Positive reinforcement trainers usually rely on several different methods to train new behaviors. This includes (but is not limited to) shaping, capturing, and luring. Capturing is often described as waiting for the behavior to happen, then rewarding it when it does. The idea is to teach the animal that the behavior “pays off.” Once the […]
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Dogs, dogs, dogs! In this section, you’ll find lots of great dog training stories and tips from my adventures training my own dogs, my foster dogs, and the dogs of my clients.
Ginger goes to lunch
We had some pretty nice weather recently, so my mom and I went for lunch one day to a local café that has outdoor seating. And, we took Ginger dog with us! Ginger had a grand time and hopes that we will do this again soon. (Being in Texas, we have more “nice weather” days […]
Book review: The Possibility Dogs
I’ve been doing lots of reading lately! I’ll be sharing several book reviews on my blog over the next month. One book that I’ve had the chance to read recently is Susannah Charleson’s new book, The Possibility Dogs (Amazon link). If you’re looking for an interesting dog book to curl up with on a cold […]
Lots of dogs (and clicker training)
I have a new job! I’ve been waiting to announce it on my blog, as I’ve been extremely busy getting settled into the new job and learning the ropes. I’m working full time as a dog trainer and behaviorist for Pappy’s Pet Lodge, a Dallas-based company that provides dog boarding, daycare, grooming, training, and in-home […]
Finding new reinforcers
I’m working on a project right now about reinforcers. (More on this soon in an upcoming post!) So, as a result, I’ve been thinking a lot about reinforcement, reinforcers, and the different types of things trainers use during training to reward behavior. Many horse clicker trainers primarily use food during training to reinforce correct behavior. […]
Barrel racing for dogs
Here’s a fun video from dog trainer Donna Hill. In the video, you’ll see some of the steps she used to teach her dog to run a barrel racing pattern. The video shows the individual component behaviors that Donna taught first and then illustrates how she used back chaining to create the final behavior. Watch […]