We follow a Most Positive, Least Intrusive approach to behavior modification and training. The vast majority of anything we need to teach can be accomplished by first ruling out physical or medical causes for misbehavior, creating thoughtful antecedent arrangements (manipulating the environment) to set the dog up for success, and training desirable behaviors using positive reinforcement. The illustration below summarizes our general approach; more info can be found HERE:
Appropriate management strategies (including avoidance) should be implemented as a starting point, in order to prevent as much misbehavior as possible. It is important to arrange the environment in a way that simultaneously makes the right behaviors easy for your dog while making unwanted behaviors difficult or impossible, and to provide positive reinforcement for behaviors that you want to see more of. Animals will use their behavior to act on their environment and will choose behaviors that have "worked" to meet their wants/needs previously. Ideally you will work to create a situation where the dog learns to choose the "correct" behavior(s) because you have taught the dog that those behaviors are the most reinforcing option(s)!
It's not that punishment is always unwarranted (sometimes it is necessary), but it should not be used as the first and only approach to change behavior. Less intrusive strategies should be tried first as they can be highly effective and therefore make more intrusive strategies unnecessary in those situations.
Extremely careful considerations need to be made prior to using aversive stimuli or tools in training as there is potential for unwanted fallout effects (including apathy, learned helplessness, generalized fear or anxiety, escape/avoidance behaviors, and increased aggression) that can create new behavioral problems or exacerbate existing ones. Additionally, proper implementation of punishment requires more skill from the handler, and there is much less room for error in terms of factors such as timing and selecting the appropriate level of intensity. There are no negative side effects associated with the use of positive reinforcement.
Keep in mind that "positive" does not mean "permissive"; it is still important to set boundaries where necessary and work on teaching the dog what we would like him to do instead. Aim for choice within structure.
Absolutely not! With bribery, the desired stimulus (reinforcer) is presented before the behavior rather than after it. Reinforcement is what drives behavior!
Dominance is not a personality trait; it is a relationship with a particular resource. Correct use of the term “dominance” is most appropriate when describing an animal that has priority access to resources, such as food or sleeping areas, within their social hierarchy. Guess what? Your dog realizes that you are not another dog. The dominance theory has been disproven, yet unfortunately it is still part of the cultural fog within the unregulated training community. Dominance is a concept, and concepts cannot cause behavior.
Food is a commonly used reinforcer in training because we can deliver it easily and quickly, and we typically do not have to teach dogs to enjoy it (they do need food to survive, after all). That being said, there are many types of reinforcers that we may use for training; it all depends on what the dog finds most motivating at a particular time for a particular behavior. A dog's personal preference for reinforcers can change over time, and may vary depending on the context of each situation (the value of any reinforcer will always depend on what else is available). Part of your job as your dog's trainer is to take inventory of the various types of reinforcers that your dog may enjoy (including but not limited to food, toys, play, etc.) to see what makes your dog light up!
Think of these reinforcers as your dog's paycheck. Would you work for free?
Dogs need food to survive, therefore all dogs are food motivated to some extent. There are many different reasons that a dog might not be interested in food for training. This most commonly occurs when an animal is free-fed (Do you leave food out for your dog to graze on throughout the day?), when too much food is being provided (is your dog overweight? Does he finish his whole meal within 5-10 minutes from when you offer it?), when the food you are offering is not valuable to them (Do you offer variety in type, texture, flavor, etc.?), or when the animal is too stressed to eat. There can be other reasons for this as well, including potential underlying medical causes. We can help you troubleshoot if this seems to be an issue for your dog, and remember – there may be other types of reinforcers that we can try as well!
Unfortunately behavior doesn’t work that way - we all behave for an effect! Additionally, dogs do not understand concepts like respect; they do, however, understand when certain behavior works to achieve a desired outcome. While your dog may appreciate your company a "good boy" and a pat on the head is not always going to be enough to motivate him to do the things that you want him to do. Start by trying to make it worth your dog's effort to choose your requests over something else that he wants. Remember, the value of a “reward” is determined by your dog – just because you think your dog should find something reinforcing does not mean that he actually does (yes, even treats that he actually eats). HINT: The proof will be in his behavior. Does the behavior that you are trying to teach maintain, strengthen, or increase over time? If so, then the reinforcers you are providing are effective for that behavior under those conditions.
This depends on a variety of factors, including what exactly we are trying to teach, the severity of any behavior issues, how long the dog has been rehearsing the unwanted behavior(s), how frequently you are able to practice what you learn in each session, how effective you are in your practice, and how well you follow the instructions that are provided.
Training involves some technical skills that require repetition, consistency, and problem solving, and each individual (dog and human) learns at a different pace. We will teach you as much as you are willing to learn, and will do our best to provide as much information and support as possible to help you hone your training skills so that you can successfully maintain your dogs training even after our sessions together are completed.
Progress when teaching new skills such as obedience behaviors or tricks tends to happen fairly quickly once you learn how to motivate your dog and effectively reinforce desired behaviors.
When treating more severe behavior concerns such as fearfulness, anxiety, and aggression, we must work to change your dog's underlying emotional responses (to the things that he finds scary, stressful, concerning, etc.); this process tends to be very gradual and can take some time.
It is important to remember that most behavior issues do not develop overnight, and they will not just “go away” overnight either. Patience and consistency are important!
It is critical to follow the instructions that are provided in your training plan. You, the owner/caregiver, must take an active role in the training process in order to change your dog's behavior. If you do not follow through and put in your best efforts, you will not see the results you are hoping for! Please help us help you (and your dog) by following the instructions in your training plan.
If follow-up sessions are needed after the initial consultation, we would generally aim to meet together at least once per week. Sometimes it makes sense to meet twice per week or more, depending on training goals, but that would be discussed on an individual basis. For some clients, sessions will be spaced according to how much progress is made during their practice between our sessions (please do your homework!).
Generally speaking, the more frequently you practice with your dog, the faster you will make progress... with a few exceptions. For example, a client that can only practice training exercises with their dog once or twice a week will probably not make progress as quickly as a client who is able to practice several times per week. Keep in mind this “practice” is not necessarily a formal session with us; this is the practice you are doing as part of your “homework” between our meetings. We understand that many of our clients have a lot going on with work and life in general, and that some people might not be able to practice training their dog every day. Some exercises may only require 2-5 minutes of training at a time (1-2 times per day with at least one full day off per week), while other activities may require you to spend 30-60 minutes at a time with your dog. Obviously if an exercise requires you to practice training with your dog outside of your home, then a bigger time commitment is to be expected for travel and the training exercises themselves. Recommendations for how long or how frequently to practice will be made on an individual basis and will be discussed during our appointment(s).