Scroll through the calendar below to view upcoming events and classes. Please note tht classes are planned a quarter in advance.
“By attending “C.H.A.C.O Dog Training & Behavior Consulting LLC” classes we learned a lot and so did our standard poodle Dash. Almudena has a first-class facility with a large field for classes, within a larger securely fenced area that readily adapts to the wide range of activities she incorporates in her teaching. She is a personable and caring individual as well as a very knowledgeable professional totally committed to helping owners and their dogs.
The classes are usually small, 4 owners with their dogs, which allows some one-on-one time with Almudena when needed, and the classes are nonthreatening and fun for the dog. With her extensive knowledge, she is able to address any special problems encountered. For example, our dog had spent the first nine months of his life in a kennel being mostly ignored. Almudena really helped socialize Dash and he’s become a confident, happy dog, who likes to play and he enjoys the company of other dogs and people.” – Robb & Kate Palmer, Tesuque, NM
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From participants of the Developing the Confident Dog class.
“Thanks so much for the excellent recall class that Roxie and I attended. I really enjoyed it. You teach important concepts in interesting ways, and your class is a very different experience than other classes I have taken over the years. It was very helpful and thought provoking.” – Patty Sciarrotta & Roxie
Playing and Teaching Boundary Games
Registration is now closed.
A boundary can be anything that signals to your dog that it must remain on it until released by you. Some typical boundaries can be a bed, a log found on a walk, a towel at a cafe. Most folks struggle with having their dog avoid certain things when being walked off-leash, at home, when the doorbell rings, or guests show up at our door. Teaching and practicing boundary games makes it worth it to the dog to stay in place versus running amok to say “hi,” chasing a bicycle, or charging at the front door just as soon as the doorbell rings!
The class will be held outside in a secure, fenced-in area and with ample room to make social distancing possible. The use of COVID-related masks will remain optional.
The Details:
Dates & time: Saturdays 10 am-11 am April 3rd, 10th, 17th, and 24th.
First-class is an orientation without your dog.
Open to four dogs and their handlers. Ages 5 months and onward.
Pre-requisites: Dog has learned “sit” or “down.”
Not appropriate for dogs that lunge or bark at people or other dogs.
Trainer: Almudena Ortiz Cué M.A. CTC, CPDT, Tellington TTouch™ Cert.
Fees: There are two ways to join and enjoy the class:
- Attend classes only $ 192.83. Santa Fe county tax included.
Or..
- Attend classes and get one-on-one support via videos in the private FB group. This choice is ideal for folks who would like more help to move them forward with their training or those who love to train their dog and enjoy the nitty-gritty of behavior and training. You will submit videos for all participants in the group to see and receive timely feedback from me every week during class. Fee: $238.20. Santa Fe county tax included.
Note: Please make sure to decide which option works best for you when enrolling. No upgrades or refunds once payment has been received. Thank you for your understanding.
For new clients, you must complete the form on this page and submit the payment below before registering for this class. If you are a current client (or have taken a class/private training with Almudena) C.H.A.C.O. Dog Training & Behavior Consulting, LLC., please complete the form on this page here.
Registration closes Wednesday, Jul 21st at 5 pm M.S.T. Class is full!
Many dogs are labeled: “hyper, “stubborn,” “problem dogs,” or “aggressive” when in fact, it is their lack of Confidence that is the underlining factor for their behavior. As the guardians of these dogs will attest, living with a dog that lacks Confidence is a challenge.
This four-week course will explore various concepts and training activities (Behavior Capsules ™) based on reward-based dog training and the Tellington TTouch® method. Together we will develop a dog that is a thinking dog instead of a reacting dog.
Your dog will become more trusting, self-aware and learn how to cope with a (constantly) changing environment. As a result, your dog will learn to respond to novel situations with curiosity instead of fear.
Who would benefit from this course?
This course is ideal for young dogs that need more structure, dogs with fears, or those who lack overall Confidence.
Pre-requisite: No prior training experience is needed.
We will explore essential and practical concepts to incorporate them into your everyday life with your dog.
During Orientation, we will explore the concept of Confidence.
The three remaining practical & hands-on lectures explore the concepts of:
- Choice
- The Seeking System
- Calm and arousal. At home and outside the home environment.
- Play and how Play transforms your dog, particularly “proximity” games, social Play.
