Kay Laurence - Learning About Dogs: Recent Episodes
Sue McGuire
Kay Laurence of "Learning About Dogs" in the U.K. and Sue McGuire, a manager of a canine program at an animal shelter near San Francisco join forces to talk about the life we live with dogs. Kay Laurence brings with her more than 40 years of experience working and teaching dogs. Her unique and insightful perspective provides dog trainers and dog people a new way to learn about dogs. Sue McGuire provides the unique perspective of interacting with hundreds of dogs in shelters.
When we plan the future of this wonderful new life we can begin to think in terms of how we want them to be as adults. This can make our training plans quite narrow and centric to our expectations.
Instead if we view them as learners that can be flexible then there is no limit to what they can learn for all of their future.
As much as we would love to be able to let our youngsters enjoy plenty of freedom to explore, learn, run free; the realities of the desires of your adolescent dog means that:
- "Explore" morphs quickly into reverse engineering your sofa, laptop, waste bins; or run the neighbourhood until darkness and hunger drives them home
- "Learn" is discovering of the joyous sensations of digging, chewing, chasing
- "Run free" becomes a license to irritate all local wildlife, other dogs, other people or cats
We can design an adolescence with plenty of selected opportunities to learn without compromising their development or blossoming personalities. This period is very much about learning the future skills of being an adult in your world.
Important conversations when we graduate from one dog to two:
- Does one dog teach the other bad habits and can we ask them to teach good habits?
- Delivering rewards, you only have two hands, training one dog without excluding the other: learning the important skills of spectating and not feeling left out.
- Walking together: your body language is the dominant cue and we have to be careful not to let them feed off each other in arousal.
- Nose put out: the long term resident can feel upset by the demands of the new puppy. Be sure they have their special moments.
Important conversations when we graduate from one dog to two:
- Does one dog teach the other bad habits and can we expect them to teach good habits?
- Delivering rewards, you only have two hands, training one dog without excluding the other: how the puppy learns the important skills of spectating and not feeling left out.
- Walking together: your body language is the dominant cue and we have to be careful not to let them feed off each other in arousal or chasing bunnies.
- Nose put out: the long term resident can feel upset by the demands of the new puppy. Be sure they have their special moments.
Our hands are very often used for communication and for the pup most importantly CONTACT.
The way we use our hands, where they touch the puppy, how they touch the puppy will be building associations for life. Hands that can be trusted and hands that will deliver sensational rewards. Hands that will later becomes tools: hands can begin the feelings of brushes, cleaning and holding for stillness.
Building familiarity with the movement and actions of your hands can build a future for easy veterinary procedures in the future.
A period of exceptional growth where the pup's world seems to shrink as they grow larger. Feet seem gigantic and unmanageable, teeth are falling out, appetites and growing and sleep is the deepest kind. Not a time we should be expecting cognitive gymnastics but still need to feed the learning appetite.
Having survived many of these transition periods Kay and Frances share their observations and recommendations.
Most of us want to take our pup out-and-about with us; from the countryside walks to brunch at the local café or pub. We will plan to go on holiday, stay in hotels or visit friends, perhaps go to classes, a dog show or the local garden fête.
To ensure these outings are as pleasant an experience for your dog as they are for you we need to begin to familiarise the youngster with these anticipated but unnatural environments.
A familiarisation protocol should ensure that a puppy has the time to assess, observe, and become familiar with, the weird and wonderful life that will be their future. If you rush this and the pup becomes fearful of people at the cafe, then this shared outing may never be on your dream list.
Do not rely on putting it right or fixing this associated anxiety at a later date. “Become familiar with” should never involve anxiety, it should always be gradual, never extreme and the pup should always have the right to say “no thanks”.
FEATURE: Familiarisation
Kay Laurence and Frances McCormack of Learning About Dogs introduce a new member of Frances’ family: Nika, a collie pup from rescue. You can follow Nika and Frances through their first year exploring the many questions that arise.
In this episode: Nika is 16 weeks and a voracious learner. We talk about Nika's learning in particular what lifeskills she will learn from her Cup on a Stick activities.
A range of resources and articles are on our website: Learn About Puppies
Kay Laurence and Frances McCormack of Learning About Dogs introduce a new member of Frances’ family: Nika, a collie pup from rescue. You can follow Nika and Frances through their first year exploring the many questions that arise.
In this episode: we talk about learning to say "no". and at the same time avoid shutting down your enquisitive pup who wants to run everywhere, put everything in their mouth, jump, grab and shred.
Learn to see what learning they are seeking and how you can divert that into a lifeskill.
More reading:
Stop Doing That an Articles that examines how we can teach a "Cease That" behaviour via teaching an alternative, and employing blocking, stationing, and consistency.
A range of resources and articles are on our website: Learn About Puppies
Kay Laurence and Frances McCormack of Learning About Dogs introduce a new member of Frances’ family: Nika, a collie pup from rescue. You can follow Nika and Frances through their first year exploring the many questions that arise.
In this episode: we talk about those tricky situations where you need to protect your pup from uninvited approaches from strangers when you feel the pressure to avoid seeming to be rude.
Your contract, or loyalty is to your dog, not a stranger. You can say "no", but thank you for admiring my puppy. Our consideration is for the long term future of this puppy not the short term momentary pleasures of a passing stranger.
More reading:
Lifestyle: Out and About A familiarisation protocol should ensure that a puppy has the time to become familiar with the weird and wonderful life that will be their future. This blog also examines verbal cues and how to handle strangers who want to touch the puppy.
A range of resources and articles are on our website: Learn About Puppies
Kay Laurence and Frances McCormack of Learning About Dogs introduce a new member of Frances’ family: Nika, a collie pup from rescue. You can follow Nika and Frances through their first year exploring the many questions that arise.
In this episode: Nika’s learning is already well underway, but toileting outdoors is a work in progress. In this episode, we think about routines, management, and tackle the Great Puppy Pad Debate head on!
Kay Laurence and Frances McCormack of Learning About Dogs introduce a new member of Frances’ family: Nika, a collie pup from rescue. You can follow Nika and Frances through their first year exploring the many questions that arise.
In this episode: "First Days At Home" we talk about making the transition for the new pup, and setting up success for her first few days meeting the rest of the family.
Kay Laurence and Frances McCormack of Learning About Dogs introduce a new member of Frances’ family: Nika, a collie pup from rescue. You can follow Nika and Frances through their first year exploring the many questions that arise.
In this episode: "Introducing Nika we talk about choosing a puppy from a litter, introducing a new dog to an existing canine resident, and why sometimes names just fit. "
We have a range of Articles and Resources to help you both survive the first year.
Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire of Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs, join forces for the fourth season of the hugely successful, Learning About Dogs podcast.
This is the final episode of Season Four, which featured short, one subject podcasts. This episode deserved a deep dive because we ask some very important questions.
In this episode: "Can you identify good training? What does it look like?"
Here is a treat, some wonderful training videos showing that good training stands the test of time.
Learning About Dogs Video Channel.
Courses:
Self-directed, online with unlimited lifetime access.
Build the LearningAs learning engineers we design access to rewards that shape the learning with guidance and suggestion. We cannot do the learning for our dogs, we can simply set up the situation that they learn from.Management or TrainingFind your pathway to suit your lifestyle of living with dogs. When you need management to temporarily support the learning, or choose training.
Discover the power of passive learning and invest your energy to the active learning.Reward Skills CourseLearn about the fascinating landscape of rewards and make them the centre of training and relationship.
Explore the different and diverse ways we can deliver rewards to bring excitement or relaxation, curiosity or confidence.Sue McGuire offers a limited number of consultations and courses for small groups human/canine learners. Contact her through Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs.
Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire of Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs, join forces for the fourth season of the hugely successful, Learning About Dogs podcast.
Season four features short, one subject podcast no longer than 10 minutes. Although try as we might, we are shooting for not much over five minutes. But one salient thought.
