Theory: Dog Training Best Practices

It is proactive: We want the owners not to act surprised when the dog, for the millionth time, jumps up against guests. We want the owners to have a well-practiced routine (possibly baby gates, etc.) in place BEFORE the problem situation arises.

The dog on the field does not seem to be motivated by food, even with high-value treats. By giving the reward in a playful way, such as making the dog chase, find, and catch it, it adds an element of excitement and engagement for the dog. This can help increase the dog's motivation and focus during training sessions.

False:

Dog obedience training = specific exercises that the dog gets better at through practice.

Education = daily interventions that help the dog be a well-adjusted member of the family and citizen.

Sometimes, you use particular obedience training exercises for education purposes.

Our 'Obedience' training courses actually focus a lot on Education too.

a. Is a terrible idea. It will result in a dog no longer performing the behaviour you want.

The correct answer explains that "Time for training, time for management" means that the owners should consider if they have the necessary time, patience, desire, and head-space to make a training session a learning moment for the dog. This implies that owners should prioritize the dog's training and be fully present and committed during these sessions.

The sweet zone refers to a level of difficulty that is challenging for the dog but not impossible. This means that the tasks or exercises given to the dog should push them to improve and learn new skills, but not overwhelm or frustrate them to the point of giving up. By maintaining this balance, the dog is motivated to continue learning and progressing in their training.

The owner's dog has a medicated diet that is not highly motivating as a reward during training. The suggested advice is to turn the medicated diet into Combat treats by making it into a paste and adding salmon oil. However, it is important for the owner to consult their vet first before making any changes to the dog's diet.

"Time for management" refers to a situation where you are unable to give your full attention to your dog due to other important tasks or responsibilities, such as having important guests over. This implies that during such times, it may not be feasible to engage in training activities with your dog, but instead, it is important to focus on managing the situation and ensuring that your dog behaves appropriately in the given circumstances.

LIMA stands for Least Invasive Method Available. This term is often used in medical contexts to refer to a technique or procedure that causes the least amount of harm or disruption to the patient's body. The term "least invasive" implies that there are other methods or procedures available, but LIMA is the one that is chosen because it is the least harmful or disruptive. This approach is typically preferred when considering treatments or interventions in order to minimize risks and promote faster recovery.

The correct answer explains that Behavioural First Aid involves providing quick tips based on Best Practices to address the immediate issue and prevent it from escalating further. It aims to stop the behavior, ensure safety, and address any animal welfare concerns. If more time is required to fully address the problem, the owner is advised to contact the school via email for further assistance. This approach acknowledges the limitations of providing a complete solution in a short period of time but still offers some form of help to the owner.

The analogy of the clicker being like the shutter of a camera is the best explanation for when to use the clicker. Just like how you click on a camera to capture a specific moment, you should click the clicker at the exact moment you want to reinforce a desired behavior in the dog. This analogy helps students understand the importance of timing and precision when using the clicker as a training tool.

Time for management refers to a situation where you cannot control the trigger of an unwanted behavior, such as your own dog barking in response to other dogs. In this case, instead of focusing on training the dog to stop barking, it is more effective to manage the situation by avoiding or minimizing the trigger. This may involve keeping your dog away from other dogs or using tools like a muzzle or a leash to prevent barking. By managing the environment and the triggers, you can effectively address the unwanted behavior without relying solely on training.

The explanation for the given answer is that while it is generally discouraged to use the word "no" in raising and training a dog, it is acceptable as long as it is effective. If the dog understands and responds to the command or correction after hearing "no" once, then it can be considered successful. However, if the dog continues the undesired behavior despite repeated use of "no," it indicates that the command is not effective, and alternative training methods should be explored to achieve the desired results.

Dogs prefer soft and soggy food rewards because it is more palatable and easier to chew. The texture of soft and soggy food is more appealing to dogs compared to hard and crunchy food. Additionally, the smell of stinky food rewards may also be a factor in their preference. Dogs have a strong sense of smell, and the strong odor of stinky food rewards may be enticing to them. Therefore, soft and soggy food rewards are the preferred choice for dogs during training.

