Where Leadership Begins
As a Tech 2, you move beyond foundational tasks and step into a leadership role that blends hands-on dog handling, behavior observation, and team coordination.
You’ll lead playgroups, manage daily operations, and guide both dogs and team members through structured routines. This role requires confidence, calm presence, and a deeper understanding of canine communication.
Whether you're aiming to become a senior handler, a trainer, or a future department lead, Tech 2 is where you learn to communicate, make critical decisions, and help shape the day-to-day experience for every dog in the facility.
With ongoing mentorship, advanced training opportunities, and a clear path for growth, Tech 2 isn’t just the next step—it’s your launchpad into long-term success in the dog care and training industry.
This course isn't just about theory, it's about practical skills that you can immediately apply. You'll not only enhance your professional toolkit but also foster stronger connections between humans and dogs, making a real difference in the lives of the animals you work with.
The Next Layer: Quality in Dog Care
At Found Chicago, the care of each dog starts with the essentials—but it doesn’t end there. While Tech 1s lay the groundwork for safety, structure, and cleanliness, it’s the Tech 2s who bring skill to the entire operation. These handlers bridge the gap between basic care and behavioral understanding, making sure each dog’s experience is not just safe, but also enriching.
The Tech 2 role was developed out of a growing need for skill within our care systems. As more dogs entered the facility—each with unique behavioral profiles, medical needs, and social thresholds—it became clear that we needed more than just efficiency. We needed guidance. Observation. Intuition. We needed team members who could read the subtle signals a dog gives off, manage group dynamics, and lead playgroups with both empathy and control.
Tech 2s are not just dog handlers—they’re behavioral interpreters, logistical coordinators, and calm presences in high-energy environments. They:
- Lead playgroups
- Assess health and temperament
- Ensure proper feeding and medication protocols
- Create media updates that connect clients to their dog’s day
They know how to redirect energy with structure, and how to spot stress signals before they turn into problems.
They are trusted to make judgment calls, to step in when others hesitate, and to train and support Tech 1s while coordinating with the training department, front desk, and kennel team. They maintain the rhythm of the facility—and when things go off-track, they’re often the ones who bring it back into sync.
Tech 2s are the pulse of the playgroup, the eyes behind the check-in and check-out experience. Without them, Found Chicago wouldn’t just be less organized—it would be less safe, less responsive, and less compassionate.
This course is your entry into that role.
Welcome to Tech 2: where foundational care meets leadership, intuition, and next-level dog handling.
Curriculum
- Operant Conditioning & Terminology (14:36)
- Operant Conditioning & Terminology - Quiz
- Dog Training Readiness Pt. 1 (26:20)
- Dog Training Readiness Pt. 2 (45:01)
- Dog Training Readiness - Quiz
- Training Collars and Equipment Overview (4:48)
- Prong Collar Overview and Assessment (11:46)
- Luring & Leash Pressure Techniques with Equipment (3:00)
- Recognizing & Responding to Calming Signals
- Quiz #3
- Building a Better Pack Pt. 1 - Introduction (35:03)
- Building a Better Pack Pt. 2 - Drive Classification (31:06)
- Building a Better Pack Pt. 3 - Assessing Dogs for Play (28:35)
- Building a Better Pack: Gate Assessments (19:09)
- Building a Better Pack Pt. 4 - The Cycle of Play (15:23)
- Building a Better Pack: Social Assessments (15:43)
- Building a Better Pack: Socialization Management (26:26)
- Building a Better Pack Pt. 5 - Socialization Progression (21:35)
- Building a Better Pack: Socializing At-Risk Dogs (28:00)
- Building a Better Pack Pt. 6 - Highlights (3:27)
- Building a Better Pack - Final Exam
The Vision Behind Dog Tribe
At Dog Tribe, we believe that dog training is more than just teaching commands—it’s about building deep, lasting relationships between humans and dogs. Our vision is to create a community where education, experience, and connection come together to shape not just great trainers, but true canine leaders.
Connected deeply to his role as an educator, Fabian infuses each lesson with his passion for the subject, ensuring that his students are not only learning the best practices in dog handling but also sharing in his enthusiasm for the craft. His commitment to the course material extends beyond the classroom, as he actively participates in ongoing research and professional seminars to stay at the forefront of the field. As a mentor, Fabian takes pride in shaping the next generation of dog handlers, passing on the knowledge and traditions that will continue to elevate the standard of canine care and training.