Train Positive Dog!

With LIFE as the foundation of the Yellow Brick Road of dog training, what are the bricks that make up the road? A brick has 6 sides and can illustrate 6 facets of training for both humans and dogs.

Positive reinforcement, attention, shaping, cueing, environment, and asking for help are facets of training that are represented by the 6 sides of a brick. These facets are essential skills and knowledge that will allow the dog and handler to get to Oz, to reach the goal.

Each of the six facets applies to the dog and the handler in complementary ways. Bricks for the dog and bricks for the handler. A two-way street. The road cannot be constructed without both dog and handler developing skills and expanding their knowledge – learning together.

Environment

For both the dog and the handler: dealing with distractions in a variety of environments, distance from each other, interacting with objects or props for training.

For the handler: Keeping animal welfare foremost – the health, nutrition, and safety of your dog comes first. Using management strategies that keep your dog safe and safely prevent unwanted behavior. That includes, of course, training without aversive methods or threat of force.

Positive Reinforcement

For both the dog and the handler: enjoying the journey.

For the handler: how to effectively use something the dog likes to increase the behavior the handler wants.

For the dog: learning how to offer behavior in exchange for a reinforcer, and to calmly take treats, toys, or tactile reinforcement.

Attention

For the handler: to be aware of the training environment and impacts on the dog’s behavior, to observe and interpret the body language and behavior of the dog, to accurately mark wanted behavior.

For the dog: to give attention to the handler or interact with props or parts of the environment.

Shaping

For the handler: how to set training goals, and set up training for success, how to break complex behaviors into component parts and reinforce successive approximations of the goal behavior.

For the dog: to offer behavior in a training context, gaining confidence when encountering new places and new activities.

Cueing

For the handler: how to choose and add appropriate cues for trained behaviors, and what to do when the dog does not respond to a cue. How to recognize and use environmental cues.

For the dog: being able to respond to cues confidently, in expectation of possibly earning reinforcement.

Asking for Help

For the handler: recognizing when you need advice or assistance to get out of the woods and back on the Yellow Brick Road, and where to find it.

For the dog: having a way to communicate to the handler “I don’t understand” or “I can’t do that”.

And don’t forget, Halloween is tomorrow. Your dog may not be as brave as Toto, and will appreciate being kept safely away from witches, other costumed humans, and unusual seasonal decorations.

This blog is an AI-free zone and was created by Dawn Gilkison.