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Customer FAQ |
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What is covered in
the Be Doggone Smart at Work Program?
The program focuses on understanding dog body
language communication and preventing interactions
with dogs. The main topics are:
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 Why
do dogs bite?
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Interpreting
dog body language
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Bite
risk assessment
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Course
of action
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The
role of fear
You can download a
PDF demo with working video
links (you will need to be connected to the internet to watch the videos).
The demo shows a few of the videos and some of the slides and
will give you a good idea of the content and quality of the course. |
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Do you use live
dogs in your presentation?
No we do not use live dogs. We use lots of
photos and videos. We are not trying to provide entertainment, we are
providing safety training. Our approach focuses on preventing interactions
between workers and dogs and so we do not need a live dog. We do not teach
people how to fight a dog off. There are very few, if any, people who can
successfully fight a dog without causing injury to themselves and making the
situation worse. Our methods
preclude the need for any kind of physical violence with dogs. |
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What are the
qualifications of your presenters?
Our presenters are highly qualified. Here is
the list of requirements we make of our presenters.
Be Doggone Smart at Work
Presenter Requirements
Dog-Related Experience Requirements:
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Dog
training and/or behaviour consulting experience, 5 years or more.
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Commitment to continuing education.
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Commitment to positive-reinforcement based training methods.
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Provide 2
professional references (veterinarian, professor, dog trainer, dog behaviour
consultant).
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List
professional certifications/qualifications related to dog
training/behaviour.
Public
Speaking or Teaching Experience Requirements:
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Comfortable and experienced at teaching or speaking to a group.
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Provide 1
reference that can attest to speaking ability.
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List
professional certifications/qualifications related to teaching/lecturing.
Doggone Safe Training Requirements:
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Complete
the on-line version of the Be Doggone Smart at Work course. Pass the quiz
with a score of 100%
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Complete
the on-line Basic Body Language course. Pass the quiz with a score of 100%
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Attend a
training session hosted by Doggone Safe on-line or via teleconference
(included with payment of license fee).
Other
Requirements:
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Be a
Doggone Safe member in good standing.
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Join the
Doggone Safe presenter Yahoo group.
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Sign the
Be Doggone Smart at Work license agreement.
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Own your
own laptop computer and projector capable of playing PowerPoint presentation
with videos. |
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How much does the
program cost?
The cost is $30 per person. The minimum charge
is $600 per presentation. We are happy to provide a customized quote if you
have a large group or require multiple presentations. Travel expenses will
apply if there is no presenter in your local area.
The on-line course is also $30 per person.
Various pricing options are available depending on the size of your group,
the length of time students need to be enrolled in the course and how you want
to to pay. The per person charge can be much lower depending on your needs
and the size of your group. Ask for a customized quote. |
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What are your
payment terms?
50% in advance and the rest 30 days after the
presentation. We will book your program as soon as you have sent us a PO
signed by an authorized representative of your company or you have returned
your signed quotation. We accept these by mail, fax or as email attachments.
We will book travel arrangements only after we have received the first
payment. There are no exceptions. We accept cheques, money orders, VISA,
Mastercard and American Express. |
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How do I book a
program?
Call 877-350-3232 or send an email to Joan Orr
(joanorr@doggonesafe.com). |
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Are you willing to
customize the program content for my workers?
Yes, we are happy to work with you and your training department to make sure
that the program meets the needs of your workers. This applies to the
on-line version and the live seminar version. Additional charges may apply
depending on the amount of work involved. |
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Are you willing to
train our training department so that they can train our workers in-house?
Not usually. We require our presenters to be dog
professionals with at least five years of appropriate experience and a
commitment to positive reinforcement-based dog training. If you have an
in-house trainer who meets our requirements then we would be happy to train
them to present to your workers. We include a question and answer segment in
the live seminar and often these are difficult questions that a lay person
would not be able to answer satisfactorily. Many people have knowledge about
dogs that they have picked up along the way and we want to be sure that only
the most up to date and correct information is given out during the Q&A
session. This means that we are only willing to have our own presenters
answer questions from your workers. There are always questions and we feel
it is important to have them answered during the session. |
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Presenter
FAQ |
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How do I become a
Be Doggone Smart at Work presenter?
