Choice and empowerment are two words I have used a lot over the years when it comes to modifying behaviors AND enhancing quality of life. Rather than using force and aversive strategies as much as possible, I prefer to teach and create change in the most positive and least intrusive ways (now called LIMA training for Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive) and that typically involves those concepts. Now there is another psychology buzz word that is commonly used by dog trainers, other animal trainers, and behaviorists. It is AGENCY. This post will talk about agency, choice and empowerment in dog training (and parrot training, or training any other animal – including humans), and why they are important concepts to understand (and practice).
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