News from Pawsitive Results, LLCSeptember 2013
Pawsitively Speaking
  

Teoti Anderson and Logan
Teoti & Logan
It's been a whirlwind summer, with some really fun moments and some really painful ones. I lost my sweet Logan to a sudden liver crisis, and my house and heart just aren't the same without him. He was 11 1/2 years old, and the happiest dog I have ever known. Finian, Sawyer and I are adjusting to life without our big sweet boy, but we miss him!

In much better news, summer school has been in full session for the Pawsitive Results instructors. In July, Phyllis and I attended Chicken Training Camp in Murphy, NC, and in August I spent a week studying animal training at Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. I've shared the highlights in this issue. Continuing education is very important here at Pawsitive Results -- we love learning new ways to help you and your dogs. 

It seems we're not the only ones eager to learn. Classes for September are currently full!  Can you believe we are actually approaching the last classes of the year? 

Time flies. Your puppies will be sweet grizzled seniors before you know it. In memory of Logan, please give them special treats from me,

 

Teoti Anderson, CPDT-KA, KPA-CTP
Pawsitive Results, LLC

 

Class Schedule
It's never too late to train your dog! Start today with Pawsitive Results!

 
Tri-City Leisure Center, West Columbia
Class begins Thursday, September 19 at 7:30 p.m. 
Class is full. Now taking names for the waiting list.
 
Friarsgate Park, Irmo
Class begins Tuesday, November 5 at 7:00 p.m.
Now taking registrations! 
 
Times not work for you? Check out our future schedule.
 
Just got a new puppy and need help getting him off to a successful start? Do you have a fearful dog that is shy of people? Or an aggressive dog? Maybe you've attended one of our classes and want extra help on some behaviors. We offer private lessons in the convenience of your home. Visit the website for details. 

Ain't Nobody Here
But Us Chickens
Phyllis and Teoti and their chickens
Phyllis, Teoti and their chickens!

In July, instructors Phyllis Beasley and Teoti Anderson spent the weekend at Cold Nose College in Murphy, NC, attending Chicken Camp taught by Terry Ryan. Terry is a renowned instructor based in Sequim, Washington, who serves on the faculty of the Karen Pryor Academy. The author of many excellent dog training books, Terry lectures internationally.

First, participants learned how to properly click and deliver reinforcement (pellets, scratch or mealworms) to the chickens using a cup. The goal was to present the cup and remove it quickly enough so that the chickens would only get one peck per click. They practiced their mechanical skills without the chickens at first, working so that when they removed the cup quickly, the food didn't fly out and spill all over the table!

Then, they learned to safely handle the chickens so the birds would feel secure. They learned how to remove the chickens from their cages and return them. "This probably seems very easy for folks who have chickens," says Teoti. "But I grew up in suburban Maryland. I am not used to toting a chicken around, and I'm pretty sure my chicken knew it!" Luckily, the chickens were very sweet, and had been socialized per Terry's protocols to be ready for the workshop.

Trainers worked in teams of two. Their initial goal was to get the chicken to peck a target on the table. Trainers took turns during short training sessions. Later training sessions involved getting the chickens to learn other tasks, such as walking around a cone or knocking a toy "dragon" off the table. 

Phyllis says, "I knew training a chicken would improve my timing with the clicker and I was right! They were really fast, and that forced me to improve my focus, attention and speed. I found them to be a much greater challenge to train than dogs or horses." You can catch Phyllis in action in this video on the Get Pawsitive Results YouTube channel. 
Training the Shedd Way
 
In August, Teoti Anderson flew to Chicago, IL, for a week-long graduate level course in animal training at the Shedd Aquarium. Although the course was designed for zoological professionals, more than 50 percent of the class attendees were dog trainers. This was because the course covered the science of learning, which applies to all species, and because it was taught by Ken Ramirez.  
 
Ken is the executive vice president of animal care and animal training at Shedd. A 35+-year veteran in the field, Ken is a biologist, animal behaviorist, instructor of other trainers, popular international speaker, and the author of Animal Training: Successful Animal Management through Positive Reinforcement. He's worked with a wide variety of species at zoological parks, as well as search and rescue dog organizations, service dog groups, and bomb and narcotics detection dogs.
Teoti kissed by a Beluga whale
Ken Ramirez cues Kayavak to give Teoti a kiss. 
 