You can
Download
the presenter information sheet and the Application Form to see if you
meet the required criteria. If you are not sure, you can fill out the
application form and submit it and we will inform you if you qualify. We may
recommend additional courses you can take to become qualified.
Take a look at the information sheet now,
since the rest of FAQ are intended to expand on the information listed on
that sheet.
Fill out the
application form
and submit it along with your resume and any other supporting information to
Teresa Lewin by email, fax
905-875-3271 or mail:
Teresa Lewin
Doggone Safe
2295 Mohawk Trail
Campbellville ON L0P1B0
Canada
Be sure that your application is complete before you
submit it. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please allow four weeks for review of your application.
Once your application has been reviewed you will be contacted to arrange a
phone interview with
Teresa Lewin, Doggone Safe co-founder. |
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I have many years
of experience showing and/or competing with my own dogs, is this the type of
experience you are looking for?
No, we are looking for people with experience
working with clients and their dogs who have had training or mentorship
through a qualified individual or school and at least 5 years of experience
as professional dog trainers or behaviour consultants. Qualifications will
be assessed on a case by case basis, so by all means apply if you think you
may be qualified. |
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What do you mean
by "commitment to continuing education"?
We are looking for presenters who are
interested in continuing to learn about dogs and dog behaviour and who have
demonstrated this interest by keeping up to date on the latest information
by attending lectures and seminars and/or reading or taking on-line courses.
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Why do I have to
be committed to positive-reinforcement based training?
Doggone Safe is committed to promoting
positive-reinforcement based training and as such we expect our presenters
in representing us to uphold this same commitment. Often dog training
questions come up during these sessions and we want to be sure that the
answer to any such question involves a positive reinforcement-based answer.
We do not want our presenters to suggest a punishment-based solution to a
dog training problem or an intimidation-based answer to a dog situation since that may put the dog owner
or worker at risk of a bite. |
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I don't have any
professional certifications, can I still apply?
Yes, we will take your experience into
account. Please apply if you think you are qualified, even if you do not
have any certifications. |
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Can I take your
on-line courses after my application has been accepted?
Yes, you can submit your application and then
take the courses only after you have been accepted as a potential presenter.
You must still pass both courses with a score of 100% on the quizzes. You
must pay for the courses yourself.
Doggone Safe members
get $10 off each course, so be sure to join Doggone Safe before you enroll
in the courses. There are no refunds after the fact. |
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How do I arrange
to take the training session from Doggone Safe?
You can take the Doggone Safe training session
after you have been approved as a potential presenter and after you have
taken the on-line courses. You will be able to schedule your training
session to suit your schedule and it will be done on-line with a phone link
or via teleconference. This may be a private session or there may be a small
number of other presenters on the call as well. |
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What is covered in
the training session from Doggone Safe?
This training session will include a quick
walk-through the course and a discussion of the answers to some common and
some difficult questions that attendees have asked the presenter in the
past. You will have an opportunity to ask any questions you may have about
the presentation. You will have already taken the course on-line so you will
be familiar with the content. You will be provided with a disk containing
the PowerPoint presentation that you will actually use and you can follow
along with this during the training session. The training session may take
place in an on-line classroom where all participants will see the PowerPoint
at the same time on their screens and can communicate with the instructor
and with each other on the phone. You will receive detailed instructions
about how to access the training session when the time comes. |
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How much does the
training session cost?
There is no additional cost for this. This is
included in your $500 license fee. |
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How do I join
Doggone Safe?
Go to
www.doggonesafe.com and follow the links. It costs $20 to join for a
year. The year ends on Dec 31 and all memberships expire on that date.
Please don't ask us to prorate your membership. It is only $20! |
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Can I join Doggone
Safe once I know for sure that I have been accepted as a Be Doggone Safe at
Work Presenter?
