PAWS FOR PRAISE
Why Positive Training?
The American Veterinary Animal Behavior Society recommends "...that training should focus on reinforcing desired behaviors, removing the reinforcer for inappropriate behaviors, and addressing the emotional state and environmental conditions driving the undesirable behavior. This approach promotes a better understanding of the pet’s behavior and better awareness of how humans may have inadvertently contributed to the development of the undesirable behavior."
At Paws for Praise, we use our S.M.A.R.T.s
That means that we use "see, mark, and reward" training. We offer clients two different approaches - they may use their voice to mark, or they may opt for clicker training, which uses a small device that makes a uniform noise with which to mark behavior. This provides a precise signal that tells the dog when he's right. The more you reward "right" behavior, the more the dog will want to do it.
To reward, or "reinforce" our dogs' good behavior, we use food, toys, games, privileges, and other things that interest our dogs. The secret is that we do not use these things to "bribe" our dogs. We teach you to use the correct sequence, and how to fade the rewards, so that you won't need to use them so frequently. Anyone who tells you not to use food in training has an incomplete knowledge of operant conditioning! Food is just one of many possible rewards.
That means that we use "see, mark, and reward" training. We offer clients two different approaches - they may use their voice to mark, or they may opt for clicker training, which uses a small device that makes a uniform noise with which to mark behavior. This provides a precise signal that tells the dog when he's right. The more you reward "right" behavior, the more the dog will want to do it.
To reward, or "reinforce" our dogs' good behavior, we use food, toys, games, privileges, and other things that interest our dogs. The secret is that we do not use these things to "bribe" our dogs. We teach you to use the correct sequence, and how to fade the rewards, so that you won't need to use them so frequently. Anyone who tells you not to use food in training has an incomplete knowledge of operant conditioning! Food is just one of many possible rewards.
Customer Feedback
I have trained all of my dogs, five in total - with Anne Springer, owner of Paws for Praise. Anne has extensive experience in dog training which she shares enthusiatically with her students. Anne is also very willing to address owner and dog specific goals and questions, in addition to covering the course basics.
~Joan Mulloney Stone
Wenham, Mass.
~Joan Mulloney Stone
Wenham, Mass.