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Happy St. Patrick's Day, March Madness and Day Light Savings!
In this month's newsletter I have a continuation article on the place punishment plays in dog training. In this month's article I spell out guidelines on how to use punshiment both humanely and effectively.
Also, in this month's newsletter I have listed 5 new specialty classes that I will be running this year. I have also made some changes to the Saturday Downtown Excursion Classes that are in this newsletter.
Please let me know what you think about this month's article and I hope you survive the Sequestration and pick the winners for March Madness.
Cheers,
Steve Bettcher, IACP Certified Dog Trainer The Dog Squad |
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Guidelines to Using Punishment for Dog Training
This is a continuation artilce from last month's Newsletter.
Guidelines for Humane Punishment (Adapted from Steven Lindsay's "Handbook of Applied Dog Behavior and Training", Volume One,
Chapter 8)
1. Remember that you are punishing the "Behavior" not the "Dog".
2. Never punish in anger or frustration.
3. Never hit, slap, kick, beat or hang a dog or puppy. Do not use your hands or objects such as brooms or sticks. Corrections should be delivered with a leash or remote training device as to avoid a dog from becoming reactive to people's hands or feet.
4. Punishment should be firm and immediate. The closer to the infringement the better. A punisher should be delivered no more than 3 to 5 seconds from the act. The longer the delay the less effective the correction.
5. Punishment should occur at the earliest point in a sequence of behaviors. For example: Dogs that lunge at other dogs while on the leash typically give a series of cues before the act of lunging or barking occurs. They may stiffen their body, their ears may go back, their head may drop and so on. By observing these precursors to the actual lunging you can stop the behavior from happening by correcting these precursors to the final behavior.
6. Always give the dog an "Antecedent Signal" such as "Leave-it", "Stop", "Off", "NO", "Enough" and so on, before applying the punishment. The reprimand (Antecedent Signal) will eventually become a "Conditioned Punisher" and if done correctly will replace the need for actual punishment.
7. Select the right punishment for the Crime. Try to understand what is motivating the dog's behavior and shape the punishment accordingly. For example, if the dog is barking at you for attention and for you to play giving him a 30 second Time Out might be more appropriate than squirting him with water. There is no "one size fits all" form of punishment. You need to take into account the dog's temperament and personality. You do not want to kill an ant with a gun nor do you want to stop a charging Rhino with a sling shot. What might be overly punitive to one dog may only excite and escalate another dog's bad behavior.
8. The most effective correction generates a strong startle effect at the moment of Delivery. "Startle" is necessary to maximize the punitive effects. Pain in not necessary. Examples would be a trap on a counter to stop food stealing or digging in the garden. A loud noise to stop nuisance barking or quick jerk on the leash when lunging out the front door.
9. Punish only one behavior at a time. Trying to correct multiple behaviors will only confuse the dog.
10. Use the correct amount of punishment the first time. Slowly increasing the amount of punishment will only habituate the dog to the punishment and over time you will need more punishment than you would have needed in the first place.
11.Vary the type of punishment you use. One may work well in one situation but not in another.
12. If a correction/punisher does not work after 3 to 5 times you should reevaluate and possibly try another approach.
13. Make sure that the punishment is not inadvertently reinforcing the behavior you are trying to stop. If the behavior persists and or recovers rapidly you may have to reevaluate and find another punisher. A good example is a dominate dog that likes to jump on people as a part of greeting and rough play may get even more excited and aggressive with it's jumping when you try to put a knee into his chest.
14. And most importantly be consistent with your punishers and how you reinforce behavior.
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New Specialty Class Offerings for 2013 
Classes are all 6 weeks in length and are 1 hour in length. Cost is $225 per class. Dates and times are open to change depending on interest and weather.
Click on the links below for more information and to sign up.
Wednesday 6:30 PM, April 3 - May 8
Wednesday 6:30 PM, May 15 - Jun 19th Wednesday 6:30 PM, Jun 26th - Aug 7th (Skip July 24th)
Off Leash I: Open to Dog Squad Clients - E-collar trained, San Leandro, CA Sunday 12 Noon, July 28 - Sept 8 (Skip Labor Day weekend)
Off Leash II: Open to Dog Squad Clients who have completed Off Leash I - E-collar Trained only, San Leandro, CA Sunday 12 Noon, Sept 15 - Oct 20 |
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Downtown Excursion Classes - Walnut Creek, Danville and Pleasanton
The "Dogs Downtown Excursions" have expanded to 3 Locations: Walnut Creek, Danville and Pleasanton starting Saturday April 6, 2013. The schedule will work as follows: The first Saturday of the month will be Walnut Creek, the 2nd Saturday will be Danville, the 3rd Saturday will be Pleasanton. I will be taking off the 4th weekend of every month. When a Saturday falls on the 5th weekend then an Bonus Class with location will be announced by email. Locations:
Schedule for March 2013 - Saturday Mar. 9th - Delucchi Park, Pleasanton - Saturday Mar 16th - Civic Park, Walnut Creek - Saturday Mar. 23rd- Delucchi Park, Pleasanton - Satirday Mar. 30th - No Class
Time Change for The San Leandro Marina Class
Starting Wednesday February 6th the Marina Class Will Start at 10:30 AM and go until 11 AM
Please check the Calendar to see where we will be meeting. |
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Join the Email Alert list to get up to date information about Park Class Cancellations due to Weather. If you are already on this mailing list and are not receiving Email Alerts go to the bottom of this Newsletter and click on the "Update Profile/Email Address" link. When there check the "Email Alert" Box. |
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Golden Gate Basset Hound Rescue Adoption Event Mar 17th
We do basset hound rescue for Northern California. We will start having monthly adoption events in Novato at Woodlands Petfood, on 3/17.
Adoption Events are held every 3rd Sunday
http://www.ggbr.org/ |
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Blow Out Sale
6 Ft. 1/2" Leather Leashes
While Supply Lasts
$6.95
(Expires March 31, 2013) |
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Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Steve Bettcher, IACP Certified Dog Trainer
The Dog Squad |
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Class Schedule
Changes
No Classes
Sat.Mar. 30th
Sun. Mar. 31st
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FREE
Puppy Training Book
By
Steve Bettcher
Go to My Facebook Page To Get
Your Free Copy
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