In this episode: "Why it is important to incorporate irrelevant cues while teaching relevant cues."
Here is a treat, some wonderful training videos showing that good training stands the test of time.
Learning About Dogs Video Channel.
Courses:
Self-directed, online with unlimited lifetime access.
Build the LearningAs learning engineers we design access to rewards that shape the learning with guidance and suggestion. We cannot do the learning for our dogs, we can simply set up the situation that they learn from.Management or TrainingFind your pathway to suit your lifestyle of living with dogs. When you need management to temporarily support the learning, or choose training.
Discover the power of passive learning and invest your energy to the active learning.Reward Skills CourseLearn about the fascinating landscape of rewards and make them the centre of training and relationship.
Explore the different and diverse ways we can deliver rewards to bring excitement or relaxation, curiosity or confidence.Sue McGuire offers a limited number of consultations and courses for small groups human/canine learners. Contact her through Sue Teaches Dogs.
Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire of Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs, join forces for the fourth season of the hugely successful, Learning About Dogs podcast.
Season four features short, one subject podcast no longer than 10 minutes. Although try as we might, we are shooting for not much over five minutes. But one salient thought.
In this episode: "Keeping track of all that you have taught your dog."
Here is a treat, some wonderful training videos showing that good training stands the test of time.
Learning About Dogs Video Channel.
Courses:
Self-directed, online with unlimited lifetime access.
Build the LearningAs learning engineers we design access to rewards that shape the learning with guidance and suggestion. We cannot do the learning for our dogs, we can simply set up the situation that they learn from.Management or TrainingFind your pathway to suit your lifestyle of living with dogs. When you need management to temporarily support the learning, or choose training.
Discover the power of passive learning and invest your energy to the active learning.Reward Skills CourseLearn about the fascinating landscape of rewards and make them the centre of training and relationship.
Explore the different and diverse ways we can deliver rewards to bring excitement or relaxation, curiosity or confidence.Sue McGuire offers a limited number of consultations and courses for small groups human/canine learners. Contact her through Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs.
Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire of Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs, join forces for the fourth season of the hugely successful, Learning About Dogs podcast.
Season four features short, one subject podcast no longer than 10 minutes. Although try as we might, we are shooting for not much over five minutes. But one salient thought.
In this episode: "Can we ever do enough DISCRIMINATION SKILLS?"
Here is a treat, some wonderful training videos showing that good training stands the test of time.
Learning About Dogs Video Channel.
Courses:
Self-directed, online with unlimited lifetime access.
Build the LearningAs learning engineers we design access to rewards that shape the learning with guidance and suggestion. We cannot do the learning for our dogs, we can simply set up the situation that they learn from.Management or TrainingFind your pathway to suit your lifestyle of living with dogs. When you need management to temporarily support the learning, or choose training.
Discover the power of passive learning and invest your energy to the active learning.Reward Skills CourseLearn about the fascinating landscape of rewards and make them the centre of training and relationship.
Explore the different and diverse ways we can deliver rewards to bring excitement or relaxation, curiosity or confidence.Sue McGuire offers a limited number of consultations and courses for small groups human/canine learners. Contact her through Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs.
Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire of Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs, join forces for the fourth season of the hugely successful, Learning About Dogs podcast.
Season four features short, one subject podcast no longer than 10 minutes. Although try as we might, we are shooting for not much over five minutes. But one salient thought.
In this episode: "Listen to your heart. If it's not enriching for you, this competition or training thing, then it likely is not for your dog either. Being a square peg in the round hole of the training world."
Courses:
Self-directed, online with unlimited lifetime access.
Build the LearningAs learning engineers we design access to rewards that shape the learning with guidance and suggestion. We cannot do the learning for our dogs, we can simply set up the situation that they learn from.Management or TrainingFind your pathway to suit your lifestyle of living with dogs. When you need management to temporarily support the learning, or choose training.
Discover the power of passive learning and invest your energy to the active learning.Reward Skills CourseLearn about the fascinating landscape of rewards and make them the centre of training and relationship.
Explore the different and diverse ways we can deliver rewards to bring excitement or relaxation, curiosity or confidence.Sue McGuire offers a limited number of consultations and courses for small groups human/canine learners. Contact her through Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs.
Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire of Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs, join forces for the fourth season of the hugely successful, Learning About Dogs podcast.
Season four features short, one subject podcast no longer than 10 minutes. Although try as we might, we are shooting for not much over five minutes. But one salient thought. This episode is a bit longer because it's a passionate topic; competition.
In this episode: "People who compete with their dog are right to train to standard. But this should never be at a cost to the dog."
Courses:
Self-directed, online with unlimited lifetime access.
Build the LearningAs learning engineers we design access to rewards that shape the learning with guidance and suggestion. We cannot do the learning for our dogs, we can simply set up the situation that they learn from.Management or TrainingFind your pathway to suit your lifestyle of living with dogs. When you need management to temporarily support the learning, or choose training.
Discover the power of passive learning and invest your energy to the active learning.Reward Skills CourseLearn about the fascinating landscape of rewards and make them the centre of training and relationship.
Explore the different and diverse ways we can deliver rewards to bring excitement or relaxation, curiosity or confidence.Sue McGuire offers a limited number of consultations and courses for small groups human/canine learners. Contact her through Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs.
Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire of Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs, join forces for the fourth season of the hugely successful, Learning About Dogs podcast.
Season four features short, one subject podcast no longer than 10 minutes. Although try as we might, we are shooting for not much over five minutes. But one salient thought.
In this episode: "Why it is beneficial to teach a dog to walk well, before you have them running. Walking well is a skill that will allow for a healthy life."
Courses:
Self-directed, online with unlimited lifetime access.
Cup on a Stick as referenced in the episode. A terrific method for teaching a dog to walk well.
Build the LearningAs learning engineers we design access to rewards that shape the learning with guidance and suggestion. We cannot do the learning for our dogs, we can simply set up the situation that they learn from.Management or TrainingFind your pathway to suit your lifestyle of living with dogs. When you need management to temporarily support the learning, or choose training.
Discover the power of passive learning and invest your energy to the active learning.Reward Skills CourseLearn about the fascinating landscape of rewards and make them the centre of training and relationship.
Explore the different and diverse ways we can deliver rewards to bring excitement or relaxation, curiosity or confidence.Sue McGuire offers a limited number of consultations and courses for small groups human/canine learners. Contact her through Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs.
Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire of Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs, join forces for the fourth season of the hugely successful, Learning About Dogs podcast.
Season four features short, one subject podcast no longer than 10 minutes. Although try as we might, we are shooting for not much over five minutes. But one salient thought.
In this episode: "The importance of focusing on simple moves before moving onto complex ones. This skill is vital to building strong behaviors?"
Courses:
Self-directed, online with unlimited lifetime access.
Build the LearningAs learning engineers we design access to rewards that shape the learning with guidance and suggestion. We cannot do the learning for our dogs, we can simply set up the situation that they learn from.Management or TrainingFind your pathway to suit your lifestyle of living with dogs. When you need management to temporarily support the learning, or choose training.
Discover the power of passive learning and invest your energy to the active learning.Reward Skills CourseLearn about the fascinating landscape of rewards and make them the centre of training and relationship.
Explore the different and diverse ways we can deliver rewards to bring excitement or relaxation, curiosity or confidence.Sue McGuire offers a limited number of consultations and courses for small groups human/canine learners. Contact her through Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs.
Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire of Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs, join forces for the fourth season of the hugely successful, Learning About Dogs podcast.
Season four features short, one subject podcast no longer than 10 minutes. Although try as we might, we are shooting for not much over five minutes. But one salient thought.
In this episode, we discuss, "How rewards and cues and linked. Cues are predictors of rewards and reward are cues."
Courses:
Self-directed, online with unlimited lifetime access.
