Controlled Aggression

In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw and Brad Gillespie discuss: Typical reactions from dogs to gunfire.  Understanding the operational requirement of the dog that you are working with to use the best technique for training. Minding your sequencing with training the gunfire training. Being mindful of canine audiology in inside and outside training with gunfire and other loud noises.   Key Takeaways: Gu...

In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw discusses: What drive capping is, what it means, and how it differs from pressuring the dog. The value in drive capping for police dogs. The importance of both the trainer and the decoy in drive capping training.  Training prerequisites for drive capping.      Key Takeaways: Training is a non-linear process. The further along you get, the more it changes up to direc...

In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw discusses: Understanding the progressions between redirects, recalls, and outs and returns.  Common mistakes made and how to correct them.  Avoiding unwanted stress, pressure, anticipation, and preferences during your training.  Repeated training and training more than what's in certification only.      Key Takeaways: Command discrimination is extremely important as...

In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw discusses: How to get fluency in your outing with reward, not punishment. Beginning with the end in mind in your training. Training with e-collars and your dog. Command chains, variable reward, and understanding Pavlovian conditioning.    Key Takeaways: You will not get fluency in your outing until you understand that repetition in out training with rewarding the do...

In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw discusses: Starting a successful PSA club in your area that is good and healthy for trainers and canines. Pros and cons of the two types of clubs you can run - democracy or top-down leadership. The role of training directors and decoys within a PSA club. Attending club, learning in seminars, following progressions, and learning from those who have had success in the...

In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw discusses: Knowing what an ideal behavior looks like when you're working every stage of progression.  Accountability and follow through.  Short, medium, and long term goals in your organized training plan.  Having proper technique and understanding reward structure for your dog.    Key Takeaways: You must hold a consistent standard of behavior to show the dog that t...

In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw discusses: Classical versus operant conditioning.  Recognizing and understanding the emotional states of your dog.  How your emotions and confidence affect the emotional state of your dog.  Understanding the classical effects of your operant conditioning.  The magic in the emotions.    Key Takeaways: Most dog training starts with operant work then folds in classical...

In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw and Pat Stuart discuss: Utilizing e-collars for more than just negative reinforcement.  Understanding what low-level actually means with the e-collar.  Creating learning phases and utilizing more than one tool in your training tool kit.  Negative reinforcement and positive punishment.  Activation in e-collar training.    Key Takeaways: The level of e-collar stim nee...

In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw and Dr. Jessalyn Klein discuss: Working with people with different personality types and different opinions.  Successfully dealing with a know-it-all, a boundary pusher, and others.  Setting expectations from the beginning.  Giving necessary education and managing magical thinking.  Using the DEAR MAN trick for dealing with people.    Key Takeaways: As the trainer,...

In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw discusses: Multiple markers for different reward types.  The purpose of markers and when a marker may or may not be necessary.  Types of markers and what they indicate to your dog (even if you didn't intend for that behavior). Reward prediction error and reward preferences.    Key Takeaways: With more rehearsal, the neurons that release dopamine activate on the expe...

In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw discusses: Having a full, firm, and hard grip (which may not be calm).  Developing a hunt drive in your dog.  Working dogs on markers and having different types of markers.  How to be an active learner and advice for young trainers.  How primacy of learning applies to training.    Key Takeaways: You want a bite suit to be as form fitting as possible to allow the dog...

Introducing…The Detection Blueprint! If you have ever wanted to learn how to train canine detection from start to finish, you can join us for the three part series, The Detection Blueprint! Over this three part series, we're going to break down detection training and share knowledge, insights and tactics - tactics that I've learned over the last 25 years training working dogs. In 3, 2-hour long se...

Introducing… StreetReadyK9.com ! On the brand new site, you will be able to see all upcoming seminars from Tarheel Canine, download all registration information necessary for the seminars, as well as use the portal to request information regarding hosting a seminar with little to no cost to you (no matter the size of your department). If you are looking for a seminar and some quality training Tarh...

In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw discusses: What a heuristic is and how it applies to rewards and punishments.  Allowing for mental development during your training.  Training multiple commands for the same actions.  Differences in training obedience and detection.    Key Takeaways: Histories create biases. You also need to understand your dog's temperament and how they are going to generalize beha...

In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw discusses: Thinking about the end game from the beginning of your training.  Creating neutrality through all kinds of distractions.  Look at me, look at me while, look at that, and look at that while commands for your dog.  Balancing draw to fight against drift.    Key Takeaways: Attention is the dog's anchor. Give them a point to focus on that allows them to be neu...

In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw discusses: Best practices and variations on utilizing a back tie.  Appropriate, sturdy back ties on different surfaces and tables.  How to decoy while using a back tie for many types of training.  Balancing bringing the dog to the decoy, and the decoy to the dog.    Key Takeaways: The longer the back tie, the bigger the circle is. This creates additional challenges...

In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw and Ben Lepinski discuss: Raising and training sport dogs and police dogs from a decoy perspective.  Attributes that make for a good sport dog.  Handling a dog in fear and avoidance (without creating a bigger problem in the fear period).  Digging to the root of an issue and not just taking it at the surface level.  Teaching the dog to solve problems on his own with...

In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw and Ben Lepinski discuss: Raising and training sport dogs and police dogs from a decoy perspective.  Attributes that make for a good sport dog.  Handling a dog in fear and avoidance (without creating a bigger problem in the fear period).  Digging to the root of an issue and not just taking it at the surface level.  Teaching the dog to solve problems on his own with...

In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw discusses: Handling hyper aggressive or hyper passive suspects on high risk deployments.  Taking role play seriously in training to properly prepare for high risk scenarios.  Component training for good scenario training. Backup neutrality and realistic role playing.    Key Takeaways: There must be clear communication between the canine handler and the SWAT team wit...

In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw discusses: Remediation through focus drills.  Training door poppers with high communication and understanding.  Patient handling to improve focus and targeting.  Training in different conditions, such as night and day, and with different variables.    Key Takeaways: Dogs have a wide field of vision. It is possible that the first thing your dog sees may be the first...

In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw and Dr. Jessalyn Klein discuss: Strategies for improving your people skills. The building blocks of emotional intelligence.  The power in taking a pause.  Asking for (and processing) feedback, open ended questions, and how to connect with those you're working with.    Key Takeaways: Emotional intelligence is the key to understanding people, including yourself.  Self...

In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw discusses: Understanding the basic biting principles.  Creating neutrality to the equipment and distractions.  The importance of understanding civil work.  Human focused confrontation solved through biting.  Training progressions in civil and bite work.      Key Takeaways: We want to teach the dogs in their basic foundation how they can win even when they get pushed...

In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw discusses: Giving control and responsibility to your club members for their own progression. Balancing the top down control with the individual responsibility in your training clubs and business.  Getting things done on time and not allowing perfection to be the enemy of good. Defiance in dogs.    Key Takeaways: When growing a team, you have to remember that everyon...

In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw discusses: Details and schedule for PSA Nationals 2021! How to watch Nationals. Important information for both competitors and spectators.  Key events and sponsors for Nationals.    Key Takeaways: PSA Nationals is at Five County Stadium in Zebulon, NC on November 12-14, 2021 - a dmission is FREE! Sport Dogs Live will be live streaming the whole event for those who c...

In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw discusses: The differences between hard and soft surface tracking (see episode 53 for more on hard surface tracking). Advantages of soft surface tracking.  Having multiple ways to reward a dog during tracking.  The importance of variation and its relationship to hope.    Key Takeaways: To start, begin in shorter grass. Taller grass will hold human scent more than sh...