When you come from a more aversive style training, why do you have to start from scratch when starting at PK9s?
First of all, not everyone does. And not everyone needs all of the things we teach in our beginners classes. Some just need to fill in the holes so they can be a more well rounded team. Some have to start with private coaching so we can make sure you dog UNDERSTANDS why it has been shut down by equipment for certain behaviors such as lunging and barking. When you meet aggression with aggression it is proven over and over to be a huge cause of
behavior fallout.
For those that can go straight to group classes, because your dog displays no aggression, we have to assess the fundamentals. Even after months of training at an aversive company, your dog can be missing key behaviors that can help you advance to therapy, show, or our tricks program.
Most times, dogs from aversive trainers, don’t know how to lure with a cookie or walk backwards. Why is this important in Therapy? Because if you and your dog are in a tight spot, your dog could unintentionally knock over an IV stand or bump an elderly person when trying to make their own way out. Being able to cue you dog to back up, or “circle out this way”, is just imperative in a lot of therapy situations. It is also a technique used in almost all dog sports and handy at home and at vet visits.
In aversive training, teaching a dog to sit looks like this.
Human, “sit!”Dog– Doesn’t sit because they aren’t used to an area.Human checks the leash.Dog sits because they don’t like the check and if they sit it will stop.In positive training, teaching a dog to sit looks like this.Human, “sit.'”Dog– “I heard the word sit and it means put my butt on the ground. There’s a lot of distractions, but I like getting cookies… Ok, I’m sitting.”Over time you work them up the ladder of distractions and they can sit faster and anywhere because it is intrinsically rewarding to sit because of all the rewards they got when they were training. Fading treats is part of the process.The differences are.
The dog is trained to understand sit in all areas, not to just do it to avoid pain.The dog is working WITH the owner, not because they say so.The dog is a “thinking dog,” not a push button dog.If your dog knows how to sit under said distractions and wont, we take the time to assess and see WHY they wont. (Scared, Too much going on, on alert about something they sense.)Dogs are animals just like us. When we take the time to learn all the things in preschool and kindergarten, we are smarter and have a better thinking process as we grow. It is the same with other animals. Fundamentals are key for proper development… ESPECIALLY when we want the dogs to have a job working in the public around children. If they can assess, they don’t react quickly and they handle situations appropriately.