Build the LearningAs learning engineers we design access to rewards that shape the learning with guidance and suggestion. We cannot do the learning for our dogs, we can simply set up the situation that they learn from.Management or TrainingFind your pathway to suit your lifestyle of living with dogs. When you need management to temporarily support the learning, or choose training.
Discover the power of passive learning and invest your energy to the active learning.Reward Skills CourseLearn about the fascinating landscape of rewards and make them the centre of training and relationship.
Explore the different and diverse ways we can deliver rewards to bring excitement or relaxation, curiosity or confidence.Sue McGuire offers a limited number of consultations and courses for small groups human/canine learners. Contact her through Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs.
Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire of Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs, join forces for the fourth season of the hugely successful, Learning About Dogs podcast.
Season four features short, one subject podcast no longer than 10 minutes. Although try as we might, we are shooting for not much over five minutes. But one salient thought.
In this episode: "We settle once and for all, the controversy over, teaching sit and when to use this behavior. "
Courses:
Self-directed, online with unlimited lifetime access.
Build the LearningAs learning engineers we design access to rewards that shape the learning with guidance and suggestion. We cannot do the learning for our dogs, we can simply set up the situation that they learn from.Management or TrainingFind your pathway to suit your lifestyle of living with dogs. When you need management to temporarily support the learning, or choose training.
Discover the power of passive learning and invest your energy to the active learning.Reward Skills CourseLearn about the fascinating landscape of rewards and make them the centre of training and relationship.
Explore the different and diverse ways we can deliver rewards to bring excitement or relaxation, curiosity or confidence.Sue McGuire offers a limited number of consultations and courses for small groups human/canine learners. Contact her through Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs.
Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire of Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs, join forces for the fourth season of the hugely successful, Learning About Dogs podcast.
Season four features short, one subject podcast no longer than 10 minutes. Although try as we might, we are shooting for not much over five minutes. But one salient thought.
In this episode, we discuss "How can we build a stand with stillness into an important default behavior."
Courses:
Self-directed, online with unlimited lifetime access.
Build the LearningAs learning engineers we design access to rewards that shape the learning with guidance and suggestion. We cannot do the learning for our dogs, we can simply set up the situation that they learn from.Management or TrainingFind your pathway to suit your lifestyle of living with dogs. When you need management to temporarily support the learning, or choose training.
Discover the power of passive learning and invest your energy to the active learning.Reward Skills CourseLearn about the fascinating landscape of rewards and make them the centre of training and relationship.
Explore the different and diverse ways we can deliver rewards to bring excitement or relaxation, curiosity or confidence.Sue McGuire offers a limited number of consultations and courses for small groups human/canine learners. Contact her through Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs.
Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire of Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs, join forces for the fourth season of the hugely successful, Learning About Dogs podcast.
Season four features short, one subject podcast no longer than 10 minutes. Although try as we might, we are shooting for not much over five minutes. But one salient thought.
In this episode, we ask, "What are default behaviors and what is the value in teaching them?"
Courses:
Self-directed, online with unlimited lifetime access.
Build the LearningAs learning engineers we design access to rewards that shape the learning with guidance and suggestion. We cannot do the learning for our dogs, we can simply set up the situation that they learn from.Management or TrainingFind your pathway to suit your lifestyle of living with dogs. When you need management to temporarily support the learning, or choose training.
Discover the power of passive learning and invest your energy to the active learning.Reward Skills CourseLearn about the fascinating landscape of rewards and make them the centre of training and relationship.
Explore the different and diverse ways we can deliver rewards to bring excitement or relaxation, curiosity or confidence.Sue McGuire offers a limited number of consultations and courses for small groups human/canine learners. Contact her through Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs.
Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire of Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs, join forces for the fourth season of the hugely successful, Learning About Dogs podcast.
Season four features short, one subject podcast no longer than 10 minutes. Although try as we might, we are shooting for not much over five minutes. But one salient thought.
In this episode, we ask, "How can we identify when we have taught our dogs a false behavior?"
Courses:
Self-directed, online with unlimited lifetime access.
Build the LearningAs learning engineers we design access to rewards that shape the learning with guidance and suggestion. We cannot do the learning for our dogs, we can simply set up the situation that they learn from.Management or TrainingFind your pathway to suit your lifestyle of living with dogs. When you need management to temporarily support the learning, or choose training.
Discover the power of passive learning and invest your energy to the active learning.Reward Skills CourseLearn about the fascinating landscape of rewards and make them the centre of training and relationship.
Explore the different and diverse ways we can deliver rewards to bring excitement or relaxation, curiosity or confidence.Sue McGuire offers a limited number of consultations and courses for small groups human/canine learners. Contact her through Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs.
Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire of Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs, join forces for the fourth season of the hugely successful, Learning About Dogs podcast.
Season four features short, one subject podcast no longer than 10 minutes. Although try as we might, we are shooting for not much over five minutes. But one salient thought.
In this episode, we ask, "How to avoid getting a behavior through 98 not right repetitions. "
Courses:
Self-directed, online with unlimited lifetime access.
Build the LearningAs learning engineers we design access to rewards that shape the learning with guidance and suggestion. We cannot do the learning for our dogs, we can simply set up the situation that they learn from.Management or TrainingFind your pathway to suit your lifestyle of living with dogs. When you need management to temporarily support the learning, or choose training.
Discover the power of passive learning and invest your energy to the active learning.Reward Skills CourseLearn about the fascinating landscape of rewards and make them the centre of training and relationship.
Explore the different and diverse ways we can deliver rewards to bring excitement or relaxation, curiosity or confidence.Sue McGuire offers a limited number of consultations and courses for small groups human/canine learners. Contact her through Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs.
Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire of Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs, join forces for the fourth season of the hugely successful, Learning About Dogs podcast.
Season four features short, one subject podcast no longer than 10 minutes. Although try as we might, we are shooting for not much over five minutes. But one salient thought.
In this episode, we ask, "How to build resilience in behavior? What should do when teaching the behavior(s)?"
Courses:
Self-directed, online with unlimited lifetime access.
Build the LearningAs learning engineers we design access to rewards that shape the learning with guidance and suggestion. We cannot do the learning for our dogs, we can simply set up the situation that they learn from.Management or TrainingFind your pathway to suit your lifestyle of living with dogs. When you need management to temporarily support the learning, or choose training.
Discover the power of passive learning and invest your energy to the active learning.Reward Skills CourseLearn about the fascinating landscape of rewards and make them the centre of training and relationship.
Explore the different and diverse ways we can deliver rewards to bring excitement or relaxation, curiosity or confidence.Sue McGuire offers a limited number of consultations and courses for small groups human/canine learners. Contact her through Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs.
Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire of Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs, join forces for the fourth season of the hugely successful, Learning About Dogs podcast.
Season four features short, one subject podcast no longer than 10 minutes. Although try as we might, we are shooting for not much over five minutes. But one salient thought.
In this episode, we ask, "What should we build in the approach of the learner?"
Courses:
Self-directed, online with unlimited lifetime access.
Build the LearningAs learning engineers we design access to rewards that shape the learning with guidance and suggestion. We cannot do the learning for our dogs, we can simply set up the situation that they learn from.Management or TrainingFind your pathway to suit your lifestyle of living with dogs. When you need management to temporarily support the learning, or choose training.
Discover the power of passive learning and invest your energy to the active learning.Reward Skills CourseLearn about the fascinating landscape of rewards and make them the centre of training and relationship.
Explore the different and diverse ways we can deliver rewards to bring excitement or relaxation, curiosity or confidence.Sue McGuire offers a limited number of consultations and courses for small groups human/canine learners. Contact her through Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs.
Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire of Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs, join forces for the fourth season of the hugely successful, Learning About Dogs podcast.
Season four features short, one subject podcast no longer than 10 minutes. Although try as we might, we are shooting for not much over five minutes. But one salient thought.
In this episode, we ask, "What skills you need to teach a dog?"
Courses:
Self-directed, online with unlimited lifetime access.
