by Kay Laurence | 12th August 2019 | Must read, Training | 0 Comments

With thoughtful planning and a good understanding of the relevance of antecedent selection we can teach the dog the skills of sorting the wheat from the chaff, finding the bones of the exercise. This skill is critical to being able to distinguish between distractions, which are just cues for an alternative reward opportunity, and cues which signify a guarantee of success.

by Kay Laurence | 30th July 2019 | Training | 0 Comments

For every game, for every point where you control delivery of reinforcement, just keep asking whether you see enjoyment and pleasure or habitual response and conflict?

by Kay Laurence | 22nd June 2019 | Training | 0 Comments

Just delivering a treat is not enough. The delivery of that treat can become a highly valued process, eagerly sought by the dog because the delivery involves so much more than “dump-and-swallow”.

by Kay Laurence | 21st June 2019 | Klog | 0 Comments

Most training starts from necessity. Management is a necessity but it usually benefits all parties by a reduction of conflict. But does management training mean that the dog can grow? Are they expanding their skills to benefit us or for their benefit?

by Kay Laurence | 21st June 2019 | Learning about dogs | 0 Comments

The classic training protocols are too often about supressing the annoying behaviours without realising that a sheepdog can no more stop being a sheepdog than you can stop being a human and become a hamster.

by Kay Laurence | 6th May 2019 | Klog | 0 Comments

I like to regard a “teacher of dogs” as someone who meets dogs in their world and teaches them how to be their best whilst living alongside us in our world.

by Kay Laurence | 20th April 2019 | Training | 0 Comments

Luring teaches trainers essential skills. We learn how to use suggestion and guidance to shape behaviours. We learn how to explain dynamic movement in the cues from our hands. In combination with reinforcement, luring has without doubt, been one of the skills I value most as a trainer.

by Kay Laurence | 22nd March 2019 | Training | 3 Comments

Teaching duration has become a very muddied understanding or what it is and how to teach it. This is partly due to how we use words that are the same but have entirely different meanings.

by Kay Laurence | 1st March 2019 | Training | 0 Comments

Guidance can be the lightest change in contingencies, an extra antecedent. I can place a palette of different paints and brushes next to the chair. It doesn’t mean you need to paint the chair, you could sit on the chair and paint your own shoes, but just the presence of the tools would give you guidance.

by Clare Russell | 1st February 2019 | Question we should be asking, Training | 0 Comments

Whether you are an owner looking for help with your dog, a trainer taking your first steps towards helping others or an experienced trainer looking to improve – keep working, keep learning, stay curious.