Science in Action! The operant side of classical conditioning, how to design and build your dream walk, and the search for “clarity” with dog trainer, Kiki Yablon
All are welcome!
Join us for an inspiring one-day dog training seminar with Kiki Yablon on Saturday, April 25 from 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., where science meets clarity and practical application. This thought-provoking workshop will explore the nuances of classical conditioning, introduce a modern approach to loose leash walking, and dive into the concept of “Clarity”. Whether you’re a dedicated pet owner or a training professional, you’ll leave with fresh perspective and actionable skills.
Topics
- Classical Conditioning
What is it, really, and what are we actually teaching when we say that is what we are doing? Are we “changing emotions,” and is classical conditioning the only way to do that? Is classical conditioning all that is happening every time we pair two stimuli together without regard to operant behavior? (Spoiler alert: No, no, and no.)
Kiki will discuss the nuances of what happens when you make one thing predict another, what may actually account for the changes that most people view as “success” in classical conditioning, and discuss/demonstrate how keeping an eye on operant learning when you are pairing two stimuli together can both inspire new easy ways of teaching behaviors and help you do better when changing emotions is your goal. - Modern Loose-Leash Walking
Most of us are no longer looking for the majority of our walks with our dogs to be a close heel. But with “looser” walking comes the need for a variety of additional skills for both dog and handler, and a way to smoothly link them together in an ever changing environment. Drawing on ideas from behavior analysis about how “creative,” “novel,” and “adaptive” behavior is developed, Kiki will talk about how to conceptualize your own ideal walk, identify what skills you have and what skills may be missing, teach some skills that she often finds to be “missing links,” and put them together as a given environment calls for. - Looking for “Clarity”
Think more about signage and less about speeding tickets… “Clarity” is a concept; what it looks like in training that the dog does what we are asking or expecting them to do in a particular situation. We have it hammered into our heads that consequences drive behavior, and so that is often the first place we look when we want to make it clear what behavior we want or don’t want. But you know what else is learned via consequences? Antecedents, aka cues. And they don’t just tell the learner which behavior to do. They can make other consequences more or less potent at a given time, they can combine to make each other mean different things, and—very important to the concept of “clarity”—they can signal what is and isn’t available at a given time. And that can reduce the need to use punishment to clarify what not to do.
Additonal details
WORKING DOG SPOTS:
If you would like to attend with your dog, there are only 6 working spots available for an additional $50 fee. Dogs must be able to function well in a seminar environment with many people watching and other dogs present. They also must be able to handle lengthy down time (including crating onsite). We CANNOT accept dogs with aggression towards people or dogs as working teams. If you would like a working spot, please purchase the “Kiki Yablon Event and Working Spot” ticket.
Bring your own lunch. Water, coffee, tea and light snacks will be available.
CEUS: 7 CEUS for CBCC-KA and CPDT-KA, 6.75 CEUS for KPA, (IAABC pending)
More about Kiki
Kiki Yablon is a dog trainer and a teacher of other trainers based in Chicago, Illinois. In addition to serving as faculty for the Karen Pryor Academy, Kiki helps teach behavior science to fellow professionals across the animal care world as a member of the team at Dr. Susan Friedman’s Behavior Works organization. With a master’s degree in applied behavioral science, 16 years experience helping clients, and a pre-dog-training background in journalism, Kiki has a unique set of skills for translating scientific concepts into practical advice for trainers and dog guardians. At this day-long seminar, she will explore the scientific underpinings of several “hot” topics and provide opportunities for a limited number of working teams to put some of them into practice.
Refund/cancellation policy: A refund will be issued if requested on or before April 10, 2026. Refunds are issued in the full amount, less a $25 registration processing fee. All refunds must be requested in writing to nzielinski@wihumane.org.
