Dog Training and Canine Behavior

Dog Training, Obedience Training, and Ownership

BAT (Behavior Adjustment Training) reduces fear and aggression by giving dogs socially acceptable ways to communicate their needs.

Functional Rewards

When the dog does a problem behavior, it is usually because an event in their

environment, an environmental cue, triggers the dog to want or need something.

Fulfillment of the need or want that is triggered by the environmental cue is called the

functional reward. Here’s the sequence:

Environmental Cue - Behavior - Functional Reward

So the functional reward for behaviors done after seeing a steak are the eating of the

steak.  The functional reward of behaviors done after spotting the squirrel is getting

closer to / chasing the squirrel.

To discover the functional reward of a problem behavior, look at the consequence of the

dog’s behavior – what are they earning from the people, dogs, and world around them

by doing the behavior?

For example, when dogs show aggression, one big consequence is usually an increase

in distance from the trigger (they scare it away or are allowed to leave themselves). So we use increased distance – walking away from the trigger – as a functional reward.

Geek note: Technically, consequences only reinforce behavior, but in everyday English, we often say that we reinforce or reward the dog. It’s just simpler.

  (functionalrewards.com)

In General

 Working with dogs on behavior modification (and even some basic training needs) is not as much about the outward behavior that we may want to modify, but most often there is an underlying issue. If we are talking about objective training for commands such as recall, leave it, drop it, sit, stay, etc. that is a completely different type of training than say, if we were working with separation anxiety, barking, phobias, destructive behavior, or various types of aggression.

While these two types of work are on completely different levels, often we will find that they are interconnected. For instance if I were to begin work with your dog training it on recall, drop it, sit/stay; On one hand, we may have no issues teaching your dog to learn these commands. However, there are times we find we have to work with the dog on other psychological issues at the same time or even prior to. Issues such as anxieties or phobias, may present too big of a challenge for the dog to learn the commands that we are working on. Other times, teaching these commands can have a direct positive effect with the dog and, in fact, help it to overcome these issues by instilling better communication with you, and building confidence within your dog.

If we are dealing with something like anxiety, It can also be that the anxiety is a directly related issue. Such as the dog not been able to control its elimination times (potty or bowel movements). Maybe it's excessive barking, or behaviors such as chewing on furniture or shoes, or other personal items. Maybe it's acting out towards humans or other dogs. These may well be issues that would be more directly related to anxieties, aggression, separation issues or other psychological challenges that the dog is dealing with.

In any case, all of these subjects are first off, all too common, and secondly, with the right behaviorist and/or dog trainer working with you and your dog, completely manageable and can be an absolutely positive, rewarding experience that lasts a life time. So why wait? Give me a call or email me at toddpower@yourk9guy.com or go to my contact page. It’s fee to talk. It’s free to meet. It’s free for me (others charge) to do an assessment.

 

 

At our first FREE consult:

Generally, I come to you. We'll talk about the issues your concerned with and, I'll do an evaluation of your dog.  I'll interact with your dog, get to know everyone ...Then, based on what you (and the dog) have told me, we will build a focused, goal oriented program around your schedule and the issues you need help with. Is it work, yes, but..it is also fun and it can be a very rewarding experience!  

 

Many times the relationship has broken down to the point that now the dog is running the humans life..or worse, the the relationship has broken down so far that the dogs life with that family is at risk. With my help, together, we can repair this disconnect.

 

Yes, It takes a little work. But it is also very exciting and rewarding for all involved. And because my methods are positive, upbeat, and goal oriented, we may even have a little fun along the way. Communication is extremely important in any relationship...Let me help you put in place a new way of communicating together.


 

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