Posted in Behavior & Training

In horse training (Swift, 1985) we have basic features that are used in an attempt to make the horse happy and motivated. This is the same focus that we should use when train dog. First - Your Eyes – Sit in a chair with your dog on a leash. Relax your eyes. Gaze out looking at an object, while moving your peripheral vision, taking in a la… read more

Posted in Behavior & Training

Many times, I feel we try too hard when we attempt to work with a dog. We want to enter the operant stages of learning and see immediate results. Why? Because it reinforces us! Does the dog really care if it sits? Perhaps. However, more importantly, how does the dog feel about you, his new dance partner? Before he takes the first step, he ne… read more

Posted in Behavior & Training

When we train with positive reinforcement, we obtain behaviors using many different techniques such as luring, prompting and fading, catching, targeting and shaping by successive approximation. All of these have benefits and obstacles. Let us take something as “simple” as teaching a ‘Sit.’ Simple? Perhaps not. · Luring – Dog h… read more

Posted in Health & Wellness

Finally - - dad is coming home a after 5 weeks. Hospice will be there to care for him. He is so happy to be going home. Fingers crossed. We don't know how long he will continue to be stubborn (and this is where where we support stubborn behavior!) but if we can have him for 6-12 months longer, that will be fabulous! I don't anticipate this bei… read more

Posted in Behavior & Training

Dogs that are deprived (not starved!!!) of food typically work harder for food and find it more valuable as a reinforcer. Toys are more exciting to dogs when they are not left around the house for them to play with. Deprivation need not be all or nothing. If you train with hotdogs one week and cheese the next, then change againt to something els… read more