No. We only accept applications from Doggone
Safe members. Your membership fee will not be refundable if you join only to
be a presenter and then it turns out that you are not qualified. |
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How do I join the
presenters Yahoo group?
You will receive an invitation once you are
accepted as a presenter and you can just follow the simple instructions you
will receive. |
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What is the
license agreement?
Download it here and you can read all about
it. |
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What do I get for
the $500 license fee?
Here is what you get for your $500:
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training session for
the Be Doggone Smart at Work program
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PowerPoint of the
program on a CD for your exclusive use
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A certificate
indicating that you are a licensed presenter of the Be Doggone Smart at
Work program
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The opportunity to
be paid to do presentations for Doggone Safe (you will be paid $300 per
presentation that you give - you will recoup the amount you pay for the
license and begin to make a profit in only 2 presentations!)
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Access to the Be
Doggone Smart at Work presenters Yahoo group
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On-going marketing
support
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When do I pay the
license fee?
You must pay the one-time $500 license fee
before you receive the Doggone Safe training session. You can take this
training at any time after your eligibility has been confirmed by Doggone
Safe (subject to availability). You can begin marketing the program as soon
as your application has been approved and you can pay the license fee and
take the training once you have a confirmed booking with a customer if you
wish. |
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When do I pay the
license maintenance fee?
The license maintenance fee of $150 will be
due one year following your first full year as a presenter. For example, if
you became a presenter in March 2008, your license maintenance fee would be
due each March starting in 2009. This gives you a full year to decide
whether the income you generate is worth maintaining the license. |
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What if I don't
pay the maintenance fee?
Your license will be suspended and you will no
longer have the right to be a presenter of the Be Doggone Smart at Work
program. You will be sent a reminder when your maintenance fee is due. |
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Do I need a laptop
and projector before I become a licensed presenter?
No, you will not need these until we have a
presentation booked for you. |
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How much will I
get paid?
You will be paid $300 for each presentation. If you have to travel, then you
will be compensated for time lost due to travel to be negotiated on a case
by case basis. You will earn the amount you paid for the license fee back in
only 2 presentations! |
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Can I do
presentations for smaller groups for less money?
Yes, if you want to do a presentation for a
small group and earn less than $300 you can do this. Please discuss this
with us on a case by case basis. The financial arrangement must still be
negotiated through Doggone Safe. |
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When will I get
paid? You
can send us an invoice and you will be paid as soon as the presentation is
complete. Travel expenses will be paid for you or will be promptly refunded
once you have submitted the receipts. We only book presentations for
customers who pay 50% in advance and agree in writing to pay the full amount
after the presentation. Our payment policies insure that you get paid
promptly. |
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How do I arrange
for presentations?
All presentations must be booked through
Doggone Safe. If we get a request in your area or region we will contact
you. If you are contacted by a potential customer then you instruct them to contact
Doggone Safe. We send them a quotation. Once they accept this in writing and
agree to pay 50% in advance then we book the presentation for a date that is
acceptable to you and the customer. We accept bookings based on written
agreements only. We book travel arrangements only after the customer has
paid 50% of the fee in advance. |
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Can I do
presentations on my own using the Be Doggone Smart at Work PowerPoint
presentation?
No you cannot. This would be a violation of
the license agreement and you would make your license null and void. You
would be requested to return the program to us. |
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Can I do free
presentations for other non-profit groups such as animal shelters?
This may be possible if you are willing to
work for free. This can be addressed on a case by case basis. All such
presentations must be approved by Doggone Safe. Doggone Safe will not be
offering totally free presentations since we are also non-profit and
generally are short of funds. |
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Can I help with
marketing?
Yes you can! Marketing materials are available at the member's area of the
Doggone Safe website. You are encouraged to use these in any way to help
inform potential customers about the program. The more of an effort you make
to inform potential customers about the program, the more work you are
likely to get. If you want to create your own marketing materials these must
be approved by Doggone Safe before you send them out. |