About me

;

Ben

Varsovian ’74. Around animals since the day I was born – a vet as a godfather is like a witch’s curse 😉 Hot-headed with millions of ideas – some of them even got realized 🙂

Years ago I became addicted to animal training. I was totally smitten by the emotions that are evoked in us (humans) by dogs – but also mainly by their own rich emotional life. This world that opens up to us thanks to current and on-going scientific research, work of numerous wonderful trainers around the globe and observations done by us, animal owners, on an everyday basis is like a new adventure that never ends 🙂

For the most of last decade I was active in an animal assisted therapy (AAT) – mainly in animal assisted activities (AAA) and education (AAE). I also worked with dogs – full scope of training but the closest to my heart has always been, and still is, the rehabilitation of emotionally disturbed dogs so they can regain joy of life and skills to become a happy dog in a human world.

Currently I work in the UK, in one of the biggest animal welfare charities in the country. In a rehoming centre that is like a dream come true for a citizen of any country where cruelty to animals goes far beyond human’s understanding, and good will and poor finances are literally wiped out by overwhelming quantities of animal suffering and sadness.

I have started a cooperation with few Polish animal welfare organizations – I hope to be able to present the outcome of this cooperation in a short while 🙂 I also support one of private rescues in southern Poland, where 2 people and a group of volunteers help and take care of about a hundred dogs. The conditions are really poor – but there is well enough heart for all of these lovely creatures. If you would like to have your share in our actions please send me an e-mail.

I strongly encourage everyone to use all the materials, photos, and texts on this blog (please do not forget to mention Dogs Trust name). They show that we can all change the way we work, in caring for dogs’ welfare, finding new ways of financing, engaging volunteers, and combining empathy and kindness with the practical implementation of positive methods. It is good to understand and accept the fact that we cannot make an identical copy – but that every little change is a change for better 🙂

I talk – a lot ! so should you have any question, please, go ahead 🙂

marta.kurpinska@gmail.com

R E S U M E

Member of the Polish Ethological Society;

1995 – 1997 – probation in the Training Department of the Polish Kennel Club, Warsaw;

2002-2009 – annual clicker training camps – member, co-organizer, trainer;

4.10.2004 – first in Poland open clicker training demo; World Animal Day, Warsaw.

2004-2009, 2011 Foundation “It’s Easier Together – Animals Break Barriers” (ABB) – co-creator, member of the board, trainer

– demos of work of therapy dogs and promoting of animal assisted therapy;

– clicker training demos;

– animal assisted education and activities in: oncological hospice, orphanage, kindergartens, primary and integrating schools, and organizations for disabled;

– tests of predispositions for canine candidates to work for the Foundation;

– theoretical and practical trainings for volunteers and their dogs;

– workshops, seminars, conferences.

2011 Warsaw Volunteer Mission – member, translator:

– support meetings for families in crisis;

– aid (food and goods) collection and distribution to families supported by WVM;

– support groups – men’s and women’s prisons, Warsaw.

2009 – 2012 Canis Sapiens Dog School – co-creator, trainer, translator:

– clicker training demos – incl. upon invitations from city municipalities, animal welfare charities, and education institutions;

– summer camps, incl. own project “Factory of Talents” 🙂

– dog training to films,

– collection of goods for animal shelters,

– group classes and 1-2-1 training,

– behavioural consultations of rescue dogs;

– workshops, seminars, conferences promoting positive reinforcement training.

