Feral and Fearful Dog Immersive Retreat
Using feral dogs as our teachers to improve our knowledge of dogs and ourselves, this five-day, sun and adventure-filled feral dog workshop in New Mexico is like no other dog training experience out there. Feral dogs are like magnifying glasses on our dog training skills, behaviors, and mindset. Feral dog rehab gets to the essence and depth of the human-dog relationship with an animal that has developed street smarts and survival techniques without human influence. The lessons feral and fearful dogs teach can be applied to help ALL dogs.
You will be guided by two skilled, experienced feral dog rehabilitators, Kelly Engel and Julie Hart. During June 2-3, the workshop will be focused on classroom and demonstration with some hands-on opportunities. During the immersive portion of the workshop (June 4-7) each student will have a dog to rehabilitate while living in an authentic New Mexico home on 6 acres. We will be doing outdoor trust-building activities with dogs in stunning landscapes, supplemented by indoor class time and pack work. The class focus will be on trust building, human/dog body language, predictability, and building relationships. We will learn how humans can connect with dogs on a deep level by being what dogs need to feel safe. Learning how to be present by controlling your mind, energy, emotions, and expectations are all side benefits of working with feral dogs.
At the end of the workshop, you will have the opportunity to take your feral dog home with you. This is an option, not a requirement. Students gain unique insight only feral dogs can teach that can be taken home and applied to help all dogs and their human companions.
Please note: This workshop will involve outdoor activities. Please be able to hike 1 mile with minor elevation change and have the strength to handle a feral dog that may pull or dart around corners. Proper equipment will be provided.
If you wish to attend only the first two days, please see the other listing in my store “Feral and Fearful Dog Rehab Workshop 2 Day”.
What to expect -
June 2-3, 2025. This portion of the workshop is open to a maximum of 20 attendees. It takes place at the Las Vegas Animal Care Center in Las Vegas, NEW MEXICO. You will be guided by Julie Hart, an experienced and effective feral dog rehabilitator, in collaboration with Nelson Hodges, founder of Canine Human Relationship Institute. During these two days, we will have classroom and demonstration time with opportunities for hands-on time. We use shelter dogs that range from fearful to feral behavior in various stages of rehabilitation as our guides. We will cover how to form a trusting relationship with extreme case dogs. We talk about the important role of acknowledgment, proper body language, trust, leash handling, and facilitating brave behavior while using Nose-Centric dog training and rehabilitation techniques. We will explain how these techniques can be applied to more “normal” dogs. For this portion of the workshop, we will be staying at local hotels at the student’s expense. The closest airports are Santa Fe (SAF) and Albuquerque (ABQ). A car will be necessary to attend, but we will be happy to facilitate the sharing of rental cars with other students.
Nelson will hold a 2-hour Zoom class with attendees to supplement the in-person portion of the workshop. (Date to be announced)
June 4-7, 2025. The Immersive Rehab and Training portion is limited to 5 students. It takes place at an authentic adobe, New Mexican-style home. The home has 5 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, with 3 of the bedrooms having separate entrances from the main home. The home is located on 6 acres with gorgeous mountain and desert views that backs up to 12000 acres of BLM land. There are numerous outdoor areas to give everyone privacy and downtime if desired. Each day will include discussions, outings, and specific training, both in groups and individually. Outings may include Ghost Ranch, the home of Georgia O’Keefe, Santa Fe art galleries, or the healing and historic Santuario de Chimayo. Yoga classes and the healing waters of Ojo Caliente may also be on the itinerary. Activities will depend on the weather, students’ interests, and the dogs’ abilities. This portion is all-inclusive, including lodging, food, and activities. Transportation such as airfare and rental cart and any off-site dining or non-group activities are at the student’s expense. You MUST take the June 2-3 portion to participate in the immersive portion of this event.
The house description and photos can be found at Ranch in Espanola
Using feral dogs as our teachers to improve our knowledge of dogs and ourselves, this five-day, sun and adventure-filled feral dog workshop in New Mexico is like no other dog training experience out there. Feral dogs are like magnifying glasses on our dog training skills, behaviors, and mindset. Feral dog rehab gets to the essence and depth of the human-dog relationship with an animal that has developed street smarts and survival techniques without human influence. The lessons feral and fearful dogs teach can be applied to help ALL dogs.