Build the LearningAs learning engineers we design access to rewards that shape the learning with guidance and suggestion. We cannot do the learning for our dogs, we can simply set up the situation that they learn from.Management or TrainingFind your pathway to suit your lifestyle of living with dogs. When you need management to temporarily support the learning, or choose training.
Discover the power of passive learning and invest your energy to the active learning.Reward Skills CourseLearn about the fascinating landscape of rewards and make them the centre of training and relationship.
Explore the different and diverse ways we can deliver rewards to bring excitement or relaxation, curiosity or confidence.Sue McGuire offers a limited number of consultations and courses for small groups humane/canine learners. Contact her through Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs.
Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire of Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs, join forces for the fourth season of the hugely successful, Learning About Dogs podcast.
Season four features short, one subject podcast no longer than 10 minutes. Although try as we might, we are shooting for not much over five minutes. But one salient thought.
In this episode, we ask, "Can you identify what learning is taking place?"
Courses:
Self-directed, online with unlimited lifetime access.
Build the LearningAs learning engineers we design access to rewards that shape the learning with guidance and suggestion. We cannot do the learning for our dogs, we can simply set up the situation that they learn from.Management or TrainingFind your pathway to suit your lifestyle of living with dogs. When you need management to temporarily support the learning, or choose training.
Discover the power of passive learning and invest your energy to the active learning.Reward Skills CourseLearn about the fascinating landscape of rewards and make them the centre of training and relationship.
Explore the different and diverse ways we can deliver rewards to bring excitement or relaxation, curiosity or confidence.Sue McGuire offers a limited number of consultations and courses for small groups human/canine learners. Contact her through Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs.
Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire of Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs join forces for the fourth season of the hugely successful, Learning About Dogs podcast.
Season four features short, one subject podcast no longer than 10 minutes. Although try as we might, we are shooting for not much over five minutes. But one salient thought.
In this episode, we ask, "What to learn, for both dog and person?"
Courses:
Self-directed, online with unlimited lifetime access.
Build the LearningAs learning engineers we design access to rewards that shape the learning with guidance and suggestion. We cannot do the learning for our dogs, we can simply set up the situation that they learn from.Management or TrainingFind your pathway to suit your lifestyle of living with dogs. When you need management to temporarily support the learning, or choose training.
Discover the power of passive learning and invest your energy to the active learning.Reward Skills CourseLearn about the fascinating landscape of rewards and make them the centre of training and relationship.
Explore the different and diverse ways we can deliver rewards to bring excitement or relaxation, curiosity or confidence.Sue McGuire offers a limited number of consultations and courses for small groups humane/canine learners. Contact her through Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs.
Learning. Is it a construct? An idea?
We cannot do the learning for the dogs, we can only set up situations where learning happens.
Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire of Sue McGuire Teaching Dogs, join forces for the fourth season of the hugely successful, Learning About Dogs podcast.
Season four features short, one subject podcast no longer than 10 minutes. Although try as we might, we are shooting for not much over five minutes. But one salient thought.
In this episode, we ask, "What is learning?"
Courses:
Self-directed, online with unlimited lifetime access.
Build the LearningAs learning engineers we design access to rewards that shape the learning with guidance and suggestion. We cannot do the learning for our dogs, we can simply set up the situation that they learn from.Management or TrainingFind your pathway to suit your lifestyle of living with dogs. When you need management to temporarily support the learning, or choose training.
Discover the power of passive learning and invest your energy to the active learning.Reward Skills CourseLearn about the fascinating landscape of rewards and make them the centre of training and relationship.
Explore the different and diverse ways we can deliver rewards to bring excitement or relaxation, curiosity or confidence.Sue McGuire offers a limited number of consultations and courses for small groups human/canine learners. Contact her through Sue McGuire Teaching Dogs.
It's time to flip another concept on its head--the whole idea that the dog MUST pay attention when you say their name before you start training.
Nagging? Or would you rather consider reward approach a better plan?
Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire of Sue McGuire Teaching Dogs, join forces for the fourth season of the hugely successful, Learning About Dogs podcast.
Season four features short, one subject podcast no longer than 10 minutes. Although try as we might, we are shooting for not much over five minutes. But one salient thought.
In this episode, we ask, "Why turn your dog's name into meaningless, white noise?"
Courses:
Self-directed, online with unlimited lifetime access.
Build the LearningAs learning engineers we design access to rewards that shape the learning with guidance and suggestion. We cannot do the learning for our dogs, we can simply set up the situation that they learn from.Management or TrainingFind your pathway to suit your lifestyle of living with dogs. When you need management to temporarily support the learning, or choose training.
Discover the power of passive learning and invest your energy to the active learning.Reward Skills CourseLearn about the fascinating landscape of rewards and make them the centre of training and relationship.
Explore the different and diverse ways we can deliver rewards to bring excitement or relaxation, curiosity or confidence.Sue McGuire offers a limited number of consultations and courses for small groups human/canine learners. Contact her through Sue McGuire Teaching Dogs.
Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire of Plays with Dogs, join forces for the fourth season of the hugely successful, Learning About Dogs podcast.
Season four features short, one subject podcast no longer than 10 minutes. Although try as we might, we are shooting for not much over five minutes. But one salient thought.
In this episode, we ask, "What is this obsession over the term-proofing?"
Courses:
Self-directed, online with unlimited lifetime access.
Build the LearningAs learning engineers we design access to rewards that shape the learning with guidance and suggestion. We cannot do the learning for our dogs, we can simply set up the situation that they learn from.Management or TrainingFind your pathway to suit your lifestyle of living with dogs. When you need management to temporarily support the learning, or choose training.
Discover the power of passive learning and invest your energy to the active learning.Reward Skills CourseLearn about the fascinating landscape of rewards and make them the centre of training and relationship.
Explore the different and diverse ways we can deliver rewards to bring excitement or relaxation, curiosity or confidence.Sue McGuire offers a limited number of consultations and courses for small groups humane/canine learners. Contact her through Plays with Dogs.
The Learning About Dogs podcast is your main source for all these dogs, teaching dogs, understanding dogs, and living with dogs.
Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire of Sue McGuire Teaching Dogs, join together to continue the promotion of teaching that which benefits dogs. But how and when, methods, concepts and plans to teach dogs and guide their learning, is what these podcasts are all about.
Season 4 introduces the concept of one thought per podcast. Short and to the point. One idea to digest. One thing to change or think about it in this wonderful relationship with these bright learning creatures.
Courses:
Self-directed, online with unlimited lifetime access.
Build the LearningAs learning engineers we design access to rewards that shape the learning with guidance and suggestion. We cannot do the learning for our dogs, we can simply set up the situation that they learn from.Management or TrainingFind your pathway to suit your lifestyle of living with dogs. When you need management to temporarily support the learning, or choose training.
Discover the power of passive learning and invest your energy to the active learning.Reward Skills CourseLearn about the fascinating landscape of rewards and make them the centre of training and relationship.
Explore the different and diverse ways we can deliver rewards to bring excitement or relaxation, curiosity or confidence.Sue McGuire offers a limited number of consultations and courses for small groups human/canine learners. Contact her through Sue McGuire Teaching Dogs.
Markers are an integral part of the communication process when we are interacting with our learners.
Whether you choose to use a clicker or not, the whole process behind "marker training" needs a close examination. Hanging your training psyche on the use of a clicker may not be the best use of your time. Especially if you are just starting out.
On this, the final episode of Season 3 of the Learning about Dogspodcast, Kay Laurence and Sue McGuire challenge the use of a single tool to impart such important information.
Learning about Dogs
Article: Shaping by Rewards
Reward Skills CourseThe more we explore and blend the theory, biology and application it is clear that this is not a simple process, it is complex and very sophisticated. With active minds open to learning we can continue to understand more, apply in an educated format and improve the combination of learning and dogs that we know and love and call training.
