Consistent Communication in Training

Consistant Communication

There are three things that need to be in line for a dog to learn new behaviors.

Timing
Consistancy
Motivation

Today I’d like to take a moment to talk about consistency.

While the meme may be humorous it sends so much truth as well.

Often we will send mixed messages to our dogs through our body language and what we may “permit” in the training process.

Example: If you have a dog that counter surfs the best solution is to create a boundary either at the counters edge or kitchen itself. However, if we take our dog into the kitchen to go through a trick routine and treat them that can create a conflict in the dog.
“Am I allowed in here or not? Is it a fun place or a place I can’t be?”

While this example may be simple I believe it illustrates nicely. It doesn’t end there though. If we look at the consistency in our training methods we can see these issues throughout.

IE: If training a new behavior do we always require follow through in correct manner? (shaping, luring)

Once that behavior is learned do we require follow through with a verbal marker and correction in order to reinforce?

When the behavior is performed to satifaction within limited hold, do we treat and praise our dogs?

All of these have to be in place or we simply will not see the results we desire. We have to realize that our dogs learn in patterns and pictures. It is our job as the smarter species to present the best picture and comunication possible for our Furry Heores to flourish in.

  IT'S SCIENCE!!!

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The Right Dog for your Family!!

Ok, we’ve all seen those viral videos, movies, and TV shows with that one dog who did the amazing thing that we can’t stop thinking about!!

YOU HAVE TO HAVE ONE RIGHT?!?!

No!!!!

What you didn’t see was the countless hours of training and work that went into not only learning that behaviiur you observed; but also the contant upkeep of working breeds and high energy dogs.

Every day while working with my dog I get told:

“I wish my dog was that well behaved.”

To which I simply reply:

“They can do you work them every day with a gane or training exercise that THEY love?”

Inveriably the response always has something to do with a lack of time / energy. WHICH IS VALID!!

So how do we avaoid this conundrum?

Well, I’m glad you asked!

The first thing to consider is that breed trait and characteristics are bred in for specific purposes and often to acheive desired work. DO YOUR RESEARCH before adopting or buying from a breeder. Every breed has a specific reputations for reasons, with exceptions obviously. If you get one of the countless “high energy” breeds and don’t work them as such don’t be surprised when they rip your house apart or display high energy when you want to relax. If a dogs natural instinct and drive are not being satisfied by you they will figure out a way to get it out AND I GUARANTEE it will not be the way you want it to. AND NO your big back yard doesn’t count! They will find ways to go get that squirrel or whatever has been engaing their prey drive. Then well, “While I’m out….!!”

The shelters and resues are full of the dogs people “Just couldn’t handle” … insert excuse… STOP IT!!

Another thing to consider is how much time / money you are willing to put in. Training a dog is NOT an option it’s a requirement. Whether you do your own research and self perform or pay a proffessional is up to you but IT MUST BE DONE. We are dealing with a species that not only doesn’t speak our language but has eons of evolutionary survival instinct that goes against everything that we think is logical.

The final thing to consider is (shocker) …. NO they don’t know better!!! That guilty look that they are giving you is just because they’ve noticed a pattern of your body language being threatening in certain situations so they change theirs to one of submision and avaoidance so as to avaoid inpending punishment that they also don’t understand.

“You have 1.25 seconds to correct or reward a behavior or the dog has no clue what the praise or punishment are in relation to.”

There are ways to mitigate this, but I would reccomend a proffesional for that.

In closing:

Your relationship, comunication, and responsibility starts the day you start to think about bringing another living being into your house, not the day you actaully bring them in. If training is used as a proactive step instead of a reaction to undesired behaviour we can set realistic standards for our Furry Heores and live a much better life with them.

The Right dog

Furry Heroes Dog Training

The Science of Balance Training

As seen in the Diagram the scientific terms for Operant Conditioning are often mislabeled and misrepresented. Especially when it comes to words like “negative” and “punishment”. These terms are often referred to in the training world as aversive, but in reality are simply labels to assign to a desired result.

Positive Reinforcement is adding a stimulus in order to increase the frequency of a desired behavior.

Example: treating your dog, or love and affection

Negative Reinforcement is removing a stimulus in order to increase the frequency of a desired behavior.

Example: Removing Leash pressure or escape conditioning

Positive Punishment is adding a stimulus in order to decrease the frequency of a undesired behavior.

Example: adding leash pressure ; IE, fix pulling

Negative Punishment is removing a stimulus in order to decrease the frequency of an undesired behavior.

Example: Removing dog from playtime for inappropriate behavior.

When applied at the correct times, frequencies, and intensities we produce a result by using what the dog already understands to translate what we want to teach. Instead of just using our language (Which means NOTHING to them) and then getting frustrated, and displaying frustration in our body language (which means EVERYTHING to them) and they still don’t know why.

  In summary, EVERY trainer who sees real, lasting resultd is a balanced trainer using all four of these quadrants whether they want to believe or admit it.

                                   IT'S SCIENCE!!!