Delta Courses

[Prydenjoy]

I'm thinking of doing a Delta course and was wondering what it involves, how much it costs, and what windows of opportunity it opens up? I'm going to have coffee and a chat to two lady's I know who have done the course, but I thought I'd ask here as well

[Mel774]

I couldn't speak highly enough of the course, I love it

It costs about $3,000 for the whole course, but a fair chunk of that is boarding and food (mmm they spoil us so much!) at the 2 week long intensives they have in Melbourne. So you also have to factor in the travel costs down there for you and your dog.

As for what doors it opens for you - whatever ones you open. You will have to find a place to train because it's a requirement to do so many dog training programs (I think a minimum of 8, 4-6 week training programs over 18 months and 2-4 puppy preschool classes). So you should find someone you can help out or think about starting your own classes if you have enough experience behind you.

There are a lot of unqualifed instructors out there because the industry is not regulated. I would love to see more people knowing what they were doing!!! Being an accredited instructor gives you more confidence I think, that you have some formal study behind you and it can give other people more confidence in you if they've had some bad experiences. I taught a lot of people that have come to me after having other people tell them their dog is "untrainable" and they like knowing that I am keeping up to date with study and using only gentle, positive training. I have not seen a problem with a so called untrainable dog! Infact they've been some of my best students!!!!!

If there's anything else you want to know, just give me a yell ;)

[Kelpie-i]

Jeanne

I can't speak for the Delta course but can for the NDTF course. Being Nationally Accredited also you cannot go wrong.

It's an extensive course offering different modules ie. scent detection, assistance dogs, obedience instructor etc etc. Definitely recommend the NDTF course.

[Mel774]

Out of curiosity how has the NDTF course changed since becoming accredited? When I was looking for courses Delta was the only one accredited and by the looks of NDTF they had a range of very short courses (like 13 weeks or something) where as Delta is a full 18 month course. Is it still the same, where you pick up different modules and do what the ones you want to do or did it have to change to become nationally accredited??

ETA: Oh other thing I wanted to know was is it available by distance education now? Delta is so anyone from any state can complete it without a problem as long as you can travel to Melbourne twice over the 18 months. When I looked into the NDTF course it was only available in Melbourne and I had just left. They said they were looking into offering it by D.E and would contact me when they did but they never got back to me. I wasn't that impressed with the organisation as a whole by that was a couple of years ago.

Edited August 20, 2005 by Mel774

[haven]

It changed before it was accredited. I did the course 18mths ago and it was 7 months part time with a minimum requirement of 100 hours practical experience. There are still electives beyond the core modules. There were 7 core modules and 3 electives when i did the course, but this has increased as has the practical requirements I believe. It is available by distance ed and we also get a lot of exchange students from overseas at the moment.

[Kelpie-i]

I did my course with NDTF back in 1999 and back then it was 12 months long. As Haven stated, it now comprises of different electives covering many different areas of dog training. The lecturers on the course are the likes of Steve Austin, Dr Robert Holmes and other specialists in their field.

And yes I have heard that they are now taking OS students as well.

If you can afford to, do both the Delta and NDTF!

I'd like to eventually do the Delta course but I don't have $3000 to spare at this stage.

Edited August 21, 2005 by Kelpie-i

[NaturallyWild]

Haven't done any of these courses but have done a lot of research into it.

In victoria there are organisations who are approved to assess dogs for the Government obedience certificate under the Domestic (Feral and Nuisance) Animals Regulations 1996 are:

Victorian Canine Association (VCA)

Professional Dog Training Association

Australian Association of Gentle Modern Dog Training Instructors

Whether Delta or NDTF come under this i do not know and these details would obviously be different in each state. This may mean that although the course is 'nationally accredited' it may just actually mean a piece of paper that says you have education rather than being a government approved trainer - not 100% on this. My opinion on any of these courses would be to find out how effective you find their style of dog training (find trainers who have done those courses and watch them put it in practise for all levels - puppy through to advanced) and if it compliments how you wish to train dogs. Also the other education you may get out of it ie. more complex components to training such as scent detection etc, and the amount of practical hours you will get (do they provide you with the hours or do you have to find someone to work with).

