When I first started dog training 30 or so years ago, I was studying the sport of dog obedience because I wanted to compete. We were taught to lure our dog to do what we wanted and then move to the proofing stage. When proofing, we were looking for errors to test how well the dog understood what we’d taught them. And if our dog failed, we were instructed to give them a correction. What if we changed our mindset from proofing to building confidence? We’re covering how to help our dogs clearly understand what we want in any location and situation.
In the episode you'll hear:
- How you can have a well-trained dog without using corrections and intimidation.
- What proofing in dog training is and why it can create unrealistic expectations.
- About the acquisition and fluency stages of training a dog.
- How we can look at any behavior we are training as just one trick.
- That fluency will let you know what your dog really understands.
- How to generalize behavior, so your dog has the confidence to perform anywhere.
- Why generalizing leads to environmental neutrality for dogs.
- Bob Bailey’s 80% rule and using Jean Donaldson’s ““Push, Stick or Drop” to determine that 80%.
Resources:
- Podcast Episode 172: How To Teach Your Dog Anything With My Training Plan
- Podcast Episode 24: Help for Dogs who Chase Chipmunks, Bicycles, and Neighbor’s Cats (Distraction Intensity Index)
- Blog Post: Head Games
- YouTube Video: Susan Garrett Riffs on Transfer of Value in Dog Training (and water loving Labradors)
- Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube
This was awesome. I think I’m finally getting clarity! I love the encouragement that it might take years but what a great investment in our relationship.
Nice point about how it might take years and what a good investment that would be in your dog.
Susan, your training is RIGHT for me! Your method is a game changer in every way (no pun intended). We have this amazing puppy who is so smart, sweet, and well behaved but we needed some work on developing connection and the best lives for us and our puppy. I felt like I was failing my sweet pup. I cried about it. I tried ALMOST everything in the training world with some success but there was never an AHA! moment or a breakthrough until I found your method. I’ve been watching your podcasts, reading your blogs, soaking up all the information I could and made a very easy decision to join Recallers. After 2 days in Recallers, I had the AHA! moment. Best decision ever. I will not regret it! I so appreciate your dedication to your profession, to your dogs, to the desire to be better, learn better, teach better. I understand that other trainers are doing their best with what they know and I do not begrudge them their methods and efforts, however, all your information changed our lives so much! Thank you from the bottom of my heart.