Online classes with Sue McGuire
Basic Training and Manners starts Thursday October 15th @ 6:45 PDTIntermediate Training starts Thursday, October 15th @ 5:30pm PDT
Do we want habits or active learning?
Probably both but there is a clear distinction between them which is dependent on the value of the reward, to the dog of course.
On this episode of podcast, Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and TAKL graduate and host Sue McGuire talk about the advantages and drawbacks of teaching behaviors to the habit level and when do you want active learning.
Season 3 of the "Learning about Dogs" podcast is about rewards and reward skill.
Article: Shaping by Rewards
Reward Skills CourseThe more we explore and blend the theory, biology and application it is clear that this is not a simple process, it is complex and very sophisticated. With active minds open to learning we can continue to understand more, apply in an educated format and improve the combination of learning and dogs that we know and love and call training.
On this episode of the podcast, we do a little introduction of a new term that is so much BIGGER than a cue. What are cues anyway?
Sue McGuire and Kay Laurence of "Learning About Dogs," introduce you to our new friend--REWARD PREDICTING STIMULUS.
Season 3 of the "Learning about Dogs" podcast is about rewards and reward skill.
Article: Shaping by Rewards
Reward Skills CourseThe more we explore and blend the theory, biology and application it is clear that this is not a simple process, it is complex and very sophisticated. With active minds open to learning we can continue to understand more, apply in an educated format and improve the combination of learning and dogs that we know and love and call training.
What is the point of learning?
"When that brand new brain gets into motion it is going to have to find out how to secure the rewards needed for life, and once that is achieved set about finding the very best rewards, and lots of them. On a daily, minute by minute basis."
In this episode of the "Learning About Dogs," Sue McGuire and Kay Laurence of "Learning About Dogs," talk about how the mind-blowing experience of having a peak of the season peach from California cemented understanding of REWARD PREDICTION ERROR.
Season 3 of the "Learning about Dogs" podcast is about rewards and reward skill.
Article: Normal is Always Changing
Reward Skills CourseThe more we explore and blend the theory, biology and application it is clear that this is not a simple process, it is complex and very sophisticated. With active minds open to learning we can continue to understand more, apply in an educated format and improve the combination of learning and dogs that we know and love and call training.
In the early days of using positive reinforcement and clicker training, the delivery of that reinforcer, (reward), was not part of the consideration. The format of the research experiments favoured a mechanical magazine to deliberately remove any variables that human delivery would include.
When people become the mechanism of delivery we have to consider the variable elements that effect of the reinforcer, or reward. Sadly “mechanical delivery” and the mechanical skills are still seen as desirable elements of training and a whole series of additional valued- rewards are being ignored and lost.
Season 3 of the "Learning about Dogs" podcast is about rewards and reward skills.
Kay Laurence of "Learning About Dogs," and Sue McGuire, host/producer, are calling this our "A Season of Rewards," because that is exactly what we are diving into this year.
On this episode, we look at reward delivery patterns and the source of rewards. You will never look at a treat pouch on a hip the same way again.
Article: Release Cue or Stay Cue? Pick a Path
Reward Skills CourseThe more we explore and blend the theory, biology and application it is clear that this is not a simple process, it is complex and very sophisticated. With active minds open to learning we can continue to understand more, apply in an educated format and improve the combination of learning and dogs that we know and love and call training.
Online Learning on Basic Skills with Sue McGuire
Starts August 22, 2020
Virtual Live Class at 9am (PDT) RegistrationVirtual Live Class at 10:15am (PDT)Registration
ALWAYS REMEMBER:
REWARDS ARE DEFINED BY THE
BEHAVIOURAL REACTIONS THEY INDUCE.
It is the individual that decides if it is rewarding or not.
What are rewards?
We are in Season 3 of the "Learning about Dogs" podcast.
Kay Laurence of "Learning About Dogs," and Sue McGuire, host/producer, are calling this our "A Season of Rewards," because that is exactly what we are diving into this year.
Living a reward centered life with our dogs. But first we must explore, "What are rewards?"
Reward Skills CourseThe more we explore and blend the theory, biology and application it is clear that this is not a simple process, it is complex and very sophisticated. With active minds open to learning we can continue to understand more, apply in an educated format and improve the combination of learning and dogs that we know and love and call training.
“REWARDS ARE NOT DEFINED BY THEIR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES BUT BY
THE BEHAVIOURAL REACTION THEY INDUCE.”Welcome to our "Season of Rewards" on the Learning about Dogs podcast with Kay Laurence and Sue McGuire. This third season of the podcast is all about living a "reward centered life" with our dogs.
What do we mean by that? Take a read of Kay's blog Shaping by Rewards.Reward Skills CourseThe more we explore and blend the theory, biology and application it is clear that this is not a simple process, it is complex and very sophisticated. With active minds open to learning we can continue to understand more, apply in an educated format and improve the combination of learning and dogs that we know and love and call training.
"Having discovered this world of rewards and reinforcement I protectively wrap my dogs’ learning with an envelope of reward probabilities. This is where I begin," says Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs.
And this is where we begin this season's journey.
We are dog trainers, who must make the conscious and scientifically appropriate decision, to lead a reward-centered life with our dogs.
Sue McGuire, producer of the podcast, a TAKL graduate, and Kay Laurence of Learning about Dogs are dedicating this season of "Learning About Dogs " podcasts to rewards.
That may seem like a narrow focus, but we assure you, it is not.
Reward Skills CourseThe more we explore and blend the theory, biology and application it is clear that this is not a simple process, it is complex and very sophisticated. With active minds open to learning we can continue to understand more, apply in an educated format and improve the combination of learning and dogs that we know and love and call training.
Living with multiple dogs can be fun and challenging.
It comes with a demand to develop a great deal of observation skills to make sure your group is working for the dogs as individuals, and their life with you.
How many is too many dogs? What breeds and what sex combinations?
It depends.
Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire a TAKL graduate and manager of a canine behavior program at an animal shelter near San Francisco talk not about one dog but multiple dogs.
Learning their names--when it is about them and when it is not about them.
Video example of beagles knowing it is their time to be fed.
Join in the discussion at our Facebook page. Whilst I was listening to the podcast. New courses! Online!Learning About Dogs Courses This is the end of our second season of Learning About Dogs. Thank you for listening.
Our third season will premier in late summer and early fall 2020 Be prepared for a multi-layered exploration of rewards and reward skills.
Menomics can be handy when it comes to finding a quick and simple way to remember a spelling or phrase. But using these devices does require us to decide if they actually help learning or hinder it.
In dog training, we have a few of these devices that require much more consideration before accepting them as valid. The three Ds. Duration-distance-distraction. There are some who even add a fourth "D," difficulty.
On this episode of Learning About Dogs, Kay Laurence and Sue McGuire discuss how we owe it to ourselves and our dogs to question the use of the "Ds." Is it appropriate to teach a dog to do something at a distance if it's not in the best interests of the dog? Question "simple" approaches.
Online courses of good quality:
Learning About Dogs New Online Course OfferingsOnline Learning from Sue McGuireBasic Level 1
When a dog "generalizes" a behavior, it means they can do the behavior under a wide variety of conditions. But a dog being able to do that has very much to do with how we originally taught the behavior.
On this episode of Learning About Dogs, Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs, and Sue McGuire, a canine behavior program manager at a humane society near San Francisco discuss the concept of generalization.
For more information:
Learning About Dogs website. Become a member and gain access to a plethora of valuable information that will broaden and enrich life with your dog.
Every Dog Every Day is the primer of how to navigate sharing your life with a dog.
Be sure to read the "Connection Collection." On the various ways we can live with our dogs with a deep connection.
Sue McGuire offers "The Art of Teaching Dogs"
The Art of Teaching Dogs is a six week in person course offered by Sue McGuire at the Humane Society of Sonoma County, in Santa Rosa, California.
Level 1 Class starts inAugust
One must be careful about using terminology we hear at seminars or read in books and apply to our training.
Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and co-host Sue McGuire love tackling these habits of trainers applying a label to something they think they are seeing, when what might be happening, is not really happening.
What? We chat about the concept of learned helplessness. We're not saying this does not exit in certain histories. Might this actually be a lack of having taught the necessary skills to dogs? Or providing time to allow a dog to show us what they know?
For more information:
Learning About Dogs website. Become a member and gain access to a plethora of valuable information that will broaden and enrich life with your dog.
Every Dog Every Day is the primer of how to navigate sharing your life with a dog.
Be sure to read the "Connection Collection." On the various ways we can live with our dogs with a deep connection.
Sue McGuire offers "The Art of Teaching Dogs"
The Art of Teaching Dogs is a six week in person course offered by Sue McGuire at the Humane Society of Sonoma County, in Santa Rosa, California.
Level 1 Class starts inAugust
Not all online learning is created equal.
The sudden move to online learning for many disciplines, not just dog training, has been astounding.
On this special bonus episode of the "Learning About Dogs" podcast, Kay Laurence and Sue McGuire attempt to provide a bit of a tutorial for students who want to know how to separate the good, from the not so good, to the downright hucksters out there.
Kay Laurence Blogpost: Separating the Wheat from the Chaff
Online courses of good quality:
Learning About Dogs New Online Course OfferingsOnline Learning from Sue McGuireBasic Level 1 Article from Educausereview :"The Difference Between Emergency Remote Teaching and Online Learning"
Errors are feedback.
Set the dog up for success.
Develop the skill to know what to change in a teaching set up, and when.
Teach the prerequisite skills--even the rats and pigeons in the boxes were provided that information.
Emotions underly all learning.
There is much to chat about on the concept of "errorless learning" in dog training.
On this episode of the Learning About Dogs podcast, Kay Laurence of "Learning About Dogs," and Sue McGuire, a TAKL (Trainer Accredited by Kay Laurence) Certified Trainer and manager of canine behavior program at animal shelter near San Francisco, dive in.
For more information:
Learning About Dogs website. Become a member and gain access to a plethora of valuable information that will broaden and enrich life with your dog.
Every Dog Every Day is the primer of how to navigate sharing your life with a dog.
Be sure to read the "Connection Collection." On the various ways we can live with our dogs with a deep connection.
Sue McGuire offers "The Art of Teaching Dogs"
The Art of Teaching Dogs is a six week in person course offered by Sue McGuire at the Humane Society of Sonoma County, in Santa Rosa, California.
Level 1 Class session starts inAugust.
Dogs are aware of our every move and have decided which ones are relevant to them and which are of little consequences.
This is so apparent when we use our hands, be it, living our daily lives with them, or participating in a training sessions.
When puppies come to us, this is when we should be teaching what hands mean.
Hands are always a sign of welcome....
In this episode of Learning About Dogs Podcast, Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire, a TAKL graduate and manager of a canine behavior program at a shelter near San Francisco, talk about the use of hands.
For more information:
Learning About Dogs website. Become a member and gain access to a plethora of valuable information that will broaden and enrich life with your dog.
Every Dog Every Day is the primer of how to navigate sharing your life with a dog.
Be sure to read the "Connection Collection." On the various ways we can live with our dogs with a deep connection.
Sue McGuire offers "The Art of Teaching Dogs"
The Art of Teaching Dogs is a six week in person course offered by Sue McGuire at the Humane Society of Sonoma County, in Santa Rosa, California.
Continue to check up back for more Level 1 classes.
Almost 20 years ago, Kay Laurence developed a game to teach communication skills and learning concepts to students.
Over the years, Gen Abacab has been used in universities, schools and seminars for human and dog training, and on ships in the middle of the Caribbean.
Just as doing a task is not the same as learning a task, experiencing the learning process is not the same as observing the learning process. Experiencing and learning skills of puzzle solving are unique to each individual - person, dog, chicken.
The Gen Abacab game is a valuable experience for learner and teacher and everyone should have experience in both roles. Experience of poor teaching is as valuable as much as experience of good teaching. Good teaching will leave the learner enthused, satisfied, confident and "expanded" !
On the Learning About Dogs website, look for the members section. Join this learning community.
Video **of Gen Abacab being played.
We want you know of some new courses coming up from Learning About Dogs online**.
Training Beyond and Above Online course
This course is for people who relish learning as a community with a plentiful opportunities to travel with new eyes and change the way you look at things.
We shall go Beyond and Above the standard recipes that will generate many Aha moments, engineer more questions, dissolve assumptions and challenge habits. This is not a course for replicating demonstration but identifying how to learn from demonstration, select critical points, identify skill sets, build clear task analysis, explore the concepts, adapt and apply the concepts to new conditions.
The Art of Teaching Dogs is a six week in person course offered by Sue McGuire at the Humane Society of Sonoma County, in Santa Rosa, California.
Continue to check up back for more Level 1 classes.
What is the best way to learn about dog training?
In person working seminars or auditing one?
How about a webinar, a conference, or a lecture?
How about online courses?
There are many ways to add to your knowledge base about dogs and training, but not all are created equal.
On this episode of the Learning About Dogs podcast, Kay Laurence and Sue McGuire debate the good and the not so great about different ways to learn.
We want you know of some new courses coming up from Learning About Dogs online.
Training Beyond and Above Online course
This course is for people who relish learning as a community with a plentiful opportunities to travel with new eyes and change the way you look at things.
We shall go Beyond and Above the standard recipes that will generate many Aha moments, engineer more questions, dissolve assumptions and challenge habits. This is not a course for replicating demonstration but identifying how to learn from demonstration, select critical points, identify skill sets, build clear task analysis, explore the concepts, adapt and apply the concepts to new conditions.
The Art of Teaching Dogs is a six week in person course offered by Sue McGuire at the Humane Society of Sonoma County, in Santa Rosa, California.
The Level 1 Class starts February 29th
What are we to our dogs?
Teacher?
Trainer?
Instructor?
Coach?
Parent?
On this episode of Learning About Dogs, Kay Laurence and Sue McGuire go through the labels we give ourselves and what others apply to those of us who work with dogs.
If you share your life with a dog, then you are a dog trainer.
“What is a Trainer?”
“Extremely fine skills in a very specific specialty.” Is that maybe the correct description for a trainer?
We want you know of some new courses coming up from Learning About Dogs online.
Training Beyond and Above Online course
This course is for people who relish learning as a community with a plentiful opportunities to travel with new eyes and change the way you look at things.
We shall go Beyond and Above the standard recipes that will generate many Aha moments, engineer more questions, dissolve assumptions and challenge habits. This is not a course for replicating demonstration but identifying how to learn from demonstration, select critical points, identify skill sets, build clear task analysis, explore the concepts, adapt and apply the concepts to new conditions.
The Art of Teaching Dogs is a six week in person course offered by Sue McGuire at the Humane Society of Sonoma County, in Santa Rosa, California.
The Level 1 Class starts February 29th
On this episode of the Learning About Dogs podcast, we questions from listeners
We have a Facebook group, "Whilst I was listening to your podcast," where listeners can pose questions and ask for clarification on discussion topics heard on the podcast. We pulled some of these inquiries and are answering them in this episode.
Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire, teacher of "The Art of Teaching Dogs," always have questions after an educational adventure. One should never stop learning and asking questions.
This is one of many such episodes planned for the second season of this podcast.
To catch up and listen to past episodes, which we STRONGLY encourage you to do, here is a link to the full list.
New Online Course from Kay Laurence-Learning About DogsTraining Beyond and AboveThis course is for people who relish learning as a community with a plentiful opportunities to travel with new eyes and change the way you look at things.
