4 pawsuniversity

[Debbieg]

The Clicker training site I belong too suggested this website and it has some great articles. i have only had time to read a few but wanted to share it. Seems to have everything. I have to be careful not to spend so much time reading about how to train and have a great relationship with my dog that I neglect my dog

http://www.4pawsu.com/articles.htm

[LisaT]

Hey, that's where I've been thinking of taking Max for training! They have some great articles

[Cassidy's Mom]

This article about Cesar Milan is great: http://www.4pawsu.com/cesarfans.htm

Quote:POSITIVE METHODS/COOKIES DON'T WORK ON "RED ZONE" DOGS

This common myth stems from a lack of understanding of stress in dogs. When a dog is in a situation where the sympathetic nervous system is engaged (fight or flight), the digestive system shuts down to divert all energy to the muscles for survival. This is what is known as the animal being over-threshold. So, if one tries to feed a dog treats while they are over-threshold, the dog will not eat. This means that the owner or trainer has moved too quickly into an environment in which the dog is already reacting and unable to learn.

Experienced professionals understand the importance of keeping a dog under-threshold, which involves exposing the dog to the person, dog or object that triggers the problem behavior. This allows trainers to use positive methods to change the dog's association in that scenario.

To use positive methods effectively to change behavior, one needs a basic understanding of how dogs learn. If they lack that understanding, they won't be successful. However, when one is unsuccessful with positive methods, there is no change in behavior, for better or for worse. When one is unsuccessful with punishment-based methods, there can be an escalation in the problem behavior which can be difficult for the dog owner to overcome.

[Kayos and Havoc]

Bookmarked for future reading, thanks!