| Date: | July 28-29, 2012 |
|---|---|
| Category: | Dogs |
| Title: | Get SMART about Training - Kathy Sdao, MA, ACAAB |
| Description: | Over the last twenty years, many dog trainers have made efforts to increase their use of positive reinforcement while minimizing their use of painful or anxiety-provoking punishments. This evolution toward a more humane approach to modifying behavior has far-reaching impact on dogs and trainers alike. But when we opt to avoid using “sticks” to motivate our dogs, we must make a commitment to become SMART about the use of “carrots” – positive reinforcers. Trainers who understand the science and practical applications of behavioral reinforcement gain the ability to be more creative and less coercive. The acronym SMART stands for “See, Mark and Reward Training”; it summarizes the fundamental sequence of behaviors a trainer performs when using reinforcement effectively. We’ll discuss in detail each of these core skills – observation of the animal’s behaviors, pinpointing the desired behavior with a meaningful marker signal, and providing powerful rewards. Through use of lecture, video and a couple of live demonstrations, this seminar will explore all aspects of positive reinforcement: types, frequency, timing, placement, use of conditioned reinforcers, creation of new reinforcers, satiation, the use of distractions as reinforcers, and what reinforcement cannot accomplish. Day 1: Welcome & Intro Brief review of operant conditioning Operant conditioning & natural selection Carrots & organic gardening: Why positive reinforcement? Unconditioned vs conditioned reinforcers Markers: characteristics & development Reinforcement shifts the behavioral distribution Creating new reinforcers Day 2: Preserving existing reinforcers “Precious cues”; inadvertent chaining Seeing behavior: setting your filter What if environment offers better reinforcers than you have? Placement of reinforcers Limits of what reinforcement can do Questions & wrap up CEUs from IAABC and CCPDT are pending. We expect them. |
| Speaker: | Kathy Sdao, MA, ACAAB |
| Registration Fee: | $130 - $260 |
| How to Register: | Online at www.dogsofcourse.com |
| Website: | http://dogsofcourse.com/ |
| Facility: | Zinn Dog Training |
| Location: | 12200 W. 52nd Ave., Unit 6 Wheat Ridge, CO |
| Email: | Email for more information |
| Phone Number: | 508-529-3568 |
