In dog training, when it comes to teaching your dog behaviors, remember it is the reinforcement history that a behavior has that builds value and strength of that behavior. With that in mind this dog sit challenge practices a lot of repetitions of your dog sitting in a quick amount of time. How many times in a minute can you ask your dog to sit? See if you can do at least 8 times. Here are two videos of playing this with dogs, one using a clicker and the other using a verbal marker. [Read more…] about The Sit Challenge
teaching a dog to sit
Is Saying Good Sit Good For Training?
So often I see people tell their dog GOOD sit after their dog sits, or GOOD whatever the behavior is that the dog is doing.
However, to help their (and your) dog to learn to do that behavior when asked, just saying GOOD or YES or CLICK and then following that with something your dog values gives better information to your pet to help that lesson succeed. [Read more…] about Is Saying Good Sit Good For Training?
Reinforcement vs Bribery In Dog Training
On behalf of his dog buddies, Dawson wants to clear up a common misunderstanding about reinforcement vs bribery in dog training. [Read more…] about Reinforcement vs Bribery In Dog Training
Changing Criteria In Behavior
Does your dog know a hand touch from a standing position, but looks at you with a blank stare if you present your hand while your dog is sitting? [Read more…] about Changing Criteria In Behavior
Using Capturing To Teach Behaviors
There are times when I am standing at my kitchen sink that Dawson, my maltipoo puppy, stops his play to come beside me and lay down with completely relaxed body muscles. I keep some treats in my cabinet for just those moments, for, when he does, I say ‘good’ in a slow and drawn out voice, reach down and drop a treat right at his nose. This may cause him to look up temporarily. I ignore that. If he drops his head down again, I drop another treat at his nose.
This is called teaching by ‘capturing behavior’ in dog training. Capturing as a form of training is simply that, it is the process of seeing a behavior, marking it (with a word or a click), and then giving reinforcement. Kathy Sdao, a well-known trainer who I look up to, coined the acronym SMART for See, Mark, and Reinforce Training. [Read more…] about Using Capturing To Teach Behaviors
Communication Matters
I have long admired Leslie McDevitt, MLA, CDBC, CPDT, and have read her book, Control Unleashed, several times. The first time being early in my career, and it had a lot of influence on me. Leslie teaches how to use games and communication to affect behavior change, and build confidence, trust and focus in the learner. I love that. [Read more…] about Communication Matters