Welcome to the 2022 Academy
GETTING STARTED
Sign up for the Newsletter. I will be sending out regular updates with blog posts, class info and stuff to help you stay motivated!
Facebook?
You get the most out of the academy if you choose to opt in to using the private FB groups to post homework and observe others work and see the commentary. It’s not required and all content is housed here on the site but it does make for a more complete experience. That being said, if you keep active here and attend the Live Zoom Classes you can still have a very fun full experience.
First join the main Academy Group. When it asks you for a password: A22
Then if you want to post videos for me to review join the FB Homework Group, password is the same. Once you are approved to the Discussion group it will automatically approve you for the Homework group if you join.
Head to the FB Group and start introducing yourselves so we can get to know each other before we start.
Navigating the Academy
Once class is live the home page when you log in will have a link to this classroom, as well as to a master directory. The directory page has links to all of the class modules, video playlists, and all you need to make your way around the site.
Class Modules
The academy includes access to all of the classes I currently offer. You will find in the directory links to each of the class modules, the link above will take you to the FB discussion group. You can work the classes and modules in anyway you wish to. You can work the subjects most important to you or you can follow the flow of the classroom curriculum as I lead people through the year long program. I suggest if you have a reactive dog you prioritize those modules and add other things in as you feel you are ready to.
Zoom Room
Throughout the year we have regular Zoom sessions, in general twice a month. Shorter weekday classes and longer weekend classes. I record them so folks who cannot watch live can view later. You can find Invitations and link to the Recordings playlist in the zoom room.
POSTING HOMEWORK
Homework videos are limited to 3 minutes per submission. You can post follow up videos to the same exercises as we work together to adjust what you and your dog need. Capturing decent footage and editing is crucial to being able to best help you. Above is a video with some basic editing tips using iMovie which is on all iPhones and is pretty easy to figure out. You can also use editing apps like InShot and others, just be sure that you select a view that allows me to see both you and your dog.
I’ll be honest, a lot of people find this aspect of the class difficult because it is not easy to show yourself making mistakes and it takes time to edit and upload videos. I totally get it. You are not required to submit homework videos, if you don’t I strongly suggest you attend regular live zoom classes to help you stay active and motivated throughout the year. I can’t give you personal feedback if you don’t do one or the other. I can answer general behavior questions but seeing you and your dog together is how I can best help you and is what sets this program apart from many others.
Shooting footage
This is tricky! Especially for the reactive dog class since triggers can pop up unexpectedly. But first let’s work on easier set ups and how to film for best use in class.
find a location with something you can put your phone on, a park bench, a fence, a wall, a curb, anything flat above ground level. Also some people have great success using a fanny pack and sticking the phone with the camera end out. A gopro is awesome.
Tap your screen so your camera flips and you can see yourself so you know if you are in view or not.
Try to have the camera set so I can see you and your dog! Videos that just show me your dog’s adorable face are cute and lovely, but they don’t show me what it is that you are doing and what your dog is or isn’t responding to.
Keep in mind when you set up things like, is the lens above the grass. Am I standing in front of it the whole time so all I see is you legs and not the dog 😂
helpers are amazing! Pay your friends and family to follow you and film for a few minutes, just show them how to be sure to get all of you and the dog in the shot.
Equipment
I film most all of my videos with an iPhone. Smartphones make it easy to film, edit and upload.
I suggest you invest in a small tripod if you are going to make regular homework videos. They make little portable ones that fit in a pocket that you can set up anywhere, and they are not very expensive.
Many of the tripods also come with remotes so you can start and stop the camera so you have less editing to do later.
If you have a smartphone you should be able to do all your editing and uploading on it.
Editing videos
watch the video for tips.
Please cut down the unnecessary bits and the start and end of you turning the camera on and off. Most all cell phones have the option of you editing your clips from your library to cut that part out even without iMovie.
If you have long periods of dead space where nothing happens, speed the video up, or simply cut that piece out.
If you have to film from farther away and we can barely see you, you can zoom the footage in.
Posting videos
again, 3 minutes or less. Most of the exercises I can see what I need to see in as little as 30-45 seconds..
Post the video on the private FB group and tag me: Dawn Mellon.
I strongly recommend you consider using Youtube or Vimeo for uploading your videos, then you can just post the share link in the comments. This way you have these videos in your own library forever to come back and reference later. Both platforms offer the option of making your videos unlisted so no one can see them without the link.
You can post directly to FB comments using their uploading features, but I find they fail to load sometimes and that can be very frustrating. This is especially the case with longer videos. Under a minute is usually great on FB.
I will not accept videos on any platforms that require me to download to view 🙂
If you can’t figure it out ask for help!!! Either message me or leave a comment and someone can probably help you sort it out.