May 2012 – August 2016 – Dogs Trust Rehoming Centre, West London, UK :

– everyday care for dogs – exercises, walks (individual and in larger groups), kennel enrichment as well as feeding, application of meds, grooming, and cleaning;

– preparing dogs for adoption in terms of their behaviour and skills – in relation to both people and other dogs, implementation of rehabilitating programs;

– preadoption home visits;

– assisting potential owners in an adoption procedure – from the moment they walk through the Centre’s doors, through advicing and selecting the right dog and all meetings, up to a happy rehoming 🙂

– conducting preadoption talks for new owners – covering all topics related with adopting and owning a dog, busthing myths and sharing knowledge 🙂

– running tours

– assisting in International Training Programmes 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017;

– helping new owners by running super positive and dog- and people-friendly training classes for puppies and adult dogs 🙂

From August 2016 – Dogs Trust Dog School – Senior Coach London

Media:

– the first in Poland article on clicker training; Polish Kennel Club bimonthly “Pies” no. 6 (308) / 2004;

– expert’s advice and consulting – “World Animal Week”, org. Radio dla Ciebie, Warsaw, 2005;

– proof-reader for the “Dog Observer” magazine, 2005;

– article “Dog Therapy” for the scientific section of the Polish Press Agency, o1/2007 – co-author;

– interview “Black terrier in pet therapy”, monthly “Mój Pies” no. 9(216) / 2009;

– guest of “Konturówka – a programme about women with passion”, Polish Radio Pr. 4, 11.01.2014;

– cooperation with http://www.edurada.pl – a portal for teachers, parents, and students;

– an interview for Polish Television Poznań, 17.04.2016;

– an interview for Regional Television Swarzędz, 17.04.2016.

Conferences, seminars, workshops:

own or co-organized:

– workshop “Calming signals in training therapy dogs”, ABB, 2005;

– workshop “Parkinson’s disease in pet therapy”, ABB, 2006;

– workshop “Alzheimer’s disease in pet therapy”, ABB, 2006;

– workshops “Intellectual disabilities in pet therapy” and “Celebral palsy in pet therapy”, ABB, 2006;

– workshop “First aid for animals”, ABB, 2006;

– pet therapy – workshops in Israel Riding Centre, Tel Mond, Israel, 2006;

– seminar “Selection, socialization, and training of therapy cats”, International Cat Show, Warsaw, 2006;

– lecture ““Preparing your dog to a pet therapy – selection, training, benefits” – postgraduate studies “Dog in a society”, Animal Sciences, the University of Life Sciences, Warsaw, 2007;

– conference “Animal therapy – a fashion or a method”, ZOO Fair, Warsaw, 2007;

– presentation “Animal Assisted Therapy”; Polkomtel, Warsaw, 2010;

– seminar “Cat v. Cat”, ABB, Warsaw, 2011;

– lecture “Family dog v. therapy dog”, Warsaw, 2011;

– seminar “Cat behaviour – a key to understanding”, Warsaw, 2012;

– seminar “BATting 1000 for Dog Reactivity (Fear, Frustration & Aggression), Grisha Stewart (USA), 2012;

– seminars “The welfare aspects of breeding cats” and “The problems involved in breeding dogs”, prof. Patrick Bateson (UK), 2014 – translation of presentations, co-organisation;

– Dogs Trust Overseas Educational Workshop (with EtoVet), Warsaw, 2014;

– presentation “Modern shelter” for representatives of the Environment Office of the Warsaw City Municipality, managers, staff, and volunteers of shelters, Warsaw, 2014;

– presentation “Body language as a means of dog communication” for vets and parents, Dogs Trust West London, 2015;

– presentation during the 3rd Conference “Dog and Cat – from shelter to successful adoption”, org. Skałowo Shelter, 17.04.2016;

-prezentation “Good start for puppies in shelters”, 4th Conference “Dog and Cat – from shelter to successful adoption”, org. Skałowo Shelter, 02.04.2017;

-a clicker camp nosework, rally-o and confidence building – together with Canis Sapiens, Mikoszewo, Poland, June 14-16, 2017.