I personally don't think a "qualification" means a thing it's how effect a trainer you become. The most important part of learning dog training would be the style of training (and how effective it is for you to use) and the experience and knowledge that you get from the practical hours you do.

Delta - positive - 18months - $2500-3000 plus travel to melb. - nationally accredited as a education course. Widely recognised name - distance learning plus intensive part 2*1week. www.deltasocietyaustralia.com.au

NDTF - positive and negative - 8months - $2500 (unsure of distance learning) - nationally accredited as an education course. Becoming more recognised. www.ndtf.net.au

Australian Association of Gentle Modern Dog Training Instructors - conducted through the Kintala club - positive - 5-6months - ~$900 - trainers recognised by Vic government for obedience cert. - no distance learning. www.kintala.com.au

Professional Dog Training Association (AAPDT) - conducted through dog trainer school: Dog Obedience Guidance Systems of Australia (Command Dog Training School) - postivie and negative - 5months part time or 8 weeks full time - $2000-3000 - trainers recognised by Vic government for obedience cert. - no distance learning but intensive 8week. www.dogtrainerschool.com.au

[fido666]

The Delta course is a Cert IV level course in "Companion Animal Services". The qualification is nationally recognised (accredited by the Australian National Training Authority). It covers a lot more than just dog training, OH&S, First Aid, Business Mangement, coducting classes, etc are just some of the topics covered. It's fairly intensive as there are a number of assignments and class observation/assistance/running module to complete. We were told around 500 hours of study but personally I think that's conservative (you have to factor in travel time to classes, dog shows, animal shelters, etc). It's a great course but not to be undertaken lightly. Visit the Delta Society website for more info (http://www.deltasocietyaustralia.com.au/).

When I looked into the NDTF course it was a Cert III level course, perhaps a little less intense but I haven't done that couse so can't be sure.

I haven't done or enquired about any of the other courses mentioned in tim_m99's post so can't comment there.

Cheers,

Corine

[Kavik]

I did the NDTF course in 2000, went to Melbourne for the first week and then one weekend a month. I think it was 7 months then? Can't remember. They have added more options since then.

[Kelpie-i]

I personally don't think a "qualification" means a thing it's how effect a trainer you become. The most important part of learning dog training would be the style of training (and how effective it is for you to use) and the experience and knowledge that you get from the practical hours you do.

tim_m99, perhaps a good idea to enrol into one of the mentioned courses, that way your comments about "qualifications" would hold some merit. Being a good dog trainer is not just teaching a dog to sit and drop, but rather being able to correctly identify why the dog is not willing to sit or drop. This you can only do by studying animal pyschology and behaviour and is not something you just pick up from a mate. Further, it's not the style of training that is important, it's whether are "armed" with enough tricks up your sleeve to combat any problems that come your way. This means effectively knowing and practising many different methods of training, not just one.

There are too many people out there who call themselves "trainers" after they have successfully taken their own dogs through the ranks only. These people can hold all the flashy titles achieved with their own dogs, but hand them a dog-aggressive dog with a helpless handler on the other end and these "dog trainers" run the other way.

You will only learn the skills required to deal with these sorts of situations by attending a course run by experienced teachers...yes of course you need to practice and further your knowledge/skill set once you've finished the course, but it's a starting point. If that course comes with a "qualfication" tag, then better still.

If you had a deadly disease, would you go to a witch doctor or would you go to a qualified doctor/surgeon??

[Mel774]

There are too many people out there who call themselves "trainers" after they have successfully taken their own dogs through the ranks only. These people can hold all the flashy titles achieved with their own dogs, but hand them a dog-aggressive dog with a helpless handler on the other end and these "dog trainers" run the other way.

Well said!!!!!!!!!!!!! Couldn't agree more, I haven't been training for a long time and already I've seen the result of a very unregulated industry that needs far less people who train out of a text book and training their own dog

[Prydenjoy]

Thanks everyone for your replys.

I would prefer do a course that focuses purely on positive training methods as I hold no interest for negative methods. I already instruct classes so shouldn't find it too difficult to do the hands on part of the course! Unless our club falls into other peoples hands... but will have to wait until tomorrow night to find that out, probably wont get much sleep tonight, but that's another story...

