DunbarAcademy.com

In 1982, Off-leash puppy socialization and training classes introduced APPLIED SCIENCE and the notion of TEMPERAMENT MODIFICATION to the world of dog training. Off-leash puppy classes demonstrated that without a doubt, regardless of breed or breeding, early socialization and training is the #1 variable that determines adult behavior, temperament and training.

Sadly, Covid inflicted a sudden death on in-person puppy classes, and exacerbated by sequestering puppies during early development, temperament problems sky-rocketed. So much so, that many trainers spend an inordinate amount of time rehabilitating dogs with dog-dog reactivity, fear and aggression towards unfamiliar people, or 'fear of their own shadow', and separation anxiety.

Nowadays, in-person, off-leash, puppy socialization and training classes have become a rare breed. Puppies and their people so desperately need for off-leash puppy classes to be up and running once more. Consequently, we are currently compiling a directory of Puppy Trainers to promote to State Veterinary Medical Associations. Please complete this short survey if you would like to be included. (For the first two Annual Conferences ('93 and '94), the working acronym for the Association of Professional Dog Trainers was APT — the Association of Puppy Trainers.)

Results-Based Reward Training
(Full Day Seminar)

Learn how to teach your dog: to Sit on cue anytime, anywhere, no matter what the distraction: to eliminate on cue, so you can teach when and where; to Settle Down promptly, quietly, and happily, with a food-stuffed chewtoy, so your dog learns what to chew and to enjoy little quiet moments by itself; to Shush on cue, so your dog learns when to stop alarm or recreational barking; to Jazz-up & Settle Down on cue, so your dog gets the opportunity to let off steam, when and where appropriate for you, yet settles when requested; and to greet visitors and unfamiliar people and dogs in an appropriate fashion. Who would have thought that dog training could be this Easy and so much FUN?

The Lure-Reward Training sequence of 'A1. Request, A2. Handsignal (Lure), B. Response, and C. PRAISE and maybe Reward' comprises all the salient aspects of associative learning and operant conditioning.

In Stage 1: Food/toy lures are used to teach the meaning of Handsignals and then PHASED OUT in the first session, since Handsignals may be used to teach dogs the meaning of Verbal Requests. In Stage 2: Food rewards are drastically reduced to increase their reinforcing power and are largely replaced by much more powerful Life Rewards, administered via Reinforcement Schedules that are far more sophisticated and effective than CC, FI, FR, VI, VR, and DR.

Lure-Reward Training is the easiest, quickest, and most comprehensive method for teaching dogs to respond promptly, reliably, and happily to verbal cues. All three adverbs are quantified: speed, duration, and reliability of responses, and the dog's consent and eagerness to train. (Training is conducted off-leash.)

The secret of Response-Reliability is a variety of extremely simple exercises in Stage 3 that ensure that your dog responds to your verbal cues off-leash, at a distance, anytime, anywhere, regardless of what they are doing, and regardless of competing distractions, and all without you even having to raise your voice. Indeed, the Jewel in the Crown of my book and seminars is how to produce ultra-reliable cued responses without using force, or incurring anxiety, stress, or fear.

Why teach cued responses? To open communication channels, so that we can: 1. Teach dogs how to act in different scenarios; and 2. Instruct them precisely what we would like them to do when they misbehave, often by using just a single word, such as: "Shush", "Chewtoy", "Outside"/"Toilet", Bed", "Settle", "Sit-Stay", or "Watch", or by using a sentence, such as "Rover, Shush, Find your Chewtoy, Go to your Bed, and Settle. Thank you."

CLICK HERE for more information about Ian's Results-Based Reward Training seminar.

Resolving Dog-Dog Reactivity
(Full Day Seminar)

When dogs are involved in a scuffle, scrap, or fight, owners often lay blame on the other dog and owner, and sometimes on their own dog. However, it takes two to tango, or in this case four: your dog, the other dog, the other owner, and you. When two dogs and their owners approach each other, dogs and owners often become increasingly anxious, stressed, fearful, and in extreme cases, downright scared. If one of the four reacts, all four will erupt, causing the original dog to erupt more and so, create a vicious circle. Owners often feel helpless because they feel there is nothing they can do to change or stop the other dog’s behavior. But there is, and you can.

Stress, anxiety, and reactivity around other dogs are most quickly alleviated by offering specific verbal guidance for example, to Sit-Stay, Shush, and Watch, i.e., to not hyperactivate, vocalize, work themselves into a frenzy, or eye-ball the other dog. By changing your dog's behavior, feelings, and emotions, you change the perceptions and behavior of other dogs and owners, who, feeling less threatened, threaten your dog less. Once you have objectively determined that your dog's behavior is NOT dangerous, resolution usually takes just a single session. Check out the videos of Nell and Walter on the Dunbar Academy Facebook page. Nell's owner was able to grasp and implement the techniques to prevent reactivity on his very first attempt.

You'll learn a variety of fun exercises that will help you focus and stay calm, plus the importance of Representative Observation and Feedback (ROF), specifically, offering clear verbal instruction and guidance plus copious praise. This is where cued response-reliability pays dividends!

CLICK HERE for more information about Ian's Resolving Dog-Dog Reactivity seminar.