Leerburg Dog Training Podcast

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How to Manage Reward Schedules in Dog Training Mar 25, 2024

Show notes

When we move our dog to a variable reward schedule and we do it at the right time, it should produce more drive in our dog to perform. If we have introduced the dog to the 'NOPE' marker enough times (hundreds of times - see our online course on Marker Training) the dog will think 'Hey I deserve a reward but I didn't get one, I must have done something wrong so I'll try harder next time'. Then the following behaviors it gets rewarded 3 or 4 times, then no reward again. The goal of a variable reward system is to develop a training module where the dog never knows when or how many rewards it's going to get for offering a behavior. Finding the right balance is your challenge. Being ready to back up your training for a while will help you figure this out. Every dog is different, that's why no one can tell you exactly how to do it for your dog. | Links mentioned: Training Dogs with Food Rewards: https://university.leerburg.com/Catalog/viewCourse/cid/206 | The Power of Training Dogs with Markers (2024 Version): https://university.leerburg.com/Catalog/viewCourse/cid/96

When to Train Your Dog Using Kibble As a Food Reward Mar 22, 2024

Show notes

It may seem counterintuitive to say that we don't want to use our dog's highest-value food reward all the time. With some dogs, there may be times in teaching a behavior where that's exactly what we need to do. The same thing may happen with dogs that are transitioned to toy rewards. Let's say we have an extremely high food drive dog that gets so amped up when it knows you have steak that it's brain stops working and the steak becomes more of a distraction. So much so that we need to add pressure to calm the dog down so we can help it learn. If that ever becomes the case with your dog, then change your food rewards to a lesser value food reward, maybe kibble. Once the dog knows the behavior and once it has gone through impulse control training, you will be able to go back and use high-value rewards like steak again. At that point, the dog understands that the road to steak is to stay focused and offer the behavior we ask for. | Links mentioned: Training Dogs with Food Rewards - Version 2024 https://university.leerburg.com/Catalog/viewCourse/cid/206

My Dog Won't Take Food Rewards Mar 14, 2024

Show notes

There is something every new trainer needs to know. If your dog won't take food, if it's not interested in your high-value food reward, it's either: 1 - full and not hungry 2 - it's distracted 3 - it's stressed If my dog is paying attention to the screaming kids next door the dog will often find the kids more interesting than the food reward we have. If my dog is stressed, because of the environment I have chosen to train in, the dog will not take food. Look at it like this: if you are scared do you feel like eating? Probably not. If you are mad, do you feel like eating, probably not. STRESS KILLS FOOD DRIVE.| Links mentioned: Training Dogs with Food Rewards: https://university.leerburg.com/Catalog/viewCourse/cid/206

Generalization in Dog Training Mar 08, 2024

Show notes

Teaching our dog a reliable recall is the most important behavior we can teach our dog. The recall is a behavior that can save our dog's life. This course has 93 videos and is over 6 hours long. If you have a recall problem and want to take the time to learn how to train a reliable recall this course will teach you how to do it.| Links mentioned: Training Your Dog to COME When Called https://university.leerburg.com/Catalog/viewCourse/cid/197

When Not To Use A High Value Food Reward Feb 16, 2024

Show notes

It may seem counterintuitive to say that we don't want to use our dogs highest value food reward, but with some dogs there may be times in teaching a behavior where that's exactly what we need to do. The same thing may happen with dogs that are transitioned to toy rewards. Let's say we have an extremely high high food drive dog that gets so amped up when it knows you have steak that it's brain stops working and the steak becomes more of a distraction. So much so that we need to add pressure to calm the dog down so we can help it learn. If that ever becomes the case with your dog, then change your food rewards to a lesser value food reward, maybe kibble. Once the dog knows the behavior and once it has gone through impulse control training, you will be able to go back and use steak again. At that point, the dog understands that the road to steak is to stay focused and offer the behavior we ask for. | Links mentioned: Training Dogs with Food Rewards with Ed Frawley: https://university.leerburg.com/Catalog/viewCourse/cid/206

Ed Frawley on the Hand Touch Game Feb 13, 2024

Show notes

When we ask our dog for a hand-touch we expect the dog to touch their nose to the palm of our hand. The hand-touch becomes a fun game that our dogs love to play at home and on walks. In fact, with many dogs, the hand-touch itself becomes a reward. Once our dog becomes fluent with the hand-touch we can use it to redirect the dog away from unwanted distractions like other dogs, people, or things that make them nervous or reactive. This video came out of a new 5 hour online course from Leerburg.com titled Training Your Dog With High Value Food Rewards with Ed Frawley. | Links mentioned: Training Dogs with Food Rewards with Ed Frawley: https://university.leerburg.com/Catalog/viewCourse/cid/206

Ed Frawley on the Food Chase Game Feb 09, 2024

Show notes

One of the benefits of learning to use food rewards in your training is you will end up with a dog that loves to train, in fact, most will challenge you to take them out to train. This is very different from what I experienced back in the 1960s and 1970s. | Links mentioned: Training Dogs with Food Rewards with Ed Frawley: https://university.leerburg.com/Catalog/viewCourse/cid/206

Ed Frawley On Training Tracking Dogs for Police - S and R Feb 06, 2024

Show notes

In this video, Ed Frawley talks about a series of tracking videos he filmed with the RCMP in the 1990s. The RCMP instructors are the best tracking dog instructors in the world. They have been training police tracking dogs since 1935. | Links mentioned: Training Level 1 Tracking Dogs for Police – S & R - https://university.leerburg.com/Catalog/viewCourse/cid/216 | Track Laying for Police Dogs - https://university.leerburg.com/Catalog/viewCourse/cid/219 | Level II & III Urban and Suburban Tracking - https://university.leerburg.com/Catalog/viewCourse/cid/217 | Hard Surface Tracking - https://university.leerburg.com/Catalog/viewCourse/cid/218

Why Short Training Sessions Are Important In Dog Training Feb 02, 2024

Show notes

Our online course is much more than just using treats to train your dog. The 5 & 1/2 Hr course has over 120 videos that will teach you how to use high-value food rewards to build a communication system between you and your dog. Our course is about using rewards to teach behaviors and build a better relationship with your dog. If you follow the training steps in this course you will end up with a dog that looks forward to your training session. | Links mentioned: Training Dogs with FOOD REWARDS - with Ed Frawley version 2024 - Online Course:https://university.leerburg.com/Catalog/viewCourse/cid/206

Don't Make My Marker Training Mistake Jan 30, 2024

Show notes

Training with food is a journey, not a destination. By understanding the science behind positive reinforcement, choosing the right rewards, and implementing effective training techniques, you can unlock your dog's full potential and forge an even deeper connection with your furry companion. Remember, training with food is not just about treats; it's about building a strong, positive relationship with your dog, one delicious reward at a time. | Links mentioned: Training Dogs with Food Rewards with Ed Frawley: https://university.leerburg.com/Catalog/viewCourse/cid/206

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