A search-and-rescue start Sometimes trainers venture into uncharted training territory without realizing how novel or new it might be. I have been teaching a graduate course on animal

Scents, in many scenarios Scent-detection training has been receiving more attention in recent years. The use of dogs to alert on explosives has become increasingly critical in our

New fun If you follow dog behavior and training blogs or articles, YouTube videos, or other popular electronic media, it’s likely that you’ve heard of a recently imported European dog

Below are The Eight Ways of Changing Behavior, originally included in Don’t Shoot the Dog by Karen Pryor and adapted by Karen for the show dog guardian. While it reflects

Focus on the student and the process Someone recently asked me how the term “microshaping” developed, and what, exactly, it means. I think I probably originated that term

Scent discrimination is one of the “advanced” obedience exercises, but it is actually one of the easiest to train. Why? You are working with the dog’s single most

The limited hold is scientific terminology—laboratory slang, really—for a good way to use the marker and reinforcer to speed up response to a cue. We’re all used to sluggish responses. You call folks

When do I fade the click? How do I fade the click? We hear those questions all the time. The smart-aleck answer is “Never.” Because we don’t “fade”

This letter is shared for historical reference and enjoyment. While it reflects the best practices at the time of publication, standards and recommendations may have evolved.  Originally printed