We shall go Beyond and Above the standard recipes that will generate many Aha moments, engineer more questions, dissolve assumptions and challenge habits. This is not a course for replicating demonstration but identifying how to learn from demonstration, select critical points, identify skill sets, build clear task analysis, explore the concepts, adapt and apply the concepts to new conditions
Classes: At Humane Society of Sonoma County, Santa Rosa, California
Taught by Sue McGuire TAKL Certified"The Art of Teaching Dogs" Level 1: Saturday February 29thWe start with how the teaching process works and develops into clarity of understanding for our dogs. This first level class explores the reinforcement process. We will investigate how rewards compliment a behavior. Reinforcement types, delivery and patterns are in play when developing behaviors. Only with a deep understanding of what dogs find motivating, can we begin to unravel the mysteries of how dogs learn.
We're not quite sure why dog training turned into an exercise of "must be fun" or "must be entertaining" in order to be of "value."
In this first episode of season two of the "Learning About Dogs" podcast, Kay Laurence of "Learning About Dogs," and Sue McGuire discuss what is a behavior and what is a trick? Is there a difference?
We have all seen the marketing. Tricks for fun! Agility for fun!
How is the dog to know if what is being taught is for fun? The labels we use for human comfort often come at a cost to the dog.
All teaching should be done carefully and thoughtfully and for the benefit of the dog and the life they live with us.
Article:
One Dog's Trick is Another Dog's Lifeskill **by Kay Laurence
New Online Course from Kay Laurence-Learning About Dogs**Training Beyond and AboveThis course is for people who relish learning as a community with a plentiful opportunities to travel with new eyes and change the way you look at things.
We shall go Beyond and Above the standard recipes that will generate many Aha moments, engineer more questions, dissolve assumptions and challenge habits. This is not a course for replicating demonstration but identifying how to learn from demonstration, select critical points, identify skill sets, build clear task analysis, explore the concepts, adapt and apply the concepts to new conditions
Classes: At Humane Society of Sonoma County, Santa Rosa, California
Taught by Sue McGuire TAKL Certified"The Art of Teaching Dogs" Level 1: Saturday February 29thWe start with how the teaching process works and develops into clarity of understanding for our dogs. This first level class explores the reinforcement process. We will investigate how rewards compliment a behavior. Reinforcement types, delivery and patterns are in play when developing behaviors. Only with a deep understanding of what dogs find motivating, can we begin to unravel the mysteries of how dogs learn.
Giving a cue and responding to a cue is a conversation where questions are asked answered. We give cues and the dog can answer, dog will also give us cues and we need to listen.
This edited BONUS version of the Cue Technology episode is a must listen.
Kay Laurence ofLearning About Dogs, as usual, has a unique and fascinating approach to the technology of cues.
Not to be missed is a course on Cue Technology that she is offering through Learning About Dogs. The six-week, online course, is must learning.
The course starts September 18th. For a full description of the course go to Learning About Dogs CUE TECHNOLOGY. Sue McGuire, Producer of the Learning About Dogs podcast, is presenting a course on Living with Dogs, which is an evidence-based course. Participants will provide evidence of their own learning about how they will teach and live with dogs.
The course starts October 5th at the Humane Society of Sonoma County, in Santa Rosa, California.
Connection is about being aware of each other. There is a way to find comfort and pleasure in walks for both parties. To become a Master Dog Walker, you will need to develop skills to achieve success.
Every Dog Every Day from Learning About Dogs.
You can assess the right environment.
Respond to changes in the environment.
Walk at the right speed for you and your dog.
Alter the length of the lead according to demands the situation.
Set boundaries--gently.
Know what reconnection looks like and continue.
The walk with the dog is as much for their benefit as yours. Try not to be selfish and just consider your own agenda.
In this episode of Learning About Dogs, Kay Laurence and Sue McGuire discuss what is going on with the whole business of walking with our dogs. A scenario that doesn't necessarily warrant the use of a clicker. And connected walking isn't always about being on lead. Connection happens off leash too.
Are you interested in a topic for a future podcast? We encourage you to go to Facebook “Whilst I was listening to the podcast and leave a comment.
Courses:
Kay Laurence will be conducting an eight-week online course on Clean Training, through Learning About Dogs. "This course will focus on examining the component skills that develop really clear communication between two different species with training and teaching that leaves no doubts, no confusion and no uncertainty." This course starts August 14th.Sue McGuire will be teaching a six-week in person course at the Humane Society of Sonoma County in Santa Rosa, California on "Living with Dogs. "This dog-centered approach embraces that dogs are dogs and understanding their innate behaviors opens a world of possibilities of learning for human and dog. The focus is helping people develop the kind of world in which their dogs succeed. This course starts August 17th. A second session will start October 5th.
"Too often the focus of luring is about 'getting the behavior' and not enough about the process of teaching or the learning process.If we focus on the process of learning, that will have an impact on every behavior the dog learns," says Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs.
Read the full article here.
In this episode, Kay Laurence and Sue McGuire discuss what skills the handlers should have and understand as part of the process of teaching.
Teach the skills of teaching.
Are you interested in a topic for a future podcast? We encourage you to go to Facebook “Whilst I was listening to the podcast and leave a comment.
Courses:
Kay Laurence will be conducting an eight-week online course on Clean Training, through Learning About Dogs. "This course will focus on examining the component skills that develop really clear communication between two different species with training and teaching that leaves no doubts, no confusion and no uncertainty." This course starts August 14th.Sue McGuire will be teaching a six-week in person course at the Humane Society of Sonoma County in Santa Rosa, California on "Living with Dogs. "This dog-centered approach embraces that dogs are dogs and understanding their innate behaviors opens a world of possibilities of learning for human and dog. The focus is helping people develop the kind of world in which their dogs succeed. This course starts August 17th. A second session will start October 5th.
Connection is our base behavior. It is where learning begins.
What are base behaviors and why go through the process of teaching them?
"It’s about teaching the dog to move to the platform as a choice, or to move the foot as a choice, or to lower their head as a choice, not necessarily about where they just got the reinforcer. The base position becomes a place where the dog chooses to go to, when they are not sure what to do," says Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs.
In this episode, Sue McGuire and Kay Laurence dive into the value of teaching our dogs the concept of base behaviors as a path of communication and engagement.
Courses:
Kay Laurence will be conducting an eight-week online course on Clean Training, through Learning About Dogs. "This course will focus on examining the component skills that develop really clear communication between two different species with training and teaching that leaves no doubts, no confusion and no uncertainty." This course starts August 14th.Sue McGuire will be teaching a six-week in person course at the Humane Society of Sonoma County in Santa Rosa, California on "Living with Dogs. "This dog-centered approach embraces that dogs are dogs and understanding their innate behaviors opens a world of possibilities of learning for human and dog. The focus is helping people develop the kind of world in which their dogs succeed. This course starts August 17th. A second session will start October 5th.
Click - shove
Click - shove
Click - shove
How many of us have heard that in order for understanding to happen when clicking and reinforcing behavior, the “treat” must be delivered within three seconds of the click?
That training protocol was to prevent any other behavior from sneaking in between the click and the reinforcer. Boy is that looking at the process too narrowly.
Learning fast does not mean learning well.
In this episode Kay Laurence and Sue McGuire dive into the three second rule fallacy and what we really should be focusing on in the reinforcement process,
People who click and shove should be asked, “What are you trying to teach as opposed to what are you trying to suppress? You can't count reinforcement by number of clicks per minute,” says Kay Laurence.
The click represents the start of the reinforcement process. That process can vary, and should, depending on the behavior and placement of the reinforcement.
There is an online course on "Reinforcements and Rewards" starting July 10th through Learning About Dogs.
Living with dogs successfully requires us to have an awareness of behaviors that are "stuck" together. Often times it's a lack of understanding of chains and sequences that gets us into trouble.
Jump-sit= You can't get one without the other.
Bark-treat= A good way to reinforce a bark.
Slow to pick their head out of the gopher hole yet they come eventually= creates a slow come when called.
In this episode, Kay Laurence and Sue McGuire talk about life being surrounded by behavior chains. From blackbird mating calls to self-checkouts at the grocery store, we can be entertained or frustrated by these stuck together sequences.
