Check this out!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6UCMlpe8uMQ

Treat Training

"TREAT TRAINING"  There is no such thing. Treats are used by any animal trainer who knows what he or she is doing. Using food as reinforcement in training is not a unique type of training, it's just plain good training, based on decades of animal research. Food treats, whatever is appropriate for the animal being trained, whether a dog, cat, bird or dolphin, strengthens the behavior which it follows and increases the likelihood the behavior will be repeated. Some people think their dog should work for praise only. This is unreasonable. While praise can be reinforcing to many dogs, praise alone, especially in the early stages of training, is not a very efficient or effective way to build strong behaviors.

Cindy Ludwig, Canine Connection LLC
www.clicker.solutions

My Handsome Sage

He's ten. He's so handsome! I tell him every day. He was shedding for a bit and looked raggedy but his coat has come back in so beautifully! Maybe I'll bring him to the next park walk since it's close. Watch for an email soon about that. But he's not as social as he used to be. He'll wear a yellow scarf for space. We'll see. 

Stress!

https://positively.com/contributors/can-my-dog-be-stressed-part-1/

No classes tonight!

I think we're cancelling tonight's classes at Clippard Park. Looks like we're gonna get hit with storms again from here. See you next week!

And this little piggy went to.......training!

It's a thing now-pet pigs. Maybe it's been a thing and I never noticed. Mini pigs. But actually I've found there isn't such a thing. Pigs grow till they are 3 or 4 years old. They can start out cute and little. And wind up HUGE. We're talking 150 to 200 pounds huge! And as I'm finding out folks have little to no experience with them. They are not like dogs in that they are prey animals, not predators like our dogs. They are herbivores not carnivores like our dogs. They can live for 20 years or longer. And most who do train them use aversive methods. Force. Something called Move The Pig. 

So I'm setting out on a path to learn more about them and from what I'm learning they can be taught using positive reward based training. And if folks are going to keep them as house pets, they surely need manners. And surely not aversively taught. Who wants to be adversaries with a 200 pound pig?

My new goal is to help pig owners train their house pet pigs to have manners in a positive force free method to promote better relationships and keep pigs in their homes. So you may see pigs in training in my classes. You may see therapy pigs in training. Stay tuned.......🐷

Couple pics from our Park walk