Drinking from the Toilet: Real Dogs, Real Training · #187: Training Faster Behaviors Without Frustration, Part 2 In this episode, we explore strategies to achieve faster and more precise behaviors in dog training. I discuss how clarity, timing, and reinforcement techniques can improve your dog’s response times, reduce hesitation, and build confidence. Tune in for […]

Drinking from the Toilet: Real Dogs, Real Training · #186: Training Faster Behaviors Without Frustration, Part 1 In this episode we discuss: Speed vs. Latency: Speed is how fast a behavior is completed from the time it starts. Latency is the response time, or the time elapsed between when the cue is perceived and when […]

Drinking from the Toilet: Real Dogs, Real Training · #185: Avoiding Triggers and Situations In this episode, we discuss the practice of avoiding situations as part (or all) of a training plan. Often avoiding certain situations can be an important strategy, helping to prevent mistakes and reduce stress for both the dog and the handler. […]

Drinking from the Toilet: Real Dogs, Real Training · #184: What’s Wrong with “Drilling”? In this episode we dig into the concept of drilling, and how it applies in dog training. It’s pretty common for most of us to have an emotional response just to the term itself – for good reason! But is there […]

Drinking from the Toilet: Real Dogs, Real Training · #183: Demand Barking, Part 3, with Kiki Yablon Guest: Kiki Yablon Kiki Yablon, CPDT-KA, is a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner and faculty member as well as a co-instructor for Susan Friedman’s BehaviorWorks. She holds a master’s degree in applied behavioral science from the University […]

Drinking from the Toilet: Real Dogs, Real Training · #182: Demand Barking, Part 2 In this episode, we discuss: Using concepts around stimulus control to stop demand barking before it stops. How cues create expectations of what reinforcement is available. Using naturally occurring events that are already built into your routine to signal when reinforcement […]

Drinking from the Toilet: Real Dogs, Real Training · #181: Demand Barking, Part 1 In this episode, we are talking about Demand Barking. This is a three part series, at least for now. For the first two episodes, I’ll be sharing my thoughts and what I’ve learned about working with dogs that “demand” bark. And […]

Drinking from the Toilet: Real Dogs, Real Training · #180: Building Food Drive and Nuanced Reinforcement with Ashlee Osborn Guest: Ashlee Osborn Ashlee Osborn is a certified dog trainer with over 10 years of experience caring for and training dogs and their people. She founded Pawsitive Pups Academy in 2021; an Omaha, Nebraska based mobile […]

Drinking from the Toilet: Real Dogs, Real Training · #179: More Strategies to Reduce Errors In the last episode, we talked about what errorless learning really means. And I shared a few strategies that might make it easier to apply in your training. Of course, the major benefit to using errorless learning concepts in your […]

Drinking from the Toilet: Real Dogs, Real Training · #178: How to Apply Errorless Learning Principles in Practical Training Sessions In his 1968 book, The Technology of Teaching, B.F. Skinner wrote: Errors are not a function of learning or vice-versa nor are they blamed on the learner. Errors are a function of poor analysis of […]

Drinking from the Toilet: Real Dogs, Real Training · #177: Dr. Clive Wynne Says Some Controversial Things About Dominance Guest: Dr. Clive Wynne Born in England, Clive Wynne studied at University College London and the University of Edinburgh. He has served on the faculty of the University of Western Australia, and the University of Florida, […]

Drinking from the Toilet: Real Dogs, Real Training · #176: Taking Short Cuts with Stimulus-Stimulus Pairing with Kiki Yablon Guest: Kiki Yablon Kiki Yablon is a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner, Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA), Karen Pryor Academy faculty member, and co-instructor for Susan Friedman’s BehaviorWorks, and holds a master’s degree in applied behavioral […]

Drinking from the Toilet: Real Dogs, Real Training · #175: Over the Top – High Arousal in Dogs Guests: Leslie McDevitt & Lindsay Wood Brown Leslie McDevitt, MLA, CDBC, CPDT-KA, is the author of the internationally popular Control Unleashed series of books and DVDs. Her books have been translated into many languages; people all over […]

Drinking from the Toilet: Real Dogs, Real Training · #174: Families with Dogs and Kids with Jennifer Shryock Guest: Jennifer Shryock Jennifer Shryock, Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC), is the owner and founder of Family Paws® LLC. She has a certification from the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants and a special education degree with […]

Drinking from the Toilet: Real Dogs, Real Training · #173: Dealing with Problem Behaviors – Using Alternate Behaviors In this episode we discuss: The first step to dealing with a problem behavior is to identify the function. Figure out a plan to control access if possible and practical. If that reinforcer is not practical to […]

Drinking from the Toilet: Real Dogs, Real Training · #172: How to Tell That Your Classical Conditioning Plan is Working When we pair two stimuli together as part of a classical conditioning training plan, it can sometimes be hard to determine when the association has been made between the old stimulus and the new stimulus… […]

Drinking from the Toilet: Real Dogs, Real Training · #171: Maintenance Mode In this episode we discuss: When you might outsource maintenance to the environment? Functional difference between intrinsic and extrinsic reinforcers in maintaining behaviors. How easy it is for behaviors to start slipping before we notice. One way to avoid or minimize that slippage […]

Drinking from the Toilet: Real Dogs, Real Training · #170: How To Avoid Too Much Drilling In this episode we discuss: Tradeoffs when using systematic “drills” to isolate specific aspects of an exercise. Drills help us isolate specific aspects of an exercise and give us the advantage of Deliberate Practice for expertise. What is meant […]