Workshops & Seminars: Occupation & behavioral training for dogs
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced dog owner - we offer practical workshops and seminars on all aspects of occupation and dealing with behavioral problems.
With an expert team of veterinarians, behavioral consultants and experienced trainers, we impart sound knowledge for better cooperation between humans and dogs.
Individually. Professionally sound. For every training goal.
Dogs bring us joy every day, but there are also moments when we would prefer to give them away.
During this themed evening, we will explore how living with your dog affects you, your environment, and your soul. An evening where we can talk about our difficulties, secret doubts, but also about the beautiful things.
A closed room with a maximum of 6 people.
The arrival of a dog can turn life upside down - especially when a puppy moves in. As cute and heart-warming as the little puppies are, the settling-in period and the changes in everyday life can be challenging and stressful.
In this theory course, participants are prepared for life with a puppy and provided with information and tips on how to handle them. The lesson is aimed at all dog owners who are still waiting for their puppy and want to prepare themselves as well as those who already have their puppy at home.
You can participate online or on site.
Seminar Details
It is not entirely clear whether lunging for dogs was derived from equestrian sports or whether it originated from working with herding dogs. In any case, it is a very versatile and exciting activity for dogs and humans.
When lunging, the dog learns to walk around a circle. The human is inside the circle and uses distance control to get the dog to perform certain signals on the outside of the circle. As soon as the team understands what is involved, various elements from other sports are carefully built up and combined with the work on the circle.
Well-constructed lunging involves various aspects: Distance control, communication at a distance, physical and mental exercise, attention training, variety for humans and dogs, promoting team bonding and much more. It is a great activity for dogs that like to run and for dogs that like to work on sight. Lunging is therefore particularly suitable for young dogs in the adolescent phase as well as for adult dogs with a great urge to move who would like to get rid of their energy.
This is a beginner's course and is suitable for all newcomers who have little or no experience with lunging.
In order for dogs to be able to stay home alone in a relaxed manner, they should be carefully and gradually accustomed to being separated from their caregiver. In this theory course, participants will learn what to look out for and how to build up the process of being left alone in a sensible way, with plenty of input for practical implementation. The course is suitable for people with dogs of all ages - from puppies to senior dogs.
Seminar Details
Online talk with Eduardo Fernandez.
The purpose of this 2 hour talk is to establish a new framework for a force-free training philosophy. We will talk about the history of people ethics, animal ethics and animal training. We will discuss the ethics of training procedures based on whether they are intrusive or aversive.
Seminar Details
Two-day seminar with Eduardo Fernandez
In today’s animal training and consulting community, behavioral science principles—such as focusing on reinforcement contingencies and understanding the function of behavior—have become standard practice. However, while these concepts are widely applied, the systematic use of data to measure their effectiveness remains rare.
This creates a challenge for science-based practitioners: there’s a growing demand to apply behavioral principles, but far fewer opportunities to integrate the empirical, analytical side of the science.
This talk is designed to bridge that gap by offering simple, practical, and effective data-taking strategies for real-world animal behavior work.
We’ll cover:
Whether you’re a trainer, consultant, or welfare professional, you’ll learn how anyone can collect and use data—making your practice not just evidence-informed, but truly data-based. The inclusion of six dogs ensures a high proportion of practical work.
Early bird discount: For bookings made by October 31, 2025, a discount of 20 Fr. per seminar day will be granted.
Seminar Details
Two-day seminar with Michael Shikashio
Step inside the process of real behavior cases as Mike works live with dogs and their guardians. This unique session offers attendees a rare, unfiltered look at each stage of a consultation — from the initial assessment to safety planning, management strategies, and the implementation of behavior change techniques.
Across two days, you’ll follow two different cases, each broken into two parts. Day one will focus on gathering a thorough history, identifying risk factors, and setting up effective safety and management plans. On day two, you’ll see how those foundations carry into the application of behavior change strategies, with each session building on the information and decisions from the day before.
Early bird discount: For bookings made by October 31, 2025, a discount of 20 Fr. per seminar day will be granted.
Seminar Details
Meet and greet workshop for dog-owner teams
Many dogs no longer show natural behavior in contact with other dogs (especially on the leash). The reasons for this are complex and depend on many factors. Some dogs jump into the lead, try to come forward, bark or whine, while others try to escape. These behaviors push many dog owners to their limits and create tension for the entire team.
Perhaps you also find your dog stressful outside and would like to change this behavior? This workshop is suitable for any dog, including dogs in the middle of adolescence.
