OPINION
use as instructions and guidance ) has led to a massive decline in the effectiveness of reward-training . But the last nail in the coffin for increasing the frequency or duration of desirable-responses — PRAISE was all but replaced by a ‘ click ’ and a food treat , I just wanted to sit down and cry . Praise IS both a ‘ marker ’ and an intrinsic primary reinforcer , and one that may be amped-up as the most powerful mega-secondary reinforcer in dogdom . Training has become clinical and impersonal and lost the sense of awe and wondrous joy of inter-species communication , connection , engagement , and mind-meld between person and dog .
9 . For Dog Training Demonstrations to Comprise 75 % of Each Conference , instead of talking-head , power-point , and peripheral topics . All conference presenters demonstrate their techniques with dogs on stage , or videos thereof , and supplying digital notes to registrants . I think the main thrust of the APDT conference should always be teaching trainers how to teach dogs to respond on cue , when off-leash , and distracted ; how to effectively resolve misbehavior and non-compliance ; how to fast-track confidencebuilding ( anxiety reduction ); and how to prevent dogs from ever becoming fearful , anxious , and aggressive in the first place .
10 . A National Campaign to Prevent the Predictable , i . e ., normal , canine , adolescent , behavioral development to become increasingly wary and fearful of the unfamiliar , especially , people , dogs , and the environment and so , develop adolescent-onset fear of people , dog-dog reactivity , and separation anxiety . Fear and anxiety block basic training . Just check Julie Case ’ s video on You Tube https :// www . youtube . com / watch ? v = eMij-uc7ozo as the best illustration of what needs to be done to prevent adolescent fears and anxiety , and lack of manners . See if you can see just one itty-bitty sign of stress or anxiety in any puppy and listen to Julie ’ s voice as she reassures ( reinforces ) pups doing ‘ scary ’ stuff . When the pups grow up , they remain friendly , confident , and mannerly , because the potential ‘ unfamiliar of adolescence ’ was made the ‘ snoring-boring familiar of puppyhood .’
For this to happen , as the leading profession to offer advice about puppy / dog raising and training , we must take the initiative and do our best to ensure that other dog professions , especially those that routinely see new puppy owners during the first few days after their new puppy comes home , ( veterinarians and pet stores ), or at the point of sale or adoption , ( breeders and shelters ), disseminate puppy-raising information that highlights the extreme urgency and critical importance of :
1 . Neonatal handling and early puppy socialization with unfamiliar people in the safety of the breeding kennel or new home , and during off-leash puppy classes — to prevent adolescent-onset fear of unfamiliar people ;
2 . Off-leash puppy classes to develop dog-dog savvy , build confidence , and tone down OTT play — to prevent dog-dog reactivity during adolescence ; and
3 . An hourly crate-training routine during the first few weeks at home , to facilitate teaching elimination on cue and chew toytraining , preventing habitual barking , and to teach puppies ( or adopted adult dogs ) to thoroughly enjoy short quiet moments in their private den and so , prepare them for being left alone at home . The easiest way to bump-start a prospective and new puppy owner educational campaign is to to share the link for downloading three of my free puppy and dog raising books to the membership and encouraging them to share the books with their clients , or post the books on their own websites for free download — dunbar . info / freepupbooks
Some History of APDTs The APDT was originally intended as an open educational organization that welcomed everyone . Surely , we can do more for dogs by educating the uneducated than preaching to the choir . Other APDTs followed suit , e . g ., Canada , France , Australia , New Zealand , Japan , Chile etc . In the US , we established the CPDT to assess individuals ’ standards , ( although as yet , only knowledgebased ) and restricted membership only to those who met the required standard . This is the way of most other professions ; you learn at a school / university but must pass State and National boards to practice . To this day , the reach of the CCPDT is worldwide . When objectively evaluating the pros and cons of the speed , ease , and effectiveness of training , most reward training techniques win hands-down over using aversive stimuli intended as punishment . Moreover , for putting behaviors on cue and routinely testing reliability as part and parcel of training , lure / reward training reigns supreme . I truly think that misapplied reward-training is the major reason for the decline of effectiveness , fulfillment , and joy . The key is quantification . Facts rule ! The proof is observable and irrefutable .
The Future : We Need an APPLIED Science of Dog Training For dog training to evolve as a science , dog trainers must create a science-based , applied learning theory derived from studies of trainers training dogs . Since training is all about creating behavior-change , and behavior is observable and quantifiable , dog training studies quickly ( within the hour ) generate masses of highly significant data . We don ’ t need to use fancy statistics to prove we have an effect — it ’ s blatantly obvious to everyone in real time , or when the data is displayed in a histogram — the bell-shaped curves from before and after data seldom overlap — meaning that the results pass the Intra-Occular Trauma Test — the effect is so great that it hits you between the eyes and so , statistics are largely unnecessary . We should flood the doggy world with studies of such statistical significance , with all p-values <. 01 , i . e ., to give oxygen to reward training and ongoing quantification of response-reliability percentages and response : reward ratios .
To accelerate the process , I would start by rediscovering Lure / Reward Training so that we have quantification of responsereliability and monitoring our reliance on food rewards already
18 Building Better Trainers Through Education