Turning your dog's stress to confidence

Learn how to turn stress to confidence and distraction to focus using methods that are 110% positive. Taught by Leslie McDevitt, the versatile Control Unleashed program is designed to help "dogs with issues" learn how to relax, focus, and work off-leash reliably in either stimulating or stressful situations. Whether you're training a challenging dog on your own, an instructor trying to figure out how to help dogs in your classes, or an instructor who wants to design a special program just for stressed out dogs, this Mini-Camp is for you.

Who needs this Mini-Camp?

• Dogs that are uncomfortable or unable to work off lead around other dogs
• Dog that are easily distracted and have difficulty concentrating
• Dogs that are reactive or easily aroused
• Dogs that are anxious or stressed and shut down
• Dog that are unable to control their impulses when excited

What you learn here can change your dog's life!

Leslie's book, Control Unleashed: Creating a Focused and Confident Dog, received awards from the International Institute for Applied Animal Behavior: Best Dog Training Book of 2007, Best Dog Sport Book of 2007 Runner up, Best Dog Behavior Book for Owners of 2007

Dogs eligible to attend:

Candidates for this Mini-Camp include people and dogs that are trying to train for a competitive dog sport but are not getting as far as they would like because of focus-, overarousal-, or stress-related problems. Only dogs with "low- end" problem behaviors will be considered for a working spot in this Mini-Camp:

• Dog gets sniffy (very often but not always a stress-displacement activity)
• Dog is environmentally oriented out of mild concern or normal behavior (knowing which is important)
• Dog's mind drifts off easily
• Dog listens to his handler but his body language continually shows that he feels stress
• Dog barks and/or pulls and lunges at dogs and objects he is uncertain about but can be interrupted before having a reactive response or he recovers quickly from a response and continues working
• Dog is mildy responsive to sudden environmental changes (such as a falling chair or a person entering the far end of the room) but recovers quickly

You may bring multiple dogs with you so that dogs can take turns learning through different exercises. Your dog must be crate trained and used to being crated in a group environment (in an 8-foot proximity of other dogs) without whining or barking.

Dogs NOT Eligible to Work in the Mini-Camp

Your dog cannot participate if your dog displays the following "high-end" behaviors:

• Dog is hypervigilant (can't stop scanning and worrying about everything in his environment) and is extremely responsive to sudden environmental changes
• Dog has low arousal threshold (as in a "hair-trigger dog" that is always ready to go off)
• Dog cannot easily or quickly recover from a stressful event (she gives an example in the book)
• Dog barks almost nonstop and pulls/lunges so forcefully at dogs or unfamiliar objects that his handler is in danger of dropping his leash, being pulled off her feet or being injured

If your dog displays these "high-end" behaviors, you may still sign up to audit the Mini-Camp without a dog.

Arrival & Departure

Please plan your arrival to the Farm on Friday, September 24 between 12 noon and 1pm. This will give all campers time to check-in, settle into their lodging, have their lunch and relax a bit before the start of camp promptly at 3pm. Departure is at the conclusion of the camp on Monday, the 27th.

Mini-Camp Fees

Control Unleashed Mini-Camp will be held from Sept. 24-27, 2010.

$475 plus the cost of lodging. Fee includes instruction. No meals are provided. We have a wonderful outdoor dining pavilion and pantry building where attendees may store food and supplies and prepare their own meals. Utensils, cooking equipment, refrigerators, freezers, coffee maker, outdoor sink, gas grill and large wood burning grill are available for use. For a full description of our facilities visit Lodging, Meals & Facilities.

Lodging Fees: Lodging fees will vary depending on accommodation type and date of departure. For complete and detailed information about lodging, be sure to visit Lodging, Meals & Facilities.

Small Cabin with 2 beds: $100/night*
Large Cottage with 2-3 cots: $115/night* - SOLD OUT
Standard RV with full bed: $140/night
Standard RV with queen bed and couch, sleeps 2: $140/night
NEW Deluxe RV with a king bed and couch, sleeps 2: $185/night
Bring your own RV: $95/night

*September and October stays in cabins and cottages will incur a $25 fuel surcharge for heat.

Leslie McDevitt

Leslie McDevitt, MLA, CDBC, CPDT is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants and a Certified Professional Dog Trainer through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers.

A cowgirl at heart, Leslie grew up in Houston and then defected to the East Coast. Leslie holds a BA from the Humanities Honors Program at the University of Texas at Austin, where she studied English, Cultural Anthropology and Folklore. She holds a Master of Liberal Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania, where she studied English, Creative Writing and Folklore.

In 1998, Leslie rescued Gordie, an American Pit Bull Terrier/German Shepherd Dog cross who had been badly abused, and, in trying desperately to help him through his crushing anxieties and fears, met her inspiration and mentor, world-renowned veterinary behaviorist Dr. Karen Overall. Through Gordie, Leslie found her calling, and devoted herself completely to becoming a dog trainer and later, a behavior consultant. Leslie was volunteering at urban shelters and studying behavior and clicker training when she caught the dog sports bug and started agility and flyball training with her terrier mix Maggie. Her work with anxious, reactive, impulsive and aggressive dogs gave her a unique perspective when she became a student of dog sports training. Leslie served in many capacities, including President and Obedience Training Director, at Y2K9s Dog Sports Club in Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania.

Leslie's background in behavior modification and her experience working with dog sport clients led her to create her popular course for performance dogs 'with issues', Control Unleashed. Leslie started writing articles based on themes from the course for Clean Run Agility Magazine, then took things a step farther and wrote her award-winning, best seller, Control Unleashed: Creating a Focused and Confident Dog which was published by Clean Run Productions in 2007.

Leslie has worked with diverse populations of dogs, from pets to performance dogs to police dogs, and is known as a versatile, compassionate and intuitive trainer. Leslie continues her commitment to rescue by evaluating dogs for Glen Highland Farm's Border Collie Rescue program and by serving as the Training Advisor for the Animal Welfare Project. She lives outside of Philadelphia, in a quiet town near a beautiful state park, with four dogs, two cats, and one very supportive husband.