Learning About Dogs Katie Bartlett Equine Clicker Training article on sequences of behavior
Our minds are spinning over the terminology we hear at behavior conferences and dog training seminars.
We dog people LOVE naming things
- Start button behaviors
- Decompression walks
- Consent
- Click fishing.....what??
In this episode of Learning About Dogs, Kay Laurence cautions trainers to avoid marketing and fancy terms and really look at the protocol behind a term. Is this of a benefit to the dog?
This episode looks at Click Fishing, Go ahead and take a guess of what that might mean exactly.
For online learning, workshops and articles go to Learning About Dogs.
You enter ring at a venue, the routine starts, you look over at your dog and a sinking feeling starts. As you start to go through the exercises, your dog looks as if he has NO idea of what you cue.
You become frustrated, think you need to train harder, think your dog needs more practice and you begin to list off any number of possible reasons. All of them likely are quite valid or not.
Have you ever taught your dog to get used to you being silent? Using silence as part of a teaching program can provide clarity during the teaching process. It sounds like an oxymoron, but it is not.
In this episode of Learning About Dogs, Kay Laurence discusses how using silence is vital to the teaching process because cheerleading can "prop up behaviors" that have not really been learned.
For online learning, workshops and articles check out Learning About Dogs.
Dogs are exquisite at knowing when a behavior they are doing needs to be slowed down, held or ended quickly. We as handlers need to be strong observers of when these behaviors happen naturally so that when we are requesting a dog to "hold their station" it's filled with understanding.
Back in the olden days, trainers were taught about the three D's--distance-duration-distraction. You can predict that any conversation with Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs is going to toss out that old school mentality as irrelevant and quite possibly confusing to the learner.
Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire, an animal shelter Canine Behavior Program manager, start a two part series exploring duration.
Our language fails us at times when we want to describe what we are seeking when teaching a dog to continue to do an activity.
"The use of the word duration is far too inadequate," says Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs.
The episode continues the conversation about the lack of clarity and understanding impacts the learner's understanding when teaching them how to sustain an activity. The use of terminal behavior cues play a role.
Dogs are exquisite at knowing when a behavior they are doing needs to be slowed down, held or ended quickly. We as handlers need to be strong observers of when these behaviors happen naturally so that when we are requesting a dog to "hold their station" it's filled with understanding. When we ask a dog to continue doing an activity also needs to be taught with clarity and understanding.
Per usual, Kay Laurence looks at this idea from an enlightening perspective.
For information on online courses and in person workshops check out Learning About Dogs.
TAKL2020 is a blend of a study course and a mentoring program. You can follow either route or a combination through self-selecting and self-progress. This is an online course.
The course encourages self-directed learning and critical thinking developing a new mind-set that will project forward to every dog you share your life with in the future. There is very little space for branded training recipes, off the shelf solutions or quick-fixes.
The course is equally suited to someone who enjoys training with their own dog or a professional teacher and trainer with clients.
Learning About Dogs online course and start your journey to Geekland.
The Heartbeat of Geekland--blog post by Kay Laurence.
Other resources:
In Australia: Delight in Dogs
Contingencies change behavior, reinforcers maintain or strengthen behavior.
Contingencies will include the environment, the space the dog feels is around them or not, any threats, what you are doing, what they have learned, their genetic traits, their early learning and of course …. you. All these elements can change, and because they change, the behavior changes.
In this episode, a deep discussion topic for sure, Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire (forever the student) dive into contingencies that influence behavior.
For interesting reading here is an article "Guidance is not dependence."
Learning About Dogs: List of courses available to students both in person and online learning.
Are there signs your dog are showing that indicate to you as a handler to continue a training session? How about knowing when a break is needed to let the learner collect and rest? In this episode, Kay Laurence and Sue McGuire converse about ways to pace learning to suit the learner in front of you. "How the behavior is carried out is more important than the behavior itself," said trainer Chris Bond. This includes making sure the learning style suits the learner.
Learning About Dogs courses teach handlers to focus on the learner and how best to address their needs as you live life together.
Skilled teaching by luring leaves a learner with a strong sense of achievement and a clean behavior with good understanding. Luring is by definition, the direct use of the reinforcer to elicit a behavior. The operative part of that sentence is the direct use of the reinforcer. In this, our second episode on the art of luring, Kay Laurence and Sue McGuire chat about how the use of luring with a "Cup on a Stick," can be is an excellent application of the luring protocol.
Learning About Dogs will be conducting a six week, online course starting May 8th, on
"The Skills of Luring."
The course sign up linkis open.
Can we lure you into the world of luring? New Blog Post.
Here is a short videoto tease you about the possibilities available to us when we are skilled and creative about luring.
Luring is by definition, the direct use of the reinforcer to elicit a behavior. The operative part of that sentence is the direct use of the reinforcer. Luring has fallen out of favor with some in the dog training world by those who consider themselves "free shapers." Kay Laurence and Sue McGuire chat about how this protocol, like many others, is only as good as the skills of application.
Learning About Dogs will be conducting a six week, online course starting May 8th, on
"The Skills of Luring."
The course sign up linkis open.
Here is a short videoto tease you about the possibilities available to us when we are skilled and creative about luring.
New blog post : "My World of Luring."
In this episode, Kay Laurence and Sue McGuire dive into the belief that one should teach a dog to look at handlers in the eye. For years, trainers were told to teach "Watch Me" as a way to make sure the dog was paying attention to the handler. This forced focus comes at a cost. Are there other ways to know if your dog is ready and able to receive a cue? This episode is one of many to come that will tackle "dog training musts" as pure fallacy.
There are better ways to teach dogs to seek cues. Here is an article and information on classes about cue technology.
When teaching a behavior, we want to surround the stimulus with an environment that encourages success, not error. As a part of teaching of behaviors to our dogs, we should prepare a range of events to "fade-in." In this episode, Kay Laurence and Sue McGuire discuss the practical use of the "Fade In" protocol. This idea was documented more than 50 years ago as part of the concept of "errorless learning."
Article https://www.learningaboutdogs.com/the-fade-in-protocol/
A strong understanding of cue technology when engaging with our learners is of paramount importance. Kay Laurence and Sue McGuire discuss the process in which our dogs can be provided clarity during the teaching process if we, as handlers and teachers, are aware of what we are "saying" while teaching. This episode is one in which we strongly recommend listening to a few times because the subject is meaty!
Here is a link to the online course of Cue Technology.
In this episode, Kay Laurence and Sue McGuire continue a discussion about what it means to do "clean training." The topics include how to plan for the behaviors you plan to train and making a decision on what to train. But before any behavior is taught, a comprehensive profile of the behavior should be completed. The profile will help trainers answer whether the behavior is a "benefit to the dog."
Here is a link to the online course for Clean Training.
Clean Training is about really clear communication and self-awareness with a dog's cues, precision marking, a focused and very effective reinforcement process. A Clean Trainer has the ability to adapt the environment to meet their learner's needs. Clean training naturally develops the learner's confidence, a perpetual joy of learning and a strong sense of achievement for both participants.
Here is a link to sign up for the Clean Training course.
This episode continues the conversation between Kay Laurence and Sue McGuire about the elements of Clean Training. Can you, as a handler, pace the learning to suit the dog's needs? This about putting value on the process of learning over outcomes.
Here is a link to sign up for the online course on Clean Training.
What does it mean to have a strong ethical foundation when you are a teacher of dogs? We toss around words like "positive reinforcement" trainer, but what does that really mean beyond the label. In this episode, our premier episode, Kay Laurence and Sue McGuire talk about what it means to be an ethical trainer. We discuss how ethics can change based on a trainer's individual skills and education. It's a place we should be starting all of our discussions. Having a strong ethical foundation provides the framework on which we practice the art of teaching dogs.
MORE READING: https://www.learningaboutdogs.com/ethics-in-dog-training/