From
Laura Dash, Owner and Senior Counselor:
"The behavioral modification methods used are based on
operant and classical conditioning, primarily using positive
reinforcement, and focuses on enhancing the pet-owner bond and
inter-species communication.
"I train with positive reinforcement. In other words, I
am a clicker trainer and I train with the use of a reward marker,
and a food payoff. Does this mean that if you train your dog
using a clicker and food that you are always going to have to
resort to a clicker and food to get the behaviors you want?
Definitely not! The clicker is used initially because the timing
is so exact that it enables you to mark the behavior you are
looking for, communicating to the dog that "Click"="YES!"
That action right there is what I want, and the click also tells
the dog he has earned a reward. To him the reward is the same
as someone paying us for working. Initially this reward is a
treat that the dog values very highly. Then, over a short period
of time, the dog is weaned off the reward treats, but will maintain
the "process," or undersatnding of what is 'reward-able'."
Give us a call. Talk to Ms. Dash. There is a reason your dog
is who he or she is. We will explore that together. |