You will be guided by two skilled, experienced feral dog rehabilitators, Kelly Engel and Julie Hart. During June 2-3, the workshop will be focused on classroom and demonstration with some hands-on opportunities. During the immersive portion of the workshop (June 4-7) each student will have a dog to rehabilitate while living in an authentic New Mexico home on 6 acres. We will be doing outdoor trust-building activities with dogs in stunning landscapes, supplemented by indoor class time and pack work. The class focus will be on trust building, human/dog body language, predictability, and building relationships. We will learn how humans can connect with dogs on a deep level by being what dogs need to feel safe. Learning how to be present by controlling your mind, energy, emotions, and expectations are all side benefits of working with feral dogs.
At the end of the workshop, you will have the opportunity to take your feral dog home with you. This is an option, not a requirement. Students gain unique insight only feral dogs can teach that can be taken home and applied to help all dogs and their human companions.
Please note: This workshop will involve outdoor activities. Please be able to hike 1 mile with minor elevation change and have the strength to handle a feral dog that may pull or dart around corners. Proper equipment will be provided.
If you wish to attend only the first two days, please see the other listing in my store “Feral and Fearful Dog Rehab Workshop 2 Day”.
What to expect -
June 2-3, 2025. This portion of the workshop is open to a maximum of 20 attendees. It takes place at the Las Vegas Animal Care Center in Las Vegas, NEW MEXICO. You will be guided by Julie Hart, an experienced and effective feral dog rehabilitator, in collaboration with Nelson Hodges, founder of Canine Human Relationship Institute. During these two days, we will have classroom and demonstration time with opportunities for hands-on time. We use shelter dogs that range from fearful to feral behavior in various stages of rehabilitation as our guides. We will cover how to form a trusting relationship with extreme case dogs. We talk about the important role of acknowledgment, proper body language, trust, leash handling, and facilitating brave behavior while using Nose-Centric dog training and rehabilitation techniques. We will explain how these techniques can be applied to more “normal” dogs. For this portion of the workshop, we will be staying at local hotels at the student’s expense. The closest airports are Santa Fe (SAF) and Albuquerque (ABQ). A car will be necessary to attend, but we will be happy to facilitate the sharing of rental cars with other students.
Nelson will hold a 2-hour Zoom class with attendees to supplement the in-person portion of the workshop. (Date to be announced)
June 4-7, 2025. The Immersive Rehab and Training portion is limited to 5 students. It takes place at an authentic adobe, New Mexican-style home. The home has 5 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, with 3 of the bedrooms having separate entrances from the main home. The home is located on 6 acres with gorgeous mountain and desert views that backs up to 12000 acres of BLM land. There are numerous outdoor areas to give everyone privacy and downtime if desired. Each day will include discussions, outings, and specific training, both in groups and individually. Outings may include Ghost Ranch, the home of Georgia O’Keefe, Santa Fe art galleries, or the healing and historic Santuario de Chimayo. Yoga classes and the healing waters of Ojo Caliente may also be on the itinerary. Activities will depend on the weather, students’ interests, and the dogs’ abilities. This portion is all-inclusive, including lodging, food, and activities. Transportation such as airfare and rental cart and any off-site dining or non-group activities are at the student’s expense. You MUST take the June 2-3 portion to participate in the immersive portion of this event.
The house description and photos can be found at Ranch in Espanola
Using feral dogs as our teachers to improve our knowledge of dogs and ourselves, this five-day, sun and adventure-filled feral dog workshop in New Mexico is like no other dog training experience out there. Feral dogs are like magnifying glasses on our dog training skills, behaviors, and mindset. Feral dog rehab gets to the essence and depth of the human-dog relationship with an animal that has developed street smarts and survival techniques without human influence. The lessons feral and fearful dogs teach can be applied to help ALL dogs.
You will be guided by two skilled, experienced feral dog rehabilitators, Kelly Engel and Julie Hart. During June 2-3, the workshop will be focused on classroom and demonstration with some hands-on opportunities. During the immersive portion of the workshop (June 4-7) each student will have a dog to rehabilitate while living in an authentic New Mexico home on 6 acres. We will be doing outdoor trust-building activities with dogs in stunning landscapes, supplemented by indoor class time and pack work. The class focus will be on trust building, human/dog body language, predictability, and building relationships. We will learn how humans can connect with dogs on a deep level by being what dogs need to feel safe. Learning how to be present by controlling your mind, energy, emotions, and expectations are all side benefits of working with feral dogs.
