Page 15 - BRAVO-3 | ISSUE 2 | JULY/AUGUST 2018

FOOD-BASEDK9TRAINING
Theworldofmoderndogtraininghasevolvedtoalevelofgreatnessandprecisionnoneofuslifersever imagined,rapidlygaininginpopularity,atributedtotheworldbeingconnectedandhavingtheabilitytoshare and trade techniques,concepts and mechanics oftraining through socialmedia.One ofthe greatest contributionstotherevolutionandevolutionofmoderndogtrainingistheutilizationoffood-basedtraining.
sdogtrainers,weadjusttotheleveloftheanimal’scomprehension,learningprocess,needsandinstincts inordertocreatealearningdesignthatenhancesbehaviormodification,muchofwhichisaccomplished throughclassicalandoperantconditioning.Thestudyofwolvesandferaldogsgivesusthetemplateand platform toanalyzetheirdrives,needsandinstinctsforsurvival.Theprimarycatalystforactivatingawolfto hunt,stalk,pursue,catchanddefendinthewildishunger.Thepangsofhungeraretheignitionandinternal a la rm c lo c k w h ic h a w a k e n s th is p rim itiv e c re a tu re , c a l lin g u p o n it to g e t in th e g a m e o f life . T h e w o lf c le a rly
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Once this concept is obtained and an understandingofhowtopracticalyapplyitto amoderndogtrainingsystem,anawakening occurs in the beholder and a realization is spawned that we hold the key to truly connectingwithourdogs,simplybyspeaking to their instinct. This article doesn’t cover
vsfreeshaping,astherearestrengths and weaknesses to either technique, but solely the philosophy and the benefits of food-based training.The added luxury of abandoningstrictlycompulsivebasedtraining isworthitsweightingold.Thearchaicground andpoundtechniquesofyesteryearareno
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punishmentcounterpart.Thisisachievedbydiscardingthetraditionaldogfoodbowlanddistributingevery calorie the animalconsumes through ourhands,administered as an existentialreward forthe dog’s activation,engagementandefortthroughtraining.NO FREEBIES,NO EXCUSES!Weareanextremely busysociety,sosimplyjackpotingonebasicbehaviorasaonehitwonderwhenpressedfortimecanalso paybigdividends.
Throughoutmy25-yeardogtrainingcareer,Ihavebeenblessedtohavemyhands-onhundreds,ifnot thousandsofpetdogs,theyhavealtaughtmesomethingofgreatvalue.Agreatdealofmyeducationhas beenderivedfrom workingwithpetdogsandtheirowners,whichcanbeacomplicateddynamic,havinggreat depthandmanyfactorscontributingtoasuccessfulprogram.Trainingpoliceandsportdogsismucheasier, astheyaregeneticalyengineeredtoproducethedesired,targetbehaviorsrequiredoftheiroccupation.The petdogscomefrom amuchdiferentplace.Mosthaveverylitleworkingdrives,weaknerves,arespoiled
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nandliveinanenvironmentwherethehumansservethedog,contrarytoGOD’sdesignofthem serving man.Norules,nostructure,freeloveandfreefood.Thissituationmakesnosensetoapredatorandsurvivor andthisiswhereIfindtherootofmanybehavioralissues.Todaysdomesticateddoghassomeofthedrives
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