Seminar at Wolf Park uses wolf interaction to help humans understand dog behavior

BATTLE GOUND, Ind. (WLFI) - Dog trainers, experts and enthusiasts came from around the country to Battle Ground's Wolf Park for a weekend long seminar.

World-renowned animal trainer Ken McCourt helped seminar guests understand the behaviors of dogs by having them interact with wolves.

McCourt has spoken in cites around Asia and Europe, but said Wolf Park is a great environment for his seminar.

"It's really a treasure that Indiana has a place like Wolf Park," McCourt, who lives in Ohio, said. "There is no place like it anywhere."

The focus of McCourt's seminar was the difference between aggressive and predatory behaviors in dogs.

McCourt said dog owners can confuse a growl or a snap to mean the dog wants to hurt someone, when in reality, the dog just wants the human to back off.

McCourt said looking at the dog's wild relative can help us better understand dogs' instinctual behaviors.

"When you know what it was like to build the dog, so to speak, it makes it easier to understand why they're doing something that the humans may find inappropriate," McCourt said.

Trainers from multiple states, including South Carolina, Wisconsin and Montana, drove many hours to be at the McCourt seminar.

"We're all the way from South Carolina, it was an 11-hour drive," Teoti Anderson, a dog trainer and seminar guest, said. "Getting to interact with wolves is just amazing."

Anderson said the seminar is a good one for trainers.

"I think you learn a lot about aggression and a lot about fear behaviors, and making sure everyone is safe, whether it's at home or at Wolf Park," Anderson said.

The seminar started on Friday and will last until Sunday.