Methodology
If you could to sum up my philosophy into a couple of words, it would be "force free".
What is Force-free?
Some of the training methods I utilize are illustrated below:
What is Force-free?
- Identifying things your dog finds valuable.
- Using the valuable items to reinforce wanted behavior.
- Handling unwanted behavior using redirections to wanted behavior.
- Managing the environment to set your dog up for success.
- Considering the dogs emotional state during training and modifying techniques or environment as needed.
- Conditioning the dog properly to management equipment (crates, leashes, harnesses, etc).
- Shock collars, prong collars, or choke chains.
- Yelling at the dog.
- Leash pops.
- Alpha rolls or trying to "dominate" the dog.
- Other physical corrections or corrections like squirting the dog with water or throwing something at them.
Some of the training methods I utilize are illustrated below:
Two of the four quadrants of operant conditioning including R+ and P-
Like adding reinforcers like treats to a wanted behavior (R+) and removing attention when your dog jumps up on you (P-).
Like adding reinforcers like treats to a wanted behavior (R+) and removing attention when your dog jumps up on you (P-).
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Counter-Conditioning and Desensitization To create a positive association with something your dog seems to have a negative association with, at a distance and then working closer. |
Shaping & Capturing Rewarding small increments toward a goal behavior & rewarding a desirable behavior your dog offers on their own, without prompting. |
Luring
Your dog follows a treat inside your hand to move them from place to place or get them into a position (like a sit) rather than having to physically touch your dog.
Your dog follows a treat inside your hand to move them from place to place or get them into a position (like a sit) rather than having to physically touch your dog.
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ALPHA DOG?
Did you know that Dominancy Theory was debunked? This means that the original study and book written on this topic were later found to be faulty. Better yet, the person who debunked it was the same person who wrote it! The core issue of Dominance Theory was that it proclaimed how "alpha" wolves fight in order to get to the top of the pecking order. The theory was developed using a "pack" of unrelated wolves in captivity. Later studies on wild wolves showed that there are NO alphas. Wolf packs operate much like a human family. The wolves in charge are simply the parents. In addition to this fact, dogs are very far removed from wolves. Any research done on wolves cannot be used to live or work with dogs. Dogs are not pack animals. Wild dogs, street dogs, and stray dogs seem to prefer to live in dyads (groups of two). They also have a very loose pecking order, if they even have one at all. It's time to leave the outdated thinking behind! Ditch the dominance theory!
Did you know that Dominancy Theory was debunked? This means that the original study and book written on this topic were later found to be faulty. Better yet, the person who debunked it was the same person who wrote it! The core issue of Dominance Theory was that it proclaimed how "alpha" wolves fight in order to get to the top of the pecking order. The theory was developed using a "pack" of unrelated wolves in captivity. Later studies on wild wolves showed that there are NO alphas. Wolf packs operate much like a human family. The wolves in charge are simply the parents. In addition to this fact, dogs are very far removed from wolves. Any research done on wolves cannot be used to live or work with dogs. Dogs are not pack animals. Wild dogs, street dogs, and stray dogs seem to prefer to live in dyads (groups of two). They also have a very loose pecking order, if they even have one at all. It's time to leave the outdated thinking behind! Ditch the dominance theory!