The correct answer is "The science of incentives. Central question: How much work is a reward worth? i.e. The dog gave you million dollar effort, you have to pay a million dollar treat." This answer accurately describes behavior economics as the study of incentives and how they influence behavior. It highlights the central question of determining the value of a reward in relation to the effort put in, using the analogy of a dog giving a million dollar effort deserving a million dollar treat.

The explanation for the given correct answer is that alternating between active and passive exercises in lesson structure provides a pleasant sense of variety to the students and prevents the dogs from becoming too wound up or bored. This variety keeps the students engaged and interested in the lessons, while also helping to maintain the dogs' focus and attention. It also allows for a balanced approach to training, incorporating both physical and mental stimulation for the dogs.

When a task is easier for a dog, it requires less effort or skill to accomplish. In such cases, the dog may not require as much motivation or reinforcement to complete the task successfully. Therefore, it is true that the easier a task is for the dog, the less you need to reward it.

Whether the clicker / clicker word mean end behaviour is a point of dispute between dog trainers. Effectively, most people also use it as an end signal to tell the dog they can stop what they were doing. Technically, it isn't necessarily so and the dog could very well be asked to do a long sit, and receive clicks whilst doing it, to tell him he's on the way.

False:

We do not ignore all unwanted behaviour. It is better not to ignore aggression, for example; or behaviour that is driven by frustration.

We do advise to ignore ATTENTION-SEEKING behaviour.

And not ignoring still does not mean punishing the dog harshly.

'The dog gets really excited'... is incorrect, as these dogs would actually benefit from the very opposite of Combat treats. They need crumbles of boring, dry food.

The 3 D's of proofing refer to the factors that determine the dog's ability to comply with commands in different situations. Distance refers to the distance at which the dog will continue to obey commands. Distraction refers to the level of distraction that the dog can handle while still performing well. Duration refers to how long the dog can maintain a behavior, such as sitting, when asked. These factors are important in training because they help assess the dog's reliability and ability to perform in various circumstances.

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The expression "Would you bet 50 euros the dog can do it?" is used when the owner gives the dog a command and the dog is incapable of complying because it hasn't been taught the command fluently enough. This implies that the owner is doubtful of the dog's ability to perform the command successfully and is willing to make a bet to express their lack of confidence in the dog's capabilities.

False: It can be a gray area. With time, you will get better at distinguishing which behaviour belongs to which intervention (b-mod vs. group training). Some behaviour are, by their nature or intensity, borderline cases. 

The correct answer includes the elements of the lesson structure. "Doel" explains how the desired behavior will look once it has been practiced enough. "Nut" explains why the lesson is useful to the students. "Hoe" provides a very short overview of the entry-level steps and explains how the lesson will be taught.

Pushing the dog in at the deep end, where you know the dog will fail, will have negative consequences on future performance. This is because the dog may become sensitized to the difficult situations and develop negative associations, leading to worse performance in the future. Additionally, this approach will only serve to frustrate both the dog and the handler, making the training process ineffective.

The explanation for the given correct answer is that once the clicker is used, it signals to the dog that they have done the desired behavior and will be rewarded. Even if the owner was late in saying the clicker word and the dog had already started barking, it is important to still give the treat to reinforce the desired behavior. This ensures that the dog understands that barking is not the desired behavior and encourages them to repeat the correct behavior in the future. The owner is advised to be more careful with their timing in order to avoid confusion for the dog.

During lessons, instructors/coaches should avoid saying the (human) student's name to avoid triggering the dogs. This is because dogs may associate their name being called with a command or action, causing confusion or distraction during training. It is important to use consistent and clear cues to communicate with the dogs, and using the student's name can create unnecessary confusion in the training process.

The number of staff members available to assist does not determine the configuration of the group (semi-circle, circle, or line). The factors that determine the group's configuration are the distance between dogs, dogs not staring at each other, all students being able to hear the teacher, and the teacher not having to turn their back on students when explaining something centrally.

In the given scenario, the behavior economics principles are applied in all the examples except for the 'princess exercise'. In the other examples, the trainers use the concept of positive reinforcement by rewarding the dog with more delicious food, high-value rewards, and gradually increasing criteria for desired behavior. However, in the 'princess exercise', the trainers wait for the dog to show insight or a specific behavior (half-hop instead of jumping) before providing a reward. This approach does not align with the principles of behavior economics, which emphasize the use of immediate and consistent reinforcement to shape behavior.

