Now to answer an unanswered question from last week; when exactly DO I use a NRM? The answer is I only use a NRM if, by not using one, the dog can earn reinforcement. Routinely I can only think of two examples in my training [...]
Feature's puppy has taken over my life. I just can't get any work done he is sooo darn cute, I can just sit and watch him all day long . . . and I do! He is no longer going by his puppy name of [...]
To follow up on a comment written on yesterday's blog; what do we do when we are shaping one thing but our dogs get “stuck” offering something she already knows. My first choice is to set things up in my favor to avoid this from [...]
It seems everyone has a slightly different slant on their application of Non Reward Markers (NRMs) in training. Here is a little more on my approach. First of all, I never use them in training during a value building session (shaping). Actually, I rarely use [...]
I thought it was time to address my thoughts on the use, abuse, misuse and the misunderstanding of the “non reward marker” (NRM) in dog training A non reward marker is usually a word or phrase that when spoken to your dog, lets him know [...]
Last week my friend Lynda and I went for a walk with the dogs. Yes the snow was close to a meter deep (that is about a yard for our American friends) but the dogs didn’t care -- they wanted their walk! Now walking up [...]
I am writing this blog post today not from a position of a great depth of knowledge but reporting from two singular experiences. I am hoping anyone reading this that has gone through a similar situation will offer their perspective. I suppose for many of [...]
Those of you that are not on Facebook, that were unable to follow the links in my last post to the “surprise” here it is. Last November, while teaching in Australia I made arrangements for Feature to be bred to a lovely male that had [...]
So two big announcements. First. I have a new facebook page. Big deal you say. Here is the deal. But I have printed today's blog post on this new page. It contains I big reveal by me, something I haven't shared publicly yet but I [...]
Oh my those Kiwi have quite the sense of humour. This is from Chelsea Marriner, who actually won the Jumpers class at the IFCS World Championships (with a borrowed dog). Enjoy! Today I am grateful for positive outlooks.
I just got the official word (and poster) that this year's Canada Cup event is going to be held on Canada Day! So no longer do you need to take extra days away from work as there will be both a Canadian and an American [...]
We just wrapped up four days of puppy and young dog training. It started with our two day Advances in Dog Training (AiDT) and then rolled right into Critical Elements (the camp formerly known as puppy camp:)). As of January 2010 we now been honouring [...]
