The Benefits of Positive Reinforcement
Imagine how you would feel if all you were told was: “This is wrong! Try again!” If you do not give any additional information what are the chances of the…
Dog Blog & Treats
The Ping Pong of Asking for New Behaviors
When teaching a new skill, we usually teach it through successive approximations. It’s like going from a rough sketch to a detailed painting. I have talked previously about comparing behaviors…
A Little Food for Thought When It Comes to Treats
Let me just say that the word “treat’ implies that there is something particularly special about the quality or the palatability or the salience. Remember that “treat” also can be…
How To Teach Your Dog To Greet Humans
Jumping and barking are both highly self-reinforcing behaviors. In plain English that means that the activity is something a dog really enjoys, it feels good and hence the dog will…
Dog Training Tips: Timing Your Rewards and the Pitfalls of Bribing
In my mind, the definition of a reward would be a pleasant consequence for a behavior that one would like to teach or reinforce. Ok, so rewarded behaviors increase in…
Changing Your Frame of Mind When Training Your Puppy
In your mind you paint a picture of your dog’s desired behaviors. The things you’d like to do with your dog, the way your dog is going to interact with…