The correct answer is "We don't adapt and repeat the full-length central explanation for the newbies. Repetition will help anchor the concepts deeper for the more experienced students anyway." This answer is incorrect because it suggests that repetition is not necessary or beneficial for newbies. However, repetition is important for all students, regardless of their experience level, as it helps reinforce and solidify the concepts being taught. It is important to adapt and repeat the central explanation for newbies to ensure they fully understand and retain the information.

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The explanation for the given correct answer is that at OhMyDog, they promise "Value-Added Training" (VAT), which means that all exercises in their curriculum are equally important and valuable for the students. They have carefully designed the curriculum to ensure that all exercises are beneficial and ask their students to put equal effort into practicing all of them. This approach ensures that the students receive a well-rounded training experience and are able to benefit from all aspects of the curriculum.

The correct answer is that there is no ideal group configuration. This means that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to structuring a lesson with groups. The ideal configuration may vary depending on factors such as the nature of the lesson, the number of students, the learning objectives, and the teaching style. It is important for educators to consider these factors and adapt the group configuration accordingly to create an effective and engaging learning environment.

It is essential that you know the stages, in guiding owners when they practice the exercises on the field.

The conditions that make it okay to take over the dog to demonstrate during class are: the dog doesn't mind, the student doesn't mind, and you don't do it regularly.

The correct answer includes all the elements that need to be covered in the lesson structure. The "Praatje" element involves providing a central explanation about the purpose and target behavior of the exercise. The "Plaatje" element involves demonstrating all the steps at the current training stage, which can be done using a plush dog. The "Praktijk" element involves 1-on-1 coaching and guided practice. Including all these elements ensures a comprehensive and effective lesson structure for the exercise.

LIMA is an ethical position, not necessarily a scientific one.

When it comes to dog training, the end does not justify the means. Even if something does take longer (or even is impossible) without using pain/intimidation, we would still not implement a pain/intimdation-based method at the school.

'Keep working with the client' ... You might think you are engaged in sound customer service, but you are actually introducing chaos to the lessons, as all the other students are waiting. If this student isn't getting it after 2-3 explanations, give them a feasible piece of homework for them to strive to ahead of next week, and move on.

The central explanation for one exercise should ideally take 3-5 minutes. This duration allows for a sufficient amount of time to provide a clear and concise explanation of the exercise, ensuring that students understand the key concepts and objectives. It strikes a balance between being too brief and not providing enough information, and being too lengthy and potentially losing the students' attention. This timeframe also allows for any necessary demonstrations or examples to be included, enhancing the understanding of the exercise.

The ideal number of new exercises per lesson should be minimum 1 and maximum 2-3. If there is only 1 exercise, students may get bored and not feel challenged enough. On the other hand, if there are too many exercises (3-4), students may feel overwhelmed and find it difficult to complete all the tasks within the lesson. Therefore, striking a balance between providing enough new exercises to keep students engaged and challenged, but not overwhelming them, is important for effective learning.

'Because other dogs...' is actually not the case, surprisingly. This isn't a problem in reality.

Answers 3-5 are false. The exact opposite is true.

3. Kept guessing: Capturing relies on guessing. Luring is better for dogs who get easily frustrated.
4. Shy/inhibited dogs: Shy dogs tend to fall apart with Capturing. They are nervous of making mistakes. Luring is better for them.
5. Beginner/impatient owners: They won't have the patience for capturing. Luring is better for them.

- 'Every time you reward the dog...' The reasoning here is incorrect. The dog is perfectly capable to understanding many different reward words. - 'When the dog doesn't quite..." The clicker word does give the dog that little extra help for not completely mastered behaviours, though. - "When you are engaged in a formal..." The clicker/clicker word also help give structure to focused training sessions.

Too few exercises and students don't feel they are getting value for money. Too many exercises and students can't keep up with practice.

- 'well-established in research' is not true. The research results are all over the place on the efficacy of the clicker. - 'because it is less frustrating' is not true. Working with the clicker can be more frustrating, as it is often coupled with free-shaping/capturing