At the end of the workshop, you will have the opportunity to take your feral dog home with you. This is an option, not a requirement. Students gain unique insight only feral dogs can teach that can be taken home and applied to help all dogs and their human companions.
Please note: This workshop will involve outdoor activities. Please be able to hike 1 mile with minor elevation change and have the strength to handle a feral dog that may pull or dart around corners. Proper equipment will be provided.
If you wish to attend only the first two days, please see the other listing in my store “Feral and Fearful Dog Rehab Workshop 2 Day”.
What to expect -
June 2-3, 2025. This portion of the workshop is open to a maximum of 20 attendees. It takes place at the Las Vegas Animal Care Center in Las Vegas, NEW MEXICO. You will be guided by Julie Hart, an experienced and effective feral dog rehabilitator, in collaboration with Nelson Hodges, founder of Canine Human Relationship Institute. During these two days, we will have classroom and demonstration time with opportunities for hands-on time. We use shelter dogs that range from fearful to feral behavior in various stages of rehabilitation as our guides. We will cover how to form a trusting relationship with extreme case dogs. We talk about the important role of acknowledgment, proper body language, trust, leash handling, and facilitating brave behavior while using Nose-Centric dog training and rehabilitation techniques. We will explain how these techniques can be applied to more “normal” dogs. For this portion of the workshop, we will be staying at local hotels at the student’s expense. The closest airports are Santa Fe (SAF) and Albuquerque (ABQ). A car will be necessary to attend, but we will be happy to facilitate the sharing of rental cars with other students.
Nelson will hold a 2-hour Zoom class with attendees to supplement the in-person portion of the workshop. (Date to be announced)
June 4-7, 2025. The Immersive Rehab and Training portion is limited to 5 students. It takes place at an authentic adobe, New Mexican-style home. The home has 5 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, with 3 of the bedrooms having separate entrances from the main home. The home is located on 6 acres with gorgeous mountain and desert views that backs up to 12000 acres of BLM land. There are numerous outdoor areas to give everyone privacy and downtime if desired. Each day will include discussions, outings, and specific training, both in groups and individually. Outings may include Ghost Ranch, the home of Georgia O’Keefe, Santa Fe art galleries, or the healing and historic Santuario de Chimayo. Yoga classes and the healing waters of Ojo Caliente may also be on the itinerary. Activities will depend on the weather, students’ interests, and the dogs’ abilities. This portion is all-inclusive, including lodging, food, and activities. Transportation such as airfare and rental cart and any off-site dining or non-group activities are at the student’s expense. You MUST take the June 2-3 portion to participate in the immersive portion of this event.
The house description and photos can be found at Ranch in Espanola
What to expect -
June 2-3, 2025. This portion of the workshop is open to a maximum of 20 attendees. It takes place at the Las Vegas Animal Care Center in Las Vegas, NEW MEXICO. During these two days, we will have classroom and demonstration time with opportunities for hands-on time. We use shelter dogs that range from fearful to feral behavior in various stages of rehabilitation as our guides. We will cover how to form a trusting relationship with extreme case dogs. We talk about the important role of acknowledgment, proper body language, trust, leash handling, and facilitating brave behavior while using Nose-Centric dog training and rehabilitation techniques. We will explain how these techniques can be applied to more “normal” dogs. For this portion of the workshop, we will be staying at local hotels at the student’s expense. The closest airports are Santa Fe (SAF) and Albuquerque (ABQ). A car will be necessary to attend, but we will be happy to facilitate the sharing of rental cars with other students.
June 4-7, 2025. The Immersive Rehab and Training portion is limited to 5 students. It takes place at an authentic adobe, New Mexican-style home. The home has 5 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, with 3 of the bedrooms having separate entrances from the main home. The home is located on 6 acres with gorgeous mountain and desert views that backs up to 12000 acres of BLM land. There are numerous outdoor areas to give everyone privacy and downtime if desired. Each day will include discussions, outings, and specific training, both in groups and individually. Outings may include Ghost Ranch, the home of Georgia O’Keefe, Santa Fe art galleries, or the healing and historic Santuario de Chimayo. Yoga classes and the healing waters of Ojo Caliente may also be on the itinerary. Activities will depend on the weather, students’ interests, and the dogs’ abilities. This portion is all-inclusive, including lodging, food, and activities. Transportation such as airfare and rental cart and any off-site dining or non-group activities are at the student’s expense. You MUST take the June 2-3 portion to participate in the immersive portion of this event.
The house description and photos can be found at Ranch in Espanola
