Just waking up from a nap, the 2 month old puppy is now replenished and full of energy. Since he’s locked up in a crate, little Jake starts vocalizing and scratching at the door. Thankfully, Coleen, hearing her pup in…
Search results for: operant conditioning
Learning theory basics, part 1- Classical conditioning in dogs: beyond the training session
Most of us have heard of classical conditioning. Pavlov demonstrated how a neutral stimulus could become meaningful to a dog when followed by something that elicits a natural response. So when a bell, meaningless in itself, is consistently followed with…
There are 3 Es in modern dog training: Efficacy, Efficiency and Ethics
As trainers, we talk to dog guardians all the time. They come to us with questions and concerns about their dog and our job is to help them work out the best approach to their canine’s needs. Many have been…
Dog Training: Praise or Treats?
While we understand that good behavior should be rewarded if we want the dog to repeat it, there are different opinions about how and how much we should reward our pooches. We might consider that a “good boy!” is a…
Loose Leash Walking Fundamentals
How wonderful is it to take a nice stroll in the park with our dog? We’re enjoying the cool breeze in our hair, the sound of birds in the trees and just sharing a nice stress releasing moment with our…
Treated fear can return – even to the next generation
As I have mentioned in a few other posts, the vast majority of behaviors that we deem problematic in our dogs, such as, barking, biting, lunging, destruction, separation anxiety or resource guarding, stem from the dog’s fear, anxiety or panic.…
Animal training, craft or applied science?
‘Let me start by saying that you’re looking at one lucky SOB! Said Bob Bailey in front of a crowd of dog professionals eager to learn from one of the most accomplished animal trainers in the world. A mind always…
Bob Bailey : Don’t settle for ‘good enough’
Animals are always learning. The animals we know today are the fruit of millions of years of evolution and have been learning by consequence all this time. They continuously put things together, draw conclusions and figure out how to avoid…
The joy of shaping
There are few things more exciting for a trainer than working with a dog on shaping a new behavior through clicker training. From teaching the dog to lie down on his bed, to retrieving objects, or flipping a light switch…
The Genius of Dogs: Heralds New Era in Dog Cognition Research
I just finished reading Brian Hare’s and Vanessa Woods’ book, The Genius of Dogs. I was anxious to get my hands on this book and was looking forward to learning about the latest studies on dog cognition. I had also…