PLATINUM PACKAGE - SKILLS SAFARI WITH KEN RAMIREZ

SKILLS SAFARI WITH KEN RAMIREZ
Immerse yourself in FIVE incredible days of learning with world-renowned animal trainer – Ken Ramirez!
 
DATES / TIMES / VENUE
Date: Friday 29^th November – Tuesday 3^rd December 2024
Time:  9am to 5.00pm each day (plus a not to be missed evening presentation - Conservation Training - on Friday 29^th Nov)
Venue: Perth Zoo, 20 Labouchere Road South Perth, Western Australia 6151
Cost: $1375
 
Ken Ramirez has been a professional trainer for nearly 40 years, working with an extensive variety of animals, from guide dogs to exotics and marine mammals. He is the author of several books on animal training, such as Animal Training: Successful Animal Management through Positive Reinforcement and The Eye of the Trainer: Animal Training, Transformation and Trust. Ken is also the Executive Vice-President and Chief Training Officer of Karen Pryor Clicker Training, where he oversees the vision, development, and implementation of training education programs.
 
DAY ONE: The Science and Art of Teaching Animals

• An Advanced Training Perspective: How to apply the principles of learning theory to complex and challenging training scenarios.
• Enrichment and Variety: How to provide animals with stimulating and engaging activities that enhance their physical and mental well-being.
• Secrets of Successful Husbandry Training: How to train animals to cooperate willingly and calmly with medical and veterinary procedures.

DAY TWO: Training Skills and Concepts for Professional Animal Trainers

• Problem Solving with Confidence: Learn effective strategies to tackle training challenges and solve common training problems with confidence and precision.
• Evaluating Training Plans: Optimise your approach for success and fine-tune your training programs. Evaluate training plans and apply practical solutions to avoid trainer mistakes.
• Concept Training and Cognitive Abilities: Dive into the intricacies of complex behaviours, as Ken explores the fascinating research around concept training and the cognitive abilities of the animals around us.

DAY THREE: Choice, Consent and Control – Avoiding Chaos!

• Empowering Animals with Choice: How to offer animals choice and control over their environment, without compromising safety or structure.
• Handling Training Mistakes Positively: Every trainer encounters mistakes. Instead of dwelling on errors, Ken will teach you how to handle them positively and constructively. Transform setbacks into learning opportunities and build stronger connections with your learner.
• Simultaneous Multi-Animal Training: How to train multiple animals simultaneously, carefully considering group dynamics and the thoughtful use of stationing, targeting, and cue discrimination - creating cooperative and harmonious behaviours amongst animals.

DAY FOUR: The Challenges of Training Working Dogs

• Complex Training Tools: How to train dogs to perform behaviors in various environments and situations, and cope with stimuli that might otherwise trigger unwanted reactions.
• Scent Discrimination Work: How to set up training scenarios, test reliability, and maintain motivation and accuracy.
• Research Training: How to train dogs to participate in scientific studies that explore their cognitive and social abilities, such as memory, problem-solving, communication, and cooperation.
• Snake Avoidance Training: How to train dogs to avoid venomous snakes and other potential dangers in the wild, using humane and effective methods.

DAY FIVE: Aggression Management & Treatment

• Understanding Aggression: How to identify the causes and types of aggression.
• Risk Assessments: How to assess the risk and severity of aggression.
• Creating Safe Training Scenarios: How to set up safe and effective training scenarios.
• Effective Training Strategies: How to apply appropriate training strategies and tools to modify or eliminate aggressive behaviour.
• Progressive Evaluation: How to evaluate the progress and outcome of the training.

 
ADDITIONAL EVENTS & INFORMATION (included in the five-day Skills Safari package):
Join Ken for an evening lecture & ice-breaker function on Friday 29^th November (5pm-7pm): In this not to be missed event, join Ken as he shares his passion for wildlife conservation. Learn how he is utilising the power of behaviour science to build a better future for animals in their natural habitats. Working closely with wildlife biologists, Ken is improving the lives of animals across the globe - from Chimpanzees in Uganda, Elephants migrating across Africa, to helping protect our very own Australian wildlife. 
Join Perth Zoo staff for training demonstrations and Zookeeper talks: Meet some of the incredible animals of Perth Zoo in dynamic training demonstrations PLUS learn more about the amazing training and behaviour work Perth Zoo staff are involved in with their engaging Zookeeper Training Talks. Enjoy the opportunity to not only learn, but network across the industry to work together for the betterment of our animals.


FURTHER EVENT INFORMATION

Once you have booked your ticket to the event, please check your email inbox. You will receive an event information PDF with further details on the venue, transport and travel, accommodation options and event merchandise available for purchase.


TERMS AND CONDITIONS / FAQs
 
Tickets are non-refundable but can, with advance notice, be transferred to another person (please advise IMDT Australia if this is to be the case, providing the new attendee’s name and contact details).
Tickets are for use by one attendee per ticket for the entire course. Individual days cannot be transferred to another attendee.
1-day tickets MAY be made available if there is availability, however, pre-ticket sale demand is high and we feel this is unlikely to be the case.
Morning and afternoon tea will be provided, attendees are asked to provide their own lunch and additional refreshments (no kitchen access available).
This course is for human learning, participants do not bring dogs.
Working with animals involves potential risks, on booking this course, all attendees accept that they interact with any animals in attendance at their own risk.
Filming and Photography is not permitted without the express permission of IMDT Australia.
IMDT Australia reserves the right to change the content, timing, date, venue or presenter of the course in order to provide a high-quality service or where it is necessary for reasons beyond our control. IMDT Australia reserves the right to cancel a course up to and including the date of the course and will strive to give as much notice of this as possible. IMDT Australia will not be liable for any losses or expenses arising from amendments to the course or cancellations. Course materials are supplied only for your personal use.
 
IMDT Australia and the presenter, Ken Ramirez, remain the owners of all intellectual property in course materials. No part of the materials may be copied, recorded, or reproduced without our permission.