Schutzhund Post
Schutzhund Training Post
Updated training information for those in AK9's Schutzhund
training group
12-11-2010
1. After the change of paces this pattern below shows a right turn. On our field, we do a left turn. So that portion of the pattern is flipped around to the left side.

12-14-10
Active vs. Reactive Dog Training.
Whenever we train a dog, we have two basic choices. To create an Active dog or a Reactive dog. An Active dog is one who knows that their behavior is driving the production of a reward and that the reward always comes through their handler.
An Active dog does not need to see the reward to perform a behavior. They understand how to push the right buttons (correct behavior) to drive the handler to produce a reward. They trust the handler will provide a reward when the correct behavior is performed.
A Reactive dog on the other hand is a dog whose behavior is being driven by the reward itself. We teach them to be driven (perform a behavior) by that reward when the handler or trainer teases the dog with it .
An Active dog has a communication relationship with their handler while working. A Reactive dog has a relationship with their reward.
Look at this model of communication between a handler and an Active dog. It is the core of how a handler communicates with an Active dog from the dogs perspective:
1. They know a word, sound or hand signal, that predicts a behavior request
from the handler. (ie. sit,down,stand, come, whistle, hand signal)
2. They know a word or sound that releases them from a behavior
to access their reward. (ie. Yes, take it, clicker, ssst)
3. They know a word or sound that means you like what they are
doing, keep it up, hold that position. (ie. Good, brav)
4. They know a word or sound that means they are wrong, try
again. (ie. phui, a'a)
5. They know a word or sound that means the training or the
deployment is over a release command. (ie. free)
A simple communication sytem which is based on Marker training is making dog training so much clearer for your dog to comprehend to learn new commands and progress in any area of work desired.
12-16-10
Operant Conditioning
Operant conditioning is a name often wrongly applied to clicker training. In fact clicker training generally uses one of the quadrants of Operant Conditioning. In behavioral terms "positive" means something is added to the situation, "negative" means something is taken away. "Reinforcement" means that the behavior is more likely to be repeated after it is applied, "punishment" means the behavior is less likely to be repeated afterwards.
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Positive Reinforcement: The dog receives something that he finds rewarding (food, toy) for performing a behavior. This makes him MORE likely to perform the behavior again. It must increase the desired behavior to be considered as positive reinforcement.
Positive Punishment: The dog receives something that he finds aversive/uncomfortable (correction, water spray) for performing a behavior. This makes him LESS likely to perform the behavior again.
Negative Reinforcement: The dog is put in a position he finds uncomfortable (ear pinch, electric stim) until he performs a behavior. This makes him MORE likely to perform the behavior again.
Negative Punishment: The dog has access to something he finds rewarding, he performs a behavior his owner doesn't want and the reward is taken away. This makes him LESS likely to perform the behavior again.
Clicker or Marker - Announce a package is coming. It does not announce the quantity or quality.
Disobedience - They are not excuting what we know they can perform very well at the level they are at.
Correction - When a correction is taught effectively, a dog is under control of his corrections. When a dog is under control of a correction, he does not want a correction. Therefore, to avoid a correction he must do the exercise.
Work together with Drive - To many people fight against the dogs drives. When we do this we always loose.
Break down each exercise and teach them in a simple way how to get success.
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LINKS
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