Alphabet Album Webinars: 

P is for Pressure!

(Eva Fowler presenter/ Julie Symons  moderator) 

Recording available now!

Dogs utilize many forms of communication both with each other and with different species. One of the most powerful, and primal, is physical/spatial pressure.

Our dogs (heavily domesticate versions of wolves) maintain a sense of group communication. But WE humans are the  part of their group now and we don’t speak the same language. In canids, a language that is used to help the collective put “food on the table” now manifests itself in unique ways especially in dog sports and training and primates (us!) often are dense to the intricacies of their language. 

Understanding and appreciating this communication method (and effect) is a great advantage for all dog sports and training and pivotal with working with any herding breed specifically. 

Herding, even if you don’t have a herding dog, can teach us many things about predator to predator pack communication and predator to prey communication because fundamentally, herding is modified “hunting”.  There is no other dog sport that “simulates” the hunt of live prey as wolves do... better than herding. 

Have you ever noticed your proximity to your dog affects his/her behaviour in a scent trial? Does your dog speed up when you heel close to a wall or corner? Or avoid it completely? Perhaps your mental state at an event has a noticeable effect on your dog?  Does your dog shut down for reasons you can't even identify? 

We herding handlers utilize pressure to communicate with our dogs while working livestock on a day to day basis. 

P is for Pressure shares the key communication learnings from a livestock owner and herding instructor and will provide insight into canine/human interactions. In turn, this knowledge will help any dog training/sport that uses body language, space and excitement to communicate intent (intentionally or unintentionally). 

Appropriate and fascinating for everyone intrigued by dogs, it may just explain and help provide awareness for those training, behavioural or trial conduct mysteries.

Eva Fowler

Eva is a second generation dog trainer. Her mother was a professional hunting retriever and obedience trainer.  Eva has trained/owned and competed with dogs from an early age…most memorably 8 years old (could be earlier!)

Eva trains people in Barn Hunt and Herding full time and her vast experiences with breed and venue give her a unique perspective on training a dog.

Eva is owns and manages/based out of Central NY's Central Bark Canine Events, LLC dog training facility in Central Square NY.

Eva has owned and trained Labs, ridgebacks, Curly-coats and Belgian Tervuren and has titled in hunt tests, rally, obedience, agility, scent work, herding and barn hunt. Most notably she has a two time Barn Hunt National Champion, the top titled Belgian Tervuren in Barn Hunt (RATCHX14) and is the 2018 BHA Rattie Award recipient (People’s Choice Award).

In addition, Eva co-wrote the “Book on Barn Hunt” Barn Hunt: A Game of Hide and Seek for Dogs which was a nominee for the 2018 Dog Writers Book of the Year on Dog Sport and Training.

In the world of herding Eva is working on a AKC Herding Championship with her Tervuren and has numerous High in Trials/Reserve High in Trials. She works with dozens of teams weekly and hosts seminars, clinics and trials at her site.

Eva is an experienced BH judge BH-126A , an AKC Scent Work and Farm Dog Judge #102441  as well as an instructor and trainer in both Barn Hunt and AKC focused Herding.

Eva has a Bachelor's in Food Science from Cornell University and an MBA from St. Bonaventure.

She judges and gives seminars around the country and is available for phone consultations, seminars, clinics and lessons both locally to CNY and beyond!

To learn more about Eva visit her website!

Looking for more information about the webinar series this is part of - and links to the specific individual webinars (or the whole album)? 

CLICK HERE TO  LEARN MORE!