he has been invited to share his knowledge world-wide, lecturing in USA, Australia and Europe. He is presently engaged in writing two academic papers for enhancing scent detection within the assistance dog community and emotional learning in our dogs.

However, prior to joining the Police Service Rob was a member of the British Army, and as a veteran himself, he has now combined his dog training and academic knowledge becoming a training advisor and consultant for the UK Charity Bravehound (www.Bravehound.co.uk). Here he has pioneered an assistance dog training methodology to incorporate scent alerts for PTSD. Realising the potential of ‘Scent Alert’ for PTSD assistance dogs, where the dog will alert to the onset of a nightmare, or day time anxiety attack. Rob is coaching a Phd student who is writing her thesis supporting and researching Robs hypothesis that dogs can detect these disturbing events, giving our veterans life changing assistance from the dogs.

Finally, Rob truly understands the importance of a positive training schedule with the dogs he trains and the people he coaches. He wishes to share his love and experience of search training with you and your dog. Witnessing the enjoyment, enthusiasm and excitement the dogs get from being engaged in the natural process of ‘nose-work’ has been his guilty pleasure for the last 25 years, long may this continue!!