TRAINING APPROACH
Management
Management serves as a form of prevention. by controlling the environment, we can decrease the possibility of the unwanted behaviors occurring. This is a key first step in keeping your dog from repeating these behaviors.
Enrichment allows dogs to release mental and physical energy through a variety of activities and skills that engages their senses. examples include putting their meals or treats into puzzle toys or slow feeders, and even training is a form of enrichment!
ENRICHMENT
POSITIVE Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement is when we add something (a reinforcer) in order to signal to the dog that we want them to repeat a specific behavior. a reinforcer can be food, toys, or love + pats! Positive reinforcement training focuses on showing dogs what we want them to do instead of ‘no, don’t do that’. Over time, positive reinforcement allows dogs to choose this new behavior in place of the old, undesirable behavior.
OBSERVING BEHAVIOR
Once we begin teaching a new behavior, it is important to monitor your dog to watch for success or distress. we either proceed, slow down, or go back to the drawing board and make any necessary changes.
Observing and understanding your dog’s behavior may also help detect if your dog is experiencing any physical discomfort and allow you to initiate steps to seek help sooner rather than later.