CARE First!

In a world that focuses on transactional training, we focus on your relationship.

Stand-alone and Foundational

Our Essentials course "You and your Dog" addresses commonly overlooked questions in dog training, and it offers the basics needed for our +1 courses that tackle more specific challenges.  With lifetime access, you only need to invest in this course once.

Specific Challenges

Please stay tuned, as we will be developing a series of +1 mini-courses designed to tackle specific challenges you may encounter. 

About the Course

Our "You and your Dog" course (CARE First Essentials) is designed to open doors to a new way of living with dogs. A way that moves beyond tedious, time-consuming, and costly training protocols, focusing instead on connecting with dogs in a profoundly meaningful way, particularly on an emotional level. Understanding how dogs perceive and process the world internally—and how these internal mechanisms interact with their surroundings—is key to preventing or clearing up many misunderstandings that can make our lives together unnecessarily challenging. All ADB online courses come with lifetime access! This course is highly recommended for dog parents/guardians as well as canine professionals.

Scott Stauffer and Diana Kastner: Pioneers in CARE First!

Scott Stauffer has long embraced the principles of Affective Dog Behavior and CARE First, even before they developed into what is now recognized as Affective Dog Behavior. His deep interest in affective and social neuroscience, as well as mental health, has significantly influenced his perspective on and interactions with dogs, shaping his entire career. While Scott has a foundation in positive reinforcement training, he stands out as a uniquely skilled K9 Life Coach, prioritizing social-emotional connections and needs. Diana Kastner began her career in rescue rehabilitation. The obstacles she encountered with her own reactive and aggressive dogs prompted her to seek guidance from Scott Stauffer in 2016, and he has been her mentor ever since. Just three years later, Scott and Diana partnered together to officially establish K9 Life Coaching LLC and introduce their signature program, Affective Dog Behavior.

Curriculum

11 Chapters · 101 Lessons

  1. 1

    WELCOME TO AFFECTIVE DOG BEHAVIOR

    1. A LETTER FROM THE ADB TEAM Free preview
    2. WHAT'S IN THE COURSE Free preview
    3. WHAT YOU NEED FOR YOUR ADB COURSE Free preview
    4. WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE COURSE Free preview
    5. (Included in full purchase)

      REACH OUT TO US

  2. 2

    CHAPTER 1: BASIC BRAIN SCIENCE

    1. WHAT TO EXPECT Free preview
    2. EXERCISE: JOURNAL Free preview
    3. HUMAN BRAIN VS DOG BRAIN Free preview
    4. HOW DOES IT WORK Free preview
    5. INTERESTING FACTS Free preview
    6. ADB EXERCISE Free preview
    7. 3 LEVELS OF CONTROL Free preview
    8. OF NEUROCHEMICALS AND RECEPTORS Free preview
    9. NEUROPLASTICITY - THE ABILITY TO LEARN Free preview
    10. ADB EXERCISE Free preview
    11. FROM THE BOTTOM UP Free preview
    12. THE CARE COCKTAIL Free preview
    13. (Included in full purchase)

      ENDOGENOUS OPIOIDS

    14. (Included in full purchase)

      OXYTOCIN

    15. (Included in full purchase)

      DOPAMINE

    16. (Included in full purchase)

      ADB EXERCISE

    17. (Included in full purchase)

      CHAPTER DISCUSSION

    18. (Included in full purchase)

      QUIZ TIME

  3. 3

    CHAPTER 2: THE 7 PRIMARY EMOTIONAL SYSTEMS

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      WHAT TO EXPECT

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      THE 7 PES

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      THE SEEKING SYSTEM

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      ADB EXERCISE

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      THE RAGE SYSTEM

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      THE FEAR SYSTEM

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      THE LUST SYSTEM

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      THE CARE SYSTEM

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      THE PANIC / GRIEF SYSTEM

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      THE PLAY SYSTEM

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      ADB EXERCISE

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      WORKSHOP DISCUSSION

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      CHAPTER DISCUSSION

    14. (Included in full purchase)

      QUIZ TIME

  4. 4

    CHAPTER 3: TRICKLE-DOWN EFFECT OF EMOTIONS

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      WHAT TO EXPECT

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      EVOLUTION "HAD A PLAN"

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      TRICKLE-DOWN EFFECT OF EMOTIONS

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      CHAPTER DISCUSSION

  5. 5

    CHAPTER 4: THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      WHAT TO EXPECT

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      THE AUTONOMOUS NERVOUS SYSTEM

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      PARASYMPATHETIC VS SYMPATHETIC

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      CHAPTER DISCUSSION

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      QUIZ TIME

  6. 6

    CHAPTER 5: STRESS

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      WHAT TO EXPECT

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      ADB EXERCISE

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      WHAT IS STRESS

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      DOES STRESS INHIBIT LEARNING

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      MINDSET

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      STRESS CHEMICALS

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      STRESS MECHANISM

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      STRESS AND PERCEPTION

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      ADB EXERCISE

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      WORKSHOP DISCUSSION

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      CHAPTER DISCUSSION

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      QUIZ TIME

  7. 7

    CHAPTER 6: MAKING THE CASE FOR CONNECTION

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      WHAT TO EXPECT

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      WHY EMOTIONAL CONNECTION

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      OF STRESS & CARE

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      ADB EXERCISE

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      OF RAGE & CARE

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      OF FEAR & CARE

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      OF LEARNED HELPLESSNESS & CARE

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      ADB EXERCISE

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      OF PANIC / GRIEF & CARE

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      THE CYCLE OF CARE & PANIC/GRIEF

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      WORKSHOP DISCUSSION

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      SUMMARY

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      CHAPTER DISCUSSION

    14. (Included in full purchase)

      QUIZ TIME

    15. (Included in full purchase)

      ADB EXERCISE

  8. 8

    CHAPTER 7: COMFORT TOUCH

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      WHAT TO EXECT

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      DEFINITIONS

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      THE PERCEPTION OF TOUCH

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      COMFORT TOUCH

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      SLOW VS FAST PETS

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      NOT OVER THE HEAD

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      MY DOG DOES NOT WANT TO BE TOUCHED

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      TO TOUCH OR NOT TO TOUCH: FULL WEBINAR

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      CHAPTER DISCUSSION

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      QUIZ TIME

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      ADB EXERCISE

  9. 9

    CHAPTER 8: CARE FIRST!

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      WHAT TO EXPECT

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      A STORY INTRODUCTION

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      CARE FIRST!

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      WHY CARE?

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      PANIC/GRIEF SYSTEM

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      THE ANATOMY OF PANIC/GRIEF

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      EMOTIONS AFFECT BEHAVIOR

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      CARE & PANIC/GRIEF BELONG TOGETHER

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      OF CARE AND ATTACHMENT STYLES

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      ADB EXERCISE

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      WORKSHOP DISCUSSION

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      CHAPTER DISCUSSION

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      QUIZ TIME

  10. 10

    COURSE KEY POINTS

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      OF AUTISM AND ADHD IN DOGS

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      COURSE KEY POINTS

  11. 11

    CONGRATULATIONS

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      DEAR DOG GUARDIAN

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