Dog Training and Education Resources
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Description
Essentials of Modern Dog Training
3 Days w/ Forrest Micke and Dr. Stewart Hilliard
Join us for three days of in-depth conversation and hands-on training with Forrest Micke and Dr. Stewart Hilliard. This event focuses on key aspects of modern dog training, including the application of functionally-defined aversive control. It is open to trainers working with both companion and working dogs.
Event Details:
- Dates: May 16-18, 2025, 9-5pm. Plan to arrive no later than 8:45am each day.
- Location: 323 Catch Basin Road, Sellersville, PA 18960
Program Overview:
This immersive course includes lectures, demonstrations, and practical exercises. Dr. Stewart Hilliard’s lectures will provide concise, focused insights into topics such as:
- Pavlovian Conditioning: Key mechanisms and their relevance in dog training.
- Instrumental Conditioning: Essentials and practical applications.
- The Contingency Square: A deeper understanding for effective training.
- Misbehavior Dynamics: How Pavlovian-Instrumental interactions affect training outcomes.
- Aversive Control: Distinguishing between aversive stimuli and functionally-defined aversive control.
- Reinforcement and Punishment: Mechanisms of positive punishment and negative reinforcement.
- Signaling: The role of secondary reinforcers and punishers.
- Dog Welfare: Addressing stressors, predictability, controllability, and learned helplessness.
- Training Methodology: Incorporating agency, accountability, and practical theory (with a humorous nod to the role of plentiful profanity).
Registration Information:
Handler-Dog Team (8 spots available):
- Early Registration (by April 15, 2025): $625
- Regular Registration (after April 15, 2025): $725
Auditor (Observer, 30 spots available):
- Early Registration (by April 15, 2025): $425
- Regular Registration (after April 15, 2025): $525
Important Notes:
- Tickets are non-refundable after April 1, 2025.
- Working Spot Application:
To apply for a handler-dog team spot, submit a 1-2 minute video showcasing you and your dog working in an unfamiliar, busy indoor environment. Your video should highlight your dog’s interactions with food rewards and/or a couple different types of toy rewards. Send the video and your request to Forrest Micke at Forrestmicke@gmail.com.
If you need assistance sending your video, contact Forrest for guidance. Upon approval, you’ll receive a link to purchase a handler-dog team ticket.
Welcome to Opportunity Barks
I’m thrilled to welcome you to The Essentials of Modern Dog Training—a transformative 3-day experience with the brilliant minds of Forrest Micke and Dr. Stewart Hilliard. Whether you’re here to deepen your bond with your dog, soak up new techniques, or learn in a supportive dog nerd/dog-loving community, welcome. Below are details to prepare you for the weekend and the logistics of the daily flow.
Weekend Details, Logistics, and Local Recommendations
Location: 323 Catch Basin Road, Sellersville, PA 18960
Our private, 10-acre farm is your home base for the weekend. Take in the space, hit the trails, and if you’re working a dog, feel free to explore! This environment was designed to give dogs a chance to decompress, move freely, and truly tap into their "dogginess." Bonus points for any pup that discovers field mice.
If bringing a dog:
Once you unload, all dogs must be leashed. Dogs can be walked beyond the barn; we have several fenced acres and trails. There is also a creek in the far back that can be used for cooling down your pup. Please feel free to explore before/during breaks or during the session.
Crate options:
We’ll have wire crates available in our fully air-conditioned kennel room in our barn, or you’re welcome to crate your dog open-air in your car. If you prefer your dog uses their own crate, please BYOC and plan to arrive at 8:30 am to set up and load in our kennel room.
Directions:
When you arrive, look for the wooden fence at the end of a gravel driveway—that’s your entry point! Drive down the gravel driveway, past the house to the pole barn. We’ll be meeting in the barn.
Heads up! Google Maps might try to send you to Regina’s Way, but that’s not us. If you get turned around or need assistance, just text me at 703-946-3094, and we’ll get you sorted out.
Parking:
You’ll find plenty of parking near the pole barn or along the sides of the driveway.
What to Expect
This weekend is all about making space for growth, connection, and a little bit of magic, with plenty of profanity ;).
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Here's how we’ll roll:
When: Friday-Sunday, May 16-17-18, 9 am-5 pm. Plan to arrive no later than 8:45 am each day.
Meals & Snacks
Morning Start: Each day begins with a light breakfast—coffee, tea, and bites to fuel your morning.
Bring Your Own Lunch: Take some time to recharge midday with your own packed lunch.
Seating
If driving, please plan to bring to bring your own camping chair. We will have folding chairs on site as well, but you may find your own chair more comfortable.
Travel Details
Distances from Major Cities
Philadelphia, PA: 40 miles (~1 hour)
Allentown, PA: 25 miles (~35 minutes)
Princeton, NJ: 50 miles (~1 hour)
Brooklyn, NY: 100 miles (~2 hours)
Wilmington, DE: 65 miles (~1 hour, 15 minutes) Washington, DC: 183 miles (~3 hours, 10 minutes)
Airports:
Lehigh Valley Airport, Allentown (35 minutes) Philadelphia International Airport (55 minutes)
Local Recommendations Hotel Accommodations:
Really anything near Sellersville- Perkasie, Quakertown would be fine.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Quakertown, an IHG Hotel (15 min) Quality Inn & Suites Quakertown-Allentown (15 min)
SpringHill Suites Quakertown (15 min)
Hampton Inn Quakertown (15 min)
Camping/Cabins:
Boulder Ridge Farm- Camping, PDF (5 minutes) Lake Nockimixon- Cabins, PDF
- More details about Lake Nocki Cabins (14 minutes)
RV Park:
Homestead Family Campground (7 minutes)
Local Highlights
Local Restaurant Options:
Locally, Perkasie has some cute spots for takeaway
- So Fresh So Green for coffee bar, juice, breakfast, or lunch (7 min) - The Perk for lunch/dinner (7 min)
- The Ram for lunch/dinner (7 min)
Sellersville Local
- The Horse- bar/bar food/wings (2 min)
- The Washington House for dinner/cocktails (4 min)
Quakertown Local
- Trolley Barn Public Market- lunch/dinner/drinks (10 min)
Indoor/outdoor food hall with breweries/distillery and various food. Outdoors is dog-friendly.
Hiking/Exploring
- Hiking, Exploring- Lake Nockamixon. If you check out Nocki, def go to Ow Wow Cow for ice cream- vegan options are available too. (18 min)
- Fieldstone Coffee has *the* best coffee and solid food, is open at 7 am and is dog-friendly (19 min)
- Bishop Estate Winery (dog-friendly outdoors) (15 min)
If you have any questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I can be reached at leigh@opbarks.com. Looking forward to meeting you all.
Date & Time
May 16, 2025 9:00 AM - May 18, 2025 5:00 PM
Venue Details
Opportunity Barks
323 Catch Basin RoadSellersville, Pennsylvania 18960