But I agree that there is no such thing as an untrainable dog, you've just got to find out which buttons to push, it is usually more of a problem trying to motivate the owner than anything else! I admit sometimes I do feel like diving in and saying "this is how you do it" but I am extremely patient when it comes to instructing and make sure the owners understand WHY they must do it a particular way, as opposed to me just showing them and getting them to do it. I've been told I'm a very good trainer and have some very good tips (from people who have struggled for years trying to train their dogs) so just hearing that made me so happy and filled with pride - they are the biggest achievements, when you help someone who has been struggling for years finally get ahead, moments like those are the reason I want to learn more

I agree that it is horrible that the industry is so unregulated, I know many people who have gone to the WRONG trainer and their dog has been damaged for life from it. I even know of a lady who was going to put her dog to sleep after a know it all (with no qualifications mind you) gave them a "private consult" and their dog bit her, the lady who owned the dog was distraught, and rightly so, she didn't know that the reason it happened is because the know it all lady was doing everything in the books that she SHOULDN'T have been doing! Anyone seen "The Dog Whisperer"? Don't get me started on that guy

So do Delta provide food and accomodation? What else do they provide? Sounds great!!! I already know which dog I will be taking, he is a clicker training shaping expert and puts even the most well trained dogs to shame when it comes to shaping - I call him "the one minute dog" because he can learn practically any new trick in less than a minute, great party trick! I'm sure out of my three dogs, you can all probably guess which one is the smart arse ;)

So is the $3000 a lump sum upfront payment? Or do you pay as you go? I don't have $3000 at the moment, but would really like to register for next years course!

[fido666]

Hi Jeanne,

During the residential segments of the course (1 week at the start and 1 towards the end) Delta provide food and accomodation. The food is great considering how many students they have to feed. Accomodation is in private rooms with just enough room for a crate for your dog. Currently the residential segments are held at Dookie Agricultural College near Shepparton in Vic. Don't expect the Hilton, but it is clean and comfortable and by the time you hit the sack each night you won't care . Showers are central but private, my dorm had plenty.

Any dog you bring needs to be over 12 months old, not sure if that affects you.

Payments can be made in installments but a discount is given for up front payment, it's not huge though. Registrations open gairly soon, on the 25th August.

Cheers,

Corine

Edited August 21, 2005 by fido666

[Kelpie-i]

My ultimate dream would be to travel to the US and do some of the courses over there and then perhaps spend some time at some of the wolf parks in Minnesota and Canada.

[Staff'n'Toller]

Registrations open gairly soon, on the 25th August.

SSSSHHHHH!!!! Don't tell anyone....I wanna good chance of getting in this year!!!

Mel.

[Prydenjoy]

Accomodation is in private rooms with just enough room for a crate for your dog. Currently the residential segments are held at Dookie Agricultural College near Shepparton in Vic. Don't expect the Hilton, but it is clean and comfortable and by the time you hit the sack each night you won't care

Hey I travell to dog shows with three dogs and sleep outside in a tinsy winsy tent only JUST big enough for me to squeeze in next to a dog crate or esky, and have the three dogs sleeping ontop of me to keep me warm on the cold hard ground.... I'm sure I can manage it

What size installments do you have to make? When do you have to start making them??? I really want in this year!!! Staffordsrule, we may end up meeting next Easter

[Staff'n'Toller]

What size installments do you have to make?  When do you have to start making them???  I really want in this year!!!  Staffordsrule, we may end up meeting next Easter 

Groovy I believe Tollersowned is intending on registering too....but don't quote me

Mel.

ETA- in invisible ink teehe...make sure you do your forms nice and early- it's first come first served. ;)

Edited August 21, 2005 by StaffordsRule

[Sayreovi]

Yep i am registering, hopefully that is that they accept people who turn 18 after registration closes

[Prydenjoy]

Who else is hoping to register??? Hey maybe we can have a DOL meet up at the Delta training course!!!

And you can all meet my smart arse papillon

[wagalot]

yep i am also thinking about doing this course....... being wanting to do it for years but the price keeps putting me off.......about time i bit my toung and just fork it out cause i know it is a very good course and know a few people that have done it..

at the moment i am trying to run my own pet care business part time and also thinking about trying to get into customs or this course......can't seem to make up my mind what i want to do?????

cheers Sam