To the uninitiated, reinforcement based dog training looks as if you have to walk around with a boatload of cookies or else you are not going to get your dog to do what you want. That’s just not true. But if you are carrying cookies everywhere, I’m covering how we go about reinforcement based training differently so that you can transfer the value of those cookies to you with games within games.
In the episode you'll hear:
- What I learned about games in a summer job on a dairy farm.
- The definition of primary and secondary reinforcers.
- An example of a game-within-a-game to teach a dog to easily line up at your side.
- The steps to using a hand target for your dog to line up to your side.
- What the Karate Kid has to do with dog training.
- How the transfer of value works with games within games.
- About a game I played at Chicken Camp with Bob and Marian Bailey.
- How the transfer of value from games creates connection, focus and drive.
- All the reasons my dogs sit at doors, and it’s not about being a control freak.
- That all of life is a game-within-a-game creating a deep connection with our dogs.
Resources:
- Crate Games Online
- YouTube Playlist: Susan Garrett's Dog Training Philosophy and Training Processes
- Podcast Episode 68: 3 Easy Tricks Every Dog Should Know
- Podcast Episode 5: What is Shaping And How Can Dogs Shape Us
- Podcast Episode 147: Teach Your Dog To Listen Off Leash And Far Away
- Podcast Episode 172: How To Teach Your Dog Anything With My Training Plan
- Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube
Years ago, I taught my Boomer (Siberian Husky), sit, down, menace, chin on the ground, & 1 other from all different positions, & then out to ~20′. It was for a production for the Oregon Ducks when they went to their 1st BCS championship game. He played the Washington Husky. I had no idea what he would be doing, or where. Turned out we worked in a metal stairwell in a large office building (after hanging out for 4 hrs) & I had to give him his cues from the landing below, while a LARGE football player ran up the stairs at him! He nailed it & we were done in 20min! Boomer learned everything thru games, & Susan’s methods. He passed just shy of 13yrs with 98 titles in multiple sports, & only needed 1 leg for 5 more.
Thank you. More great advice and guidance.
Just new to your training videos etc.
Will order some videos and your book.
I have much to learn, but Boogie my rescue dog from the Weatherford TX
animal shelter is appreciating the help you are offering us.
He is an 18 month old black lab and a great dog fits in with my other 5 dogs
all of them not very well trained, but happy and chubby – most are senior dogs.
Absolutely brilliant! I’ll have to listen to this one a few times to absorb all the magic!
Every time I take my dog out I ask for a sit. I’ve had her since Dec. ‘22 . My challenge is that she still rather reluctantly sits. I have to say “sit”, often have to wait, finally she slowly lowers her bit to the ground.
I myself don’t know how to make this daily concept more clear and more motivating to my dog. I’d love to get a fast sit, and a sit without asking. How would a game within a game lead to that?
Perfect! Puppy Ollie and I just had this lesson! Great reinforcement!