ACE (Animal Centred Education)
5-day Trainings
Learn how this innovative approach can build confidence and connection with your dog.
What is ACE?
Sarah Fisher's Animal Centred Education (ACE) is an integrated approach to animal and guardian education, that incorporates detailed observations, Free Work, enrichment and engagement tools, leading techniques and TTouch body work. Its priority is the well-being of our animals, and it uses calm interactions at the dog's pace to enable dogs to make beneficial choices and to help us understand their needs more clearly.
ACE work is calming and confidence-building and helps deepen the relationship between dog and guardian. It is valuable for all our dogs but is especially important for dogs for whom handling and touch is challenging either through fear or over-arousal.
Instructor-led trainings in the North of England
These 5-day ACE trainings are led by ACE Instructor, Janet Finlay, and take place at Houghall Campus at East Durham College. The venue has a very flexible space with a large training room plus multiple break-out classrooms for small group working, three separate secure outdoor areas plus a large adjoining field.
As well as plenty of experience with dogs, participants will have the opportunity to work with some of the College's animals on these trainings, including tortoises, rabbits and exotics.
Places on these trainings are strictly limited to 15 participants.
The ACE Training Club
ACE has its own training club where professionals and guardians can gain credits and build towards certification as ACE Companion, ACE Training Club Member, ACE Associate Tutor and ACE Advanced Tutor.
Full details of the certification scheme can be found here: ACE certification. You will need 300 credits to become an ACE Training Club Member and a further 200 to become an Associate Tutor.
Each of these 5-day trainings is worth 100 credits in the scheme.
If you are a member of the ACE Training Club you will receive 10% discount on courses. This will be taken off your final payment.
Dates for 2020
The trainings in 2020 will take place (Covid-19 permitting):
- October 27-31st 2020
Location
Houghall Campus is located just off the A1(M) on the A177 outside Durham with open woodland immediately behind the venue for your dog walks.
Accommodation
There is no accommodation on site but there are two campsites close by and plenty of dog-friendly accommodation in the area. We can make suggestions if required.
Introducing your Instructor
Janet has been working professionally with dogs for more than 15 years and is an ACE Instructor, a Tellington TTouch Companion Animal Practitioner 3 and an accredited dog trainer with the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (01046). She also has more than 20 years experience in higher education and is a qualified coach for people.
Through her business, Canine Confidence, Janet specialises in working with the guardians of reactive dogs. She teaches internationally and runs a number of successful online programmes. Her recent book, Your End of the Lead, outlines her holistic approach to helping with reactivity.
Janet lives with her two dogs Martha and Otter in Northumberland, where they can often be found exploring the wonderful beaches.