Curriculum & Learning
We use the Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive (LIMA) approach to training and follow the Humane Hierarchy as a guide to teaching new behaviors, generalizing known behaviors, and modifying undesirable behaviors. Our methods are a mixture of operant conditioning, classical conditioning, counter-conditioning, differential reinforcement of alternative behaviors, and antecedent arrangement. All dogs learn in different ways, the same as people do, so exact techniques will depend on the situation in order to train effectively. We are dedicated to only using fear-free, humane methods with positive reinforcement at the core of everything we do.
Exposure
-
Sound Desensitization - Sounds will be exposed starting at low volumes and far distances and then gradually we work up.
-
Handling and Touch Desensitization - Essential for preparing your dog for the handling that they will experience at the vet and the groomer.
-
Positive Socialization - Safely exposing dogs to a myriad of things that they will encounter in their life (objects, people, environments, dogs). We socialize at your dog's pace, not ours- meaning we monitor their comfort levels 24/7 to ensure we are never introducing too much too quickly.
House Manners
-
House Training - Learning to go potty on cue, indicate at the back or front door, and creating a potty routune.
-
Crate Training - Getting them comfortable & happy while crated, to go into the crate on cue, and accustomed to scheduled naps in the crate.
-
Appropriate Play - Addresses nipping, mouthing, play biting, fetch, inappropriate chewing, and tug of war.
-
Excessive Barking - We manage excessive barking by modifying when and for how long they can bark utilizing a "positive interrupter". We also teach your dog alternative ways to communicate, while relaying back to you the type of barking they are exhibiting, in case it is indicative of a different problem.
-
Inappropriate Jumping - We focus on teaching alternative ways to greet people, like sitting calmly for attention. When they learn to channel their excitement into an alternative behavior, like going to their place and laying down, it becomes second nature—like muscle memory. With consistent practice, this calm response replaces jumping as their go-to behavior.
Obedience
-
Commands - Some of the commands taught: Sit, Down, Focus, Settle, Touch, Off, Go Crate, Go Potty, Place, Leave It, Drop It, Heel, Go Play, Let's Go
-
Positive Obedience - This is otherwise referred to as the “premack principle” and means asking your dog to perform simple obedience cues (like sit, focus, lay down), in order to get something that they want from you (pets, praise, affection, treats, a walk, a toy).
-
Threshold Respect- A vital skill to help them develop self-control and patience. It ensures they don’t bolt through doors or gates, keeping them safe in everyday situations. By learning to pause and wait calmly, they build impulse control, which carries over into other aspects of their training and behavior.
Learning Process Overview
​Learning new behaviors takes quite some time for dogs, just as it does for people.
The process can be broken down into 4 stages: Acquisition, Fluency, Generalization, and Maintenance.
Teaching a behavior through the second stage (Fluency) can happen quickly, typically within a week or two, but the generalization stage can take take weeks, or even months, dependent on the dog.
This is why most training must take place in a dog's home environment, in order to retain all of that precious knowledge and progress through the final stages of learning.
Stage One
Introduction to Basics & Positive Socialization (Acquisition)
-
Acclimate your dog to a new training environment.
-
Introduce commands one at a time.
-
Attach verbal cues and hand signals to behaviors.
-
Fade the use of lures.
Stage Two
Consistency and Refinement (Fluency)
-
Gain ability to prompt behaviors using cues.
-
Move from consistent to intermittent schedule of reinforcement
-
Reward the better-than-average responses.
-
Fine tune: Precision, latency, speed.
Stage Three
Distraction Work (Generalization)
-
Add in 3 aspects of difficulty: distractions, duration, and distance.
-
Reduce reliance on food rewards, incorporating more praise, toys, play, affection, etc. as reinforcement
-
Train in various locations and situations, such as crowded areas or during visits to friends' houses.
Stage Four
Polishing (Maintenance)
​
-
Combine with other cues
-
Incorporate obedience training into daily routines.
-
Create a plan for proper use of learned behaviors