2013 Events
Below is a list of past events from 2013. To see upcoming events for 2013 please go to the main events page.
January 7-10
California Narcotic Canine Association
Los Angeles, CA
Ken returned to this conference after an absence of several years. He was one of many different speakers focused on scent detection for law enforement. Ken spoke on the science and practice of dealing with animal errors. It was a well received talk generating some great discussins about scent detection training.
January 12-13
A Weekend with Ken Ramirez
Ahimsa Dog & Puppy Training
Seattle, WA
Grisha Stewart hosted Ken for a full weekend of training seminars. Seminar Topics included: Reinforcement Strategies; Using Non-Food Reinforcers Effectively, Handling Animal Mistakes, Concept Training: A Focus on Mimicry, Social Animals, and Problem Solving.
January 25-27
Clicker Expo
San Francisco, CA
Ken was back at Clicker Expo again in 2013 - the 10th anniversary of Clicker Expo! Ken taught three classes that he debuted in 2012: 1+1=3; Adduction and Combining Cues; An Adduction Lab; and Oops! What to do When an Animal Makes a Mistake. Ken also offered a lab focused on non-food reinforcers, a stand-alone lab without the seminar. Finallly, Ken presented two new topics: Misteps, Myths, and Mantras - Keeping Your Training on Track and How Exotic Animals Taught Me to be a Better Dog Trainer. Expo is always an exciting weekend that should not be missed by any trainer who wants to be challenegd and exposed to new positive reinforcement concepts. This Expo had many highlights, it was the largets attendance ever for an Expo (over 500 people) and the invited speaker was Susan Friedman. As always the attendess were enthusiastic and very reinforcing.
February 2
Art & Science of Animal Training
University of North Texas, ORCA
Denton, TX
Ken was invited back once again for what proved to be a stimulating meeting featuring presentations by creative trainers from all over the world. Although it is only a one day event for the public, it is always worth it. Ken presented on Non-Formal Training - Training when you don't think your training, the learning that takes place outside of training sessions. Dr. Susan Schneider was the invited keynote speaker, but between the public session and the private sessions on Friday and Sunday, we saw presentations by Bob Bailey, Kay Laurence, Alexandra Kurland, Jesus Roasles-Ruiz, Steve White, Phung Luu, Joe Laying, Lisa Clifton-Bumpass, and several ORCA students. Agreat weekend, as always.
March 8-10
Clicker Expo
Stamford, CT
Ken was back at Clicker Expo again in 2013 - the 10th anniversary of Clicker Expo! Ken taught three classes that he debuted in 2012: 1+1=3; Adduction and Combining Cues; An Adduction Lab; and Oops! What to do When an Animal Makes a Mistake. Ken also offered a lab focused on non-food reinforcers, a stand-alone lab without the seminar. Finallly, Ken presented two new topics: Misteps, Myths, and Mantras - Keeping Your Training on Track and How Exotic Animals Taught Me to be a Better Dog Trainer. Despite heavy snow leading up to the Expo, it was well attended and was an an exciting weekend.
April 14-19
ABMA Annual Conference
Toronto, Canada
The Animal Behavior Management Alliance held its annual conference in Toronto and Ken was invited to present two talks. The first in on Conservation Training and the other was about skills needed to be a successful trainer beyond animal skills. Ken was awarded the IMPACT award, voted on by the attendees as the presentation that was most impactful to them.
April 22-27
AZA Training Course
Disney's Animal Kingdom
Orlando, FL
This is an excellent course for zoo trainers. Ken was invited to participate for the 6th straight year. This course has multiple instructors including Steve Martin, Marty McPhee, and Michelle Skurski. Regular instuctor Emily Insalaco took this year off to care for her new baby. The students were enthusiastic and this year came from Australia, Columbia, Canada, and the U.S.
May 11
Training to Make a Difference
Dog Saving Network - Fund Raiser
Chicago, IL
Ken spoke to this group about the importance of training and the good work that rescue organizations are able to do. The goal was to raise money for this worthwhile organization.
May 25-26
Making the Impossible - Possible!
Action 4 Dogs
North Middleton, SCOTLAND
Ken's topics included: Reinforcement Strategies: using Non-Food Reinforcers, Handling Animal Mistakes, Concept Training, Problem Solving, and Recipe for Becoming a Top Trainer. There were nearly 90 trainers in attendance, a great weekend.
June 1-2
Ken's 1st Seminar in Spain! - IN SPANISH
Curso Clicker
Madrid, SPAIN
Ken's topics included: Non food Reinforcers, Handling Animal Mistakes, Problem Solving, Social Animals, Aggression Treatment Strategies, Mimicry, and Conservation Training. There were over 60 participants and the weekend seemed tobe a great success.
*2013 Scholarship Winner: Julie Tensor
August 5-13
Travel to Churchill, Canada to see Beluga Whales
Shedd Aquarium Sponsored Trip
Winnipeg & Churchill, Canada
e-mail enquiries to: cmell@sheddaquarium.org
This is not a training seminar! However, it was a unique opportunity to travel with Ken to see beluga whales in their natural element. Shedd Aquarium's travel program is sponsoring this trip; Ken lead 14 individuals on a one of a kind trip that began with a train ride through Manitoba, Canada and concluded with several opportunities on the water to see beluga whales. There was an outstanding group of participants that went on this trip. We saw hundreds of whales and even had 6 polar bear sightings!