As Dogs Trust Dog School London:

– a talk by Carolyn Menteith “Understanding and Preventing Aggression for Dog Owners”, London 25.01.2017;

-a clicker workshop for beginners, Dogs Trust Harefield, 22.04.2017.

other:

– “Microchipping as a method of preventing homelessness in dogs and cats” (org. President of the City of Warsaw, City Shelter), 2003;

– “Health aspects of interactions with dogs and cats”, Warsaw 2004;

– “Hip and elbow dysplasia in dogs”, Pet Fair, Łódź, 2004;

– “Pet therapy in working with a disabled child”, St. Dobry Pies, Warsaw, 2005;

– “Aggression in dogs” dr. J. Kudła, PES, Polish Academy of Sciences (PAS), Warsaw, 2005;

– 1st Congress of Ethology, PES, University of Social Sciences and Humanities (USSH), Warsaw, 2006;

– conference “Care for a hospice patient and their family”, USSH, Warsaw, 2007;

– PDTE annual meeting (Anne Lil-Kvam “Human & Dogs: Interactions & Emotions”, Turid Rugaas “Work of a therapy dog”, Turid Rugaas “Working dogs”, Raili Halme “Lowering of stress level in dogs at training”, Cristina Muro “Classical conditioning”), Cracow, 2009;

– seminar “Rehabilitation of aggressive dogs”, Alexa Capra (Italy), 2011;

– course for hospice volunteers, Oncological Hospice, Warsaw, 2011;

– International Education Training, Dogs Trust, Gdynia, 2011;

– workshop “Story-telling as a therapy”, ABC Baby.pl, Warsaw, 2011;

– International Training Programme, Dogs Trust, London, 2012;

– ITPs West London – supporting from 2012;

– internal training “Rehoming procedures and home visits”, Dogs Trust, 2012;

– seminar “Social aggression in dogs”, Alexa Capra (Italy), 2013;

– seminar “Dog aggression”, Brenda Aloff (USA), 2013;

– workshop “Reiki healing for rescue dogs”, Lucy Lofting (UK), 2013;

– internal training “Caring for canines”, Dogs Trust, 2013;

– internal training “The total excellent customer service experience”, Dogs Trust, 2013;

– internal training “Health and safety in a rehoming centre”, Dogs Trust, 2013;

– co-organizing worming and collection of money and goods for Bożenna Chechlińska Foundation, Harbutowice, 2013;

– workshop “Trick training”, Nando Brown (Spain), 2013;

– “Small animals workshop”, Vauxhall City Farm, 2013;

– International Companion Animals Welfare Conference, org. Dogs Trust, Barcelona (Spain), 2013;

– an evening with Patricia McConnell (USA) – “Are you thinking what I’m thinking? Emotions in Non-Human Animals”, org. APBC, 2013;

– scent workshop with Nando Brown (Spain), 2013;

– webinar with Sarah Whitehead (UK) – “Signals of pre-emptive aggression”, 2014;

– seminar with Carolyn Menteith (UK) – “Understanding your dog”, 2014;

– two-part seminar with Carolyn Menteith (UK) – “Breed specific learning” and “Bite me!”, 2014;

– SPARCS live stream, 2014;

– participation in Mission Rabies, joint project of Dogs Trust and Worldwide Veterinary Services – Goa, India, 2014;

– seminar with Toni Shelbourne “The truth about wolves and dogs”, 2014;

– webinar “Navigating the world of donated and discounted technology”, ASPCA, 2015;

– webinar “Leveraging Pro Bono to expand your impact”, ASPCA, 2015;

– webinar “Technology 101 for Nonprofit organisations”, ASPCA, 2015;

– “Canine Nutrition Diploma Course”, Centre of Excellence, 2015 – in progress;

– “Canine Behaviour Diploma Course”, Centre of Excellence, 2015 – in progress;

– “Animal Hoarding: Recognition and Response” diploma course, Animal Jobs, 2015 – in progress;

– “Canine First Aid, CPR and Safety Diploma”, 2016;

– seminar “Puppies – getting it right from the start”, Karen Pryor Academy, 2016;

-annual conference of Association of Pet Behaviour Councellors “Keep calm and carry on”, Kettering, 2017;

-“Pet Bereavement Counselling” diploma course, Oplex Careers, 2017.

to be continued … 🙂