Training Tips
Have a listen to our 30 second training tips that aired on U93 radio. We have tips on all sorts of topics.
Be Positive!
Hi, its Dr. Belock. We know from basic psychology that behaviors that are reinforced are more likely to be offered in the future. Rather than setting your dog up to fail and then punishing them, set your dog up for success, catch them doing the right thing and pay for it with a reward. By doing so you will be teaching your dog what you want them to do, instead of just telling them what you don't want without any clear information about what they should be doing instead. That's training that is inspired by kindness and informed by science!
Markers
Hi, it’s Dr. Belock. A marker is a distinct sound, (click) or word (yes) that is paired with a food reward such that when the dog hears the marker they know a food reward will follow. The marker is used to identify to the dog which behaviors earn them the reward. You click the instant the dog does the desired behavior, they know a treat is coming and they now know it is tied to the behavior they were doing when they received the mark. This provides clarity, buys time to deliver the reward and results in faster learning. That's training that is inspired by kindness and informed by science!
Puppy Socialization - A New Positive Experience Each Day
Scout people watches outside Ace Hardware during his positive puppy socialization outing.
Our goal is to provide a new positive experience every day as we work on puppy socialization.
Scout loves people and gets very excited (pulling and whining) when he sees them. Too excited to try entering the store.
So today we worked on watching people enter and exit the store from a distance where he could be calm enough to take treats, orient toward me in response to his name and eventually settle in a sit or down position. We gradually worked closer to the front doors.
We strive for errorless learning in puppy and dog training. That means we only want good reps and positive experiences. Sometimes this means taking things slower so we can manage the environment and the dog’s experience. Puppy socialization does not mean forcing your dog through as many situations as possible. Bad reps or negative experiences (like allowing Scout to pull and whine in the store) actually set training back farther by allowing your dog to “practice” unwanted behaviors. By taking our time observing and responding to Scout’s behavior, we can gradually increase proximity outside so that our first step in the store will be happy and calm.