How C.H.A.C.O.’s One on One Distance learning works
This course includes carefully selected lectures and concepts to explore weekly and training practice or Behavior Capsules ™ (see below for more information). Lectures are released every Monday to your inbox. You have the week to work on the week’s Behavior Capsule ™.
In addition, we will meet every Friday for a 40- minutes long check-in via a private Facebook group. I will review videos of your week’s training (this is not mandatory, just an effective tool to give you feedback) and answer any questions folks might have. If you cannot attend the “live session,” you can review later on your own.
What is a Behavior Capsule ™?
Behavior Capsules ™ are “stand-alone” concepts that we train as behaviors and daily “rituals” with our dog.
While being self-contained and straightforward, Behavior Capsules ™ explores essential concepts. When well understood and practiced, Behavior Capsules ™ will transform how you interact with your dog and your understanding and ability to help him lead a better quality of life. Not surprisingly, this positive changes in your dog will improve your own life because you now have a clear and specific roadmap to help your dog thrive.
The Details:
Class starts Monday, Aug 2nd runs Aug 27th. (We will meet every Friday for a 40- minutes long check-in via a private Facebook group from 11 am to 11:40 am.)
Fee: $322 (Santa Fe count tax included)
Open to six pet parents and their dog’s age four months of age and onward.
You must complete the form on this page and submit the payment below before registering for this class.
Visit CHACO’s Waiver, Payment and Cancellation Policy for ONLINE/ REMOTE classes.
Class is full!
Before reading below, check out the essence of social play in this video.
Cutting-edge research in psychology has helped us understand the importance of play in general and social play, particularly for the rehabilitation of timid and fearful dogs. I define social play as the engagement between a person and their dog that is voluntary and with no purpose other than to have a “good” time and “connect” or “re-connect.”
For the most part, social play is devoid of typical reinforces such as food and toys; however, these can help in some circumstances in making the dog more comfortable with the interaction.
Do you wish you knew how to bring out the comical, engaging side of your dog? Do you find yourself at a loss in not knowing how to best interact with your “soft” dog? Do you find that your dog does not respond to food or toys – as you would like him to while training? Do you struggle with your dog’s ability to focus on you when he is upset and overly aroused? Be it at home or during walks, or in public environments?
During this course, you will learn what constitutes good social play. Learning how to play with your dog could be the ultimate tool to help your dog thrive or re-focus when over-stimulated.
You will discover what sort of social play your dog (and you) enjoy and how to elicit your dog’s most playful nature. The course includes:
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Learning essential concepts of Social play.
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Watching video clips of appropriate and non-appropriate play.
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An opportunity to play with your dog during the virtual class while you receive feedback.
The class is open to all dogs (timid or not) and of all ages. They are no pre-requisite to join the class. Open to six pet parents and their dogs.
Dates: Tuesdays, May 31st June 7th, 14th, 21 from 1-2 pm (US Mountain time) and
Private Zoom meet-up Friday, June 10th from 1-1:40- pm, and Friday, June 24th, from 1-1:40 pm.
Fees: There are two options in taking the class and two fees:
Option 1: Includes 4, 1-hour classes and 2, forty minutes, zoom group discussion to answer questions and watch videos of play sessions with your dog. Submitting videos is optional, but live attendance is very much encouraged. If you cannot attend the “live” session, you can watch the recording later on your own.
Fee: $322 (Santa Fe County tax included).
Option 2: In addition to the above, option 2 includes two, 30 min. Private zoom sessions where we explore your dog’s play style as well as individual attention to problem-solving in more detail. To be scheduled jointly.
Fee: $422 (Santa Fe County tax included).
Testimonial:
I really enjoyed this class (How to Play with Your Dog), I learned that Gala (my dog) was playing when I thought she wasn’t and I learned how to focus her energy in a way that made me, her, and my 7m baby feel happy and secure. We have this new game where she shows off all her tricks at a distance which is fun and very friendly for newcomers and kids, especially since she is a Bernese and size tends to startle a bit. I can happily say we have grown for the better and we have had a happier family interaction since this class. Almudena’s approach is direct, clear, and always so gentle both for the dog and the owner.
Very very happy client!
Macarena Blanco, Mexico City, Mexico.
You must complete the form on this page and submit the payment below before registering for this class.
Visit CHACO’s Waiver, Payment and Cancellation Policy for ONLINE/ REMOTE classes.