Meet Cody. An almost one year old havanese who mastered the art of barking at, pawing (and scratching), and jumping on his human mom (I will refer to those behaviors as needs seeking behaviors) to get anything he wants in life. He used those behaviors frequently to get treats, attention, play interaction with his mom (or other people), or the opportunity to go outside. It was making life with him pretty intolerable. In this post, I talk about extinction in dog training and why just ignoring your dog is not the most effective way to stop unwanted behavior. [Read more…] about Explaining Extinction In Dog Training
applied behavior analysis and dog training
LIMA – Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive Training
When it comes to dog and puppy training (as well as training of parrots and other species), I believe whole heartedly in using and teaching the most positive approaches for creating behavior change. LIMA is an acronym for ‘least intrusive, minimally aversive’ training and it speaks so perfectly to my commitment to helping people and pets to live their best possible life together. The Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT), the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) and the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) all came out in strong support of LIMA.. I wanted to share more about it and why it is important to me. [Read more…] about LIMA – Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive Training
Good Dog Training Habits Build Good Dog Manners
In my dog training, I help such a broad range of people to have a well-mannered dog or with help for their dog’s behavioral issues like fear. Much of how I do that is coaching people on how to train their dog more effectively. Good dog training habits build good dog manners. [Read more…] about Good Dog Training Habits Build Good Dog Manners
Making Less Probable Behaviors…More Probable
A client was telling me the other day how her dog has become so drawn to their basement. She told me there really isn’t much down there but her dog runs down the stairs at top speed, then either with or without a toy runs laps. Typically, her dog will solicit play more frequently in the basement too. Clearly that has become a place associated with a lot of energy and a place of very high value to her dog. [Read more…] about Making Less Probable Behaviors…More Probable
Using Primary and Secondary Reinforcers In Training
When it comes to training dogs and other animals, I like to use markers like a click or a word like YES! immediately after a behavior and before I present something my student values like food, a toy, a scratch on the head, or the opportunity to go outside. From an Applied Behavior Analysis perspective, those consequences to behavior are called primary and secondary reinforcers. [Read more…] about Using Primary and Secondary Reinforcers In Training
Big News From Lisa
I have SO much news to share as to why I have been rather quiet the past few weeks. [Read more…] about Big News From Lisa