The course covered learning theory, safe training practices, how to teach animal care behaviors, aggression prevention, training games and much more. Attendees enjoyed several animal interactions, including getting up close to a Magellanic penguin. They also watched Ken conduct several training sessions.
 
Particularly moving was Ken's work with Cruz, a two-year-old sea lion who was found injured on a beach in California. Veterinary inspection soon determined he had been shot in the face with a shotgun, permanently blinding him. As the sea lion pup was unable to care for himself, his rescuers contacted Shedd, inquiring if the aquarium would take him in. Cruz found a new home at Shedd in December 2012.
 
Cruz was unable to find fish so his caretakers believe it stunted his growth -- he currently only weighs about 40 pounds. (Mature healthy sea lion males can weigh around 900+ pounds.) Ken used an adapted target stick, which rattled, for Cruz to target. By using the rattle target stick, Ken was able to guide Cruz in and out of his enclosure, up onto a cart for transport, and into various positions, such as a down. Cruz' training has been so successful he is part of the Shedd Aquarium show! Students were not allowed to take video or photos behind the scenes at Shedd, but here is a video from Shedd introducing Cruz where you can see an early training session with Ken.
 
Shedd Aquarium is also home to three dogs, who also perform in the show. Ken serves as an advisor to the Chicago court system on how to rehabilitate dogs with aggression. As a result of his work, three "problem" dogs came to Shedd, all adopted from local shelters. One of the dogs, an Airedale mix named Coral, was people- and dog-reactive. Pit Bull Bruce was taken from an alleged fighting situation, and Shepherd mix Dory was an owner surrender. (Did you notice all the dogs are named after characters in the movie, Finding Nemo?) 
Bruce getting a treat
Bruce gets a treat after a great recall.
 
Not one of the dogs showed any aggression during the course. Bruce was a downright flirt! The trainers at Shedd use the same techniques in training their dogs as they do all their other species. They promote positive reinforcement training and animal adoption during their show. 
 
Teoti came back from Chicago with lots of ideas to add to Pawsitive Results training classes and private lessons. "I've attended many educational workshops during my career," she says, "I consider my week at Shedd Aquarium to be one of the best!"
In This Issue
Class Schedule
Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens
Training the Shedd Way
What Does Training Other Species Have to do with Training Dogs?
Please Update Your Contact List
What Does Training Other Species Have to Do With Training Dogs?
Teoti offering a target to a Beluga whale
Teoti using a hand target with Kayavak, a Beluga whale.
Why learn to train a chicken? Why study how to train a Beluga whale? The species are very different from dogs, but the learning is the same!

The laws of learning apply to all species. Pawsitive Results uses clicker training, which uses an event marker (a click) to indicate desired behavior. This training works for chickens, whales, dolphins, sea lions... it even works with Argentine Tegus! Clicker training works for anything with a nervous system. 

Trainers currently use clicker training to teach useful behaviors to animals in zoological parks and aquariums. By using positive reinforcement, they teach whales to willingly offer their flukes for blood draws, elephants to offer their feet for grooming and tigers to happily move from enclosure to enclosure.

Training enables zoo professionals to better care for their animals and keep them healthy. By learning to work with people for necessary husbandry procedures, animals are less frightened and stressed. Training also offers mental enrichment for the animals. 

Using positive reinforcement with potentially dangerous animals just makes sense. You can't use harsh techniques or they could seriously hurt or even kill you. If trainers can get these animals to perform with clicks and rewards, why use harsh techniques with dogs? 

Learning how to work with other species helps instructors learn patience, improve timing and enhance training skills. And the first time your chicken flies away because your reinforcement was too late, it makes you better appreciate how patient and forgiving our dogs are! 
Have You Updated Your Contacts?

Please make note of our new phone number:

803-334-0174

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About Pawsitive Results, LLC

 

Pawsitive Results, LLC offers reward-based group dog training classes in Irmo and West Columbia, SC., as well as private lessons. Owner Teoti Anderson is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer and author who also gives popular workshops across the country to dog trainers and pet owners.