Faq

What is positive reinforcement training?

Positive reinforcement training focuses on what the dog is doing right instead of what the dog is
doing wrong. Dogs are taught by reinforcing (rewarding) wanted behaviors. Reinforcement can
be food, play, attention, freedom, potentially anything the dog wants. Ever hear the saying,
"Accentuate the positive?" That's what positive training is all about. More time and energy is
spent on the GOOD stuff the dog does, and soon all the bad stuff is overshadowed and
eventually dwindles away.

Positive reinforcement training originated as part of research on learning that was done in the
lab by Thorndike & Skinner. The first group of trainers to put the science to practical use were
involved in the field of marine mammal training and husbandry. It is impossible to "force" large
whales or dolphins to do anything they don't want to do, so trainers had to come up with
"another way" to safely handle and train their animals. Positive reinforcement was the way
to go. The amazing tricks you see animals perform at whale and dolphin shows were taught
with positive reinforcement. The animals are never forced or hurt or "made" to do anything.
What works for whales that weigh several tons will work for your pet dog!

What is clicker training?

Clicker training is my absolute favorite method of teaching animals new behaviors. It is an
application of positive reinforcement training. In this method, the trainer uses a "clicker" to
"mark" the correct behavior when the dog performs it. Through a conditioning process called
"classical conditioning" (think Pavlov's dogs and the bell), the dog will come to understand that
the click signals something good is on the way. The dog hears the click, and knows that what
he did at the moment he heard it was the correct behavior, and that a reinforcement (usually
food) is coming his way.

This method is so effective because it is very precise and clear. Also, the dog is free to
experiment with behaviors and the trainer simply clicks those that he wants; the dog has to
"think" about what he's doing and figure out what to do to hear the click, and hence get that
reinforcement. Dogs learn faster when they can move their bodies into position all on their own,
without a lure or being physically placed into position.

Clicker training also allows the trainer and dog to have a "dialog" during the training session.
The dog "asks" what he should be doing by offering different behaviors, and the trainer tells him
when he's correct by using the clicker. Once the dog is offering the behavior in a given setting,
the verbal cue is added, and the clicker is faded out, and reinforcers other than food are utilized.

It's an amazing thing to watch a dog's eyes light up when he suddenly "gets" that he can get his
trainer to give him a click by performing a certain behavior. It's a give and take exchange
between human and dog, and species boundaries no longer seem to be so tall or so wide. It's
a beautiful thing!

Why don't you use physical corrections or punishment to train dogs?

The bottom line is this: you can train your dog using positive, gentle techniques, so why resort to
pain and intimidation? Training is about teaching, letting the dog know what you want from him,
what to do, how to do it. When you start a training program with your dog, he doesn't know
what's expected of him. Is it fair to jerk the leash to make your dog sit when you give a
command, even though he's got no idea what the command means? How would you feel if you
were sitting in a classroom, the professor asked you to answer a question about a topic you've
never studied, and then smacked you when you gave the wrong answer! That's not fair teaching,
that's downright mean. Positive training is all about showing the dog what you want, rewarding
good behavior, and managing the dog to prevent bad behavior. It is about using your mind and
encouraging your dog to do the same.

Punishment can be dangerous to use; it can cause a variety of unintended consequences that
can make a dog's behavior worse instead of better. I prefer to use safe, effective techniques with
no fallout potential.

What tools/techniques don't you use or advocate?

I never use nor recommend the following: choke or slip collars; prong/pinch collars; electronic
(shock) collars; electronic fences; anti-pull harnesses that use pain/discomfort to stop pulling;
alpha rolls, scruff shakes, pinching, or other physical punishment mistakenly thought to
"mimic" dog-to-dog behavior; physical punishment of any kind (no hitting, smacking, kicking,
etc); hanging; any tool/technique that is used/meant to cause pain, fear, stress or discomfort to
the dog.

But isn't using food in training the same thing as bribing? I don't want to
spoil my dog!

When we use food (and other goodies) in training, we are requiring specific behavior from the
dog. He never gets something for nothing. The food is like a paycheck. Your dog will learn to
work for what he wants. This isn't even close to "bribing" or "spoiling".

What kind of dogs do your train?

I work with all breeds and mixes, of any age. I specialize in Pit Bulls.

Do you come to my home, or do I come to you?

Both! I offer in-home training as well as classes. Also, sometimes arrangements will be made
to work in various parks or other locations for convenience or to help with the training process.

What do you train dogs to do?

I teach HUMANS to train their dogs to do all the basic "obedience" exercises, good manners,
and how to be pleasant family companions.

Do you deal with behavior problems?

Yes! I deal with all sorts of behavior problems, but I may refer out to a veterinary behavior
specialist with certain aggression, fear, or obsessive-compulsive cases.

What sort of equipment will I have to use on my dog?

Generally, I like to use as little equipment as is necessary. Collars and leashes are not what
train the dog - they are safety necessities. The most basic equipment that you will use during
training is as follows: a clicker, a flat buckle or a martingale collar, (I like martingales because a
dog can't slip out of one of these so easily) or a harness, and a leash (usually six feet). For dogs
with issues, I may suggest a Gentle Leader collar.

FAQ

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