The current course is fully booked. However, registrations are still being accepted and a new course will be planned if there is sufficient interest.
Seminar Details
Well-constructed lunging involves various aspects: Distance control, communication at a distance, physical and mental exercise, attention training, variety for humans and dogs, promoting team bonding and much more.
In the advanced course, lunging skills are deepened. Distance work is further developed and the lunging circles are combined with obstacles, new elements and additional circles. The teams are gradually introduced to new challenges so that their skills are consolidated and expanded with plenty of variety.
Lunging is a great activity for dogs that like to run and for dogs that like to work on sight. The course is therefore particularly suitable for young dogs in the adolescent phase as well as for adult dogs with a great urge to move who would like to get rid of their energy.
This is a course for teams that already have experience in lunging and/or have attended the beginners' course.
This lecture is currently only available in German. Dates for an English version will follow.
Seminar Details
The talk on 15.11.2025 is held in German only.
The sense of smell is extremely fascinating and exciting.
But the dog's nose is also extremely complex and a better understanding of it helps us on the one hand in our everyday life with the dogs and on the other hand in the different activities of nose work.
6-part workshop - new start on 12.06.2025
Hunting behaviour in dogs - fascination or curse?
Is it difficult for you to release your dog because you never know if he will stay with you?
Is your dog often on the ground with his nose poking around and forgetting the environment around him?
Can your dog hardly walk out the front door normally because he knows that he will meet a cat just around the corner?
Is your dog unable to respond to your call back as soon as he sees a moving object (bicycle, child, game, cat, etc.)?
Then this workshop is just the right thing for you and your dog.
In this workshop, additional activities for dogs with hunting ambitions are discussed and developed.
This workshop includes 1 days of theory and 5 days of practical training.
There is a longer break between the practical training days so that what has been learned can be implemented and trained.
Theory lesson for a better understanding of and handling with young dogs.
Dogs go through various stages of development in their lives. Adolescence is a very intense phase in which the brain and hormones can sometimes throw dogs off track and turn the everyday life of both the dog and its owner upside down.
This theory lesson highlights the physical changes that influence a dog's behavior and provides dog owners with many eye-opening insights on this exciting journey through a dog's adolescence.
Participation is possible online or on-site in Mettmenstetten.
4-part workshop - Start if enough interested parties
Practically all dogs find it unpleasant when they have to have a tick removed, their hair cut or their paws dried by their owner or a stranger.
Some dogs try to escape, others react aggressively and still others are frozen as they endure the procedure.
This workshop provides participants with tools on how to perform procedures on dogs at home or at the vet without stress and in cooperation with the dog.
The workshop includes:
4 practical lessons of 45-60 minutes each
The practical lessons take place in our training hall in Mettmenstetten.
There are currently no course dates planned. A new workshop will be planned if there are enough registrations.
The workshop will be held from 3 registrations.
The maximum number of participants is 8 teams.
9-part workshop - Start if enough interested parties
The first few weeks are the most important for puppies and this time should be used to create a great basis.
For this reason, we are now offering a puppy course over a total of 8 days plus a theory course beforehand. In this workshop we will meet every day for a training session and introduce you and your puppy to the essential things that will accompany you as a dog-human team for the rest of your dog's life.
The program consists of the following elements:
- Gaining experience in the environment
- socialization
- Relaxation and excitement in everyday life
- Dealing with insecurities and fear
- Seeking - what does it mean and what is so important to consider
- Organization of everyday life at home
- Organization of everyday life with puppies and children
- First steps in our toolbox (drop, recall, leash walking, etc.)
- Dealing with hunting behavior (if necessary)
- and much more...
Would you also like to lay the best possible foundation for yourself and your puppy?
Then this is the right course for you.
11-part workshop with Mischi - Start if enough interested parties
Would you like to train important everyday situations with your dog and possibly even take the National Dog Owner Brevet exam?
We are delighted to be able to offer the National Dog Owner Certificate (NBH). This goes hand in hand with the NHB exam.
What is the National Dog Owner Certificate (NBH)?
In some cantons of Switzerland, the National Dog Owner Certificate (NHB for short) is already compulsory.
This is not (yet) the case in Zurich, but we still offer the preparation course in our 11-part workshop.
Of course we can also take the exam.
Exam fee incl. certificate in credit card format: CHF 250.00
The long-term goal of the NHB is to offer a standardized concept throughout Switzerland, which should be mandatory for all dog owners.
The learning objectives are things from everyday life and very versatile - so they are also very practical to master even if you do not have an NHB obligation