August 19-23
Professional Seminars for Zoological Trainers
Shedd Aquarium
Chicago, IL
e-mail enquiries to: adults@sheddaquarium.org
This is a full graduate course adapted to a one-week format for zoo training professionals. An opportunity to take a full course and see Ken work with animals in his home setting, the beautiful Shedd Aquarium. Although originally designed for zoo trainers, many dog trainers take the course each year. 2013 was no exception - the sold out course included 11 zoo and aquarium professionals, 16 dog trainers, 6 horse trainers, and several others. As usual it was one of Ken's favorite seminars to teach because of the enthusiasm and the level of expertise of the participants!
*2013 Scholarsipe Winner: Paul Chen
August 24 – October 19 (Every Saturday)
WIU Graduate Course on Animal Training
Western Illinois University (class at Shedd Aquarium)
Chicago, IL
Strict requirements, for info before applying please contact Ken at kramirez@sheddaquarium.org. This year's class had many very enthusiastic students, many of whom seemed to be looking at a career in the field.
September 8-13
IMATA Annual Conference
2 Pre-Conference Seminars
International Marine Animal Trainers Association
Las Vegas, NV
Ken taught two pre-conference seminars. Both classes were taught on Sunday, September 8. In the AM the class was an Introduction To Animal Training, an overview of basic operant conditioning principles. In the PM, the seminar was for advanced trainers and focused on Reinforcement Strategies and the use of non-food reinforcers. This is always a worthwhile conference for anyone interested in animal training - especially marine mammals.
August 24 – October 19 (Every Saturday)
WIU Graduate Course on Animal Training
Western Illinois University (class at Shedd Aquarium)
Chicago, IL
Strict requirements, for info before applying please contact Ken at kramirez@sheddaquarium.org. The class was full agin this year but this time had far more aspiring professionals as well as keepers already working in the field. One of the more lively and knowledgable WIU classes in many years.
October 6
Training for Improved Medical Care
Webinar hosted by Cyber Dog Online
3 pm EDT (12:00 noon PDT)
http://www.cyberdogonline.com/our-courses/webinars/webinar-schedule.html
Julie Shaw has organized a series of webinars for veterinary professionals which are hosted by Helix Fairweather's Cyber Dog Online. This seminar focused on the techniques used for medical training of exotic and doemstic animals. This was Ken's very first webinar and overall it seemed to go well. Over 60 people logged in for the event.
October 10
Behavior Track for Veterinarians & Technicians
Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association Annual Convention
Alliant Energy Center, Madison, WI
The Wisconsin Veterinary Technian Assoication invited Ken to do a 4-hour behavioral track, part of a longer track that included Dr. Patricia McConnell as part of the larger WVMA Convention. Topics included Aggression Reduction Strategies, Husbandry Training, and a look at the skills needed besides animal care skills to be successful in a professional animal care position. This was a very receptive group.
October 23-24
Keynote Address
APDT Conference
Spokane, WA
The Association for Professional Dog Trainers holds an annual conference to further the knowledge and skills of its members. Ken was invited to give the opening keynote address on October 23rd, which was titled Tales from the Field - The Diverse Faces of a Professional Animal Trainer. Ken also gave a second presentation on October 24th that was titled The Challenges of Being a Consultant: The Things they don't Teach You in Animal Training Class! Although the conference ran for a full five days, Ken left after the first two days to travel for his weekend seminar in Vancouver, see below.
October 26-27
A Weekend with Ken Ramirez
5 Star Dog Training
Vancouver, BC, CANADA
Seminar Topics included: Reinforcement Strategies; Using Non-Food Reinforcers Effectively, Handling Animal Mistakes, Concept Training: A Focus on Mimicry, Social Animals, and Problem Solving.
November 2
Cognitive Connections: Dolphins, Dogs, and Us!
Chicago Humanities Festival
Chicago, IL
Ken was invited to be part of the 24th annual Chicago Humanities Festical whose theme this year is Animal: What Makes Us Human. Ken spoke on the positive reinforcement work that has been so successful in working with dolphins - how that has recently translated into work with dogs and ultimately what that tells us about ourselves.
November 4 - 8
Zoological Training
Aquarium du Quebec
Quebec City, Canada
Ken taught several seminars for zoo and aquarium staff in several locations within Quebec. Although this seminar is not open to the general public, zookeepers and trainers from area zoos were invited to participate. Nearly 90 trainers from 6 different Quebec zoos and aquariums were in attendance. In addition to the Quebec Aquarium, Ken also spent time at the Granby Zoo and the Montreal Biodome.
November 22-24
A Weekend with Ken Ramirez
DENMARK
http://hasf.dk/arrangementer/ken-ramirez-weekend-seminar#overlay=node/166/edit
Ken traveled to Denmark to present a full weekend seminar focused on a vairety of dog training topics. Friday evening was a broad overiew of the things Ken learned as an exotic animal trainer that crossed over and helped him be a better dog trainer. Saturday he presented two of his most popular topics, Non-Food Reinforcers and Conept Training. On Sunday he wrapped up with a seminar on Common Trainer Errors, Non-Formal Interactions, Working with More than One Animal, and How to Handle Animal Mistakes. There was a great turnouot of over 75 trainers from throughout Europe.
TRAVEL SCHOLARSHIP
Can't afford to attend one of Ken's seminars? Looking for career or training advice? Apply for one of these unique opportunities. For more information see application below.
2013 Scholarship Winners: Julie Tensor and Pual Chen
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