Drinking From the Toilet: Real dogs, Real training

In this episode, we discuss why we often consider shaping to be an advanced technique, why I think it doesn't have to/shouldn't be that way, why I think how many of us first learned about shaping is contributing to the problem, how the expectations we have around shaping (based on how we were taught) might be getting in the way of doing good training, the two expectations that can get in the way:...

In this episode, we discuss what could aggression possibly have to do with play?, the importance of engaging in play for behavioral wellness, what do we mean when we are talking about play in this context?, and how Karen incorporates play into her protocols when working with aggressive behavior. For full show notes, visit:  www.hannahbranigan.dog/podcast/164 This podcast is supported by Voilà! Pet...

In this episode, we discuss, can we use a tactile cue like leash pressure to train in an R+ framework or is it still just R- that we put a treat on top of to make us feel better?, putting food in the picture doesn't necessarily make it positive reinforcement, so how can we tell what contingencies are really in play?, review what we mean by positive and negative reinforcement, an example of a situa...

In this episode, we discuss a question from one of my favorite listeners about a stereotypic/compulsive tail chasing behavior in her dog, brainstorming steps one might take when unpacking a stereotypic (I'm practicing my language!) behavior problem, taking a baseline to help with staying objective about the training, identifying and testing possible variables that might be part of the antecedent,...

In this episode, we discuss what are compulsive behaviors?, using the language of stereotypy vs compulsive to describe this category of behaviors, cribbing behavior in horses and the effects on welfare, and a case study of Blondie, including getting a baseline, changing the environment for training sessions, introducing new behaviors to expand her repertoire, the plan to integrate training into li...

This week we are finishing up our Spring Cleaning series... you've already organized all your resources you've collected over the weekend, you've worked out a new better system for your planning and record keeping and this time you've got the magic one that will actually work. Now let's get to the training itself! Wouldn't it be cool if you kept your training clean all the time? Then there would b...

In this episode, we discuss what does mentorship mean?, what makes a good mentor?, what makes a good mentee?, how can you get the most out of a mentorship relationship?, and what is the most important thing to focus on to be a better mentor? For full show notes, visit:  www.hannahbranigan.dog/podcast/159 This podcast is supported by Voilà! Pets:  www.voilapets.com/?ref=DFTT For 10% off of your Voi...

In this episode, we discuss getting a fresh start with your planning and record keeping, what gets in the way of being your best self, where to start when nothing is working for you, looking at switching systems a little differently - regularly switching systems IS a system!, identifying what is important to you in a record keeping system and what likely obstacles will get in your way, start with...

What kind of people adopt a dog with a bite history? This episode is the second in a 2-part special series following the journey of RiffRaff, a rescue dog with some seriously problematic behavior. In this episode, we discuss what was Gaby even thinking when she was working with this dog?, did she ever think about just giving up?, what kind of people would adopt a dog that bites?, and how did she a...

This episode is the first in a 2-part special series following the journey of RiffRaff, a rescue dog with a tendency toward violence. This sounds like a common story, but I assure you... RiffRaff's story does not end the way you think. No spoilers though! In this episode, we discuss what we know about RiffRaff's history and how he ended up with Gaby, identifying the triggers of RiffRaff's aggressi...

This week we are starting a "spring cleaning" of sorts for our training with a decluttering and organizing theme, but I'm not going to talk about how to store all your platforms and treat pouches. It has come to my attention that the biggest pile in my dog training life that is desperate for some attention is made more of information rather than equipment. I'm talking about all the information tha...

In this episode, we discuss some of our truly epic training bloopers, why Karen encourages us to think of them as "bloopers" instead of failures, the importance of normalizing bloopers and sharing them, thoughts on how to recover after an "incident, " and being kind to yourself. For full show notes, visit:  hannahbranigan.dog/podcast/154/ This podcast is supported by Patreon:  www.patreon.com/DFTT

In this episode, we discuss the power of starting your session conservatively, how being in a position to increase your criteria rapidly is better than being greedy and being forced to lower it, the importance of avoiding getting stuck on a plateau, how to save yourself if you've already done it, implementing an easy/hard/easy pattern in your session, using a reinforcement strategy that continues...

In this episode, we discuss why reactivity is such a big topic, why it's so hard, so common, and so important, how our own emotions and behavior play into the problem, what we can do to manage our emotional responses and do better training, how getting better with our training skills can make the world a better place... and isn't that why we are all here? I hope so. Because something has be done a...

In this episode, we discuss why timing matters in dog training and why you cannot escape it, how it's really about processing time, reaction time does have a biological basis, so just like we do with dogs, make sure you are addressing your biological needs first, what we can do to reduce processing time, how to simplify decisions, creating predictability in the training session to make good timing...

In this episode, we discuss what most people get wrong about socialization, which is worse - bad socialization or no socialization?, what is the solution?, and where should trainers focus with new puppy owners? For full show notes, visit:  www.hannahbranigan.dog/podcast/150 This podcast is supported by Patreon:  www.patreon.com/DFTT

In this episode we discuss what if we looked at memory as behavior? For full show notes, visit:  www.hannahbranigan.dog/podcast/149 This podcast is supported by Behind the Scenes: hannahbranigan.dog/backstage-pass

In this episode, we discuss a super nerdy deep dive into episodic memory and even more about memory and learning and brains. For full show notes, visit:  www.hannahbranigan.dog/podcast/148 This podcast is supported by Patreon:  www.patreon.com/DFTT

In this episode, we discuss clever splits for shaping husbandry behaviors, the importance of checking for human readiness, reinforcement strategies for husbandry, what even is husbandry, how important mechanics are, good training techniques for increasing criteria no matter what behavior you are training, and setting your dog up to volunteer for eye drops. For full show notes, visit:  www.hannahbr...

Bonus episode! Here's a preview of my upcoming Conference Unleashed session with Leslie McDevitt, which we're calling "I CU Are Stuck." Conference Unleashed is taking place virtually on November 5-7. To hear Leslie and my full session, sign up for the conference here:  www.cleanrun.com/product/conferen…erence/index.cfm For full bonus episode notes, visit: hannahbranigan.dog/podcast/bonus-i-cu-are-...

In this episode, we discuss handling **unwanted sniffing in training, the connection to sniffing and urine marking, how to teach sniffing on cue, using Premack's principle, and ways to split to engineer setups so that you can create a progression. For full show notes, visit:  www.hannahbranigan.dog/podcast/146 This podcast is supported by Patreon:  www.patreon.com/DFTT

It seems like so many of us are getting stuck in a funk with our training lately for one reason or another... or maybe for all the reasons at the same time. I don't know about you, but I keep thinking it has to get better at some point, but it seems like it keeps getting harder and harder, doesn't it? Still, unless we are going to give up entirely and sink into the swamps of sadness, we have to fi...

In this episode, we discuss all kinds of topics related to working with pet owners and training life skills, the first behavior you teach a new team, the most important thing for a pet owner to learn, what do most pet owners get wrong about dog training, what's the deal with dog daycare and dog parks, how do you talk about reinforcement, what kind of language do you use with pet owners, bridging t...

In this episode, we discuss can you reinforce fear?, have you heard that you shouldn't console your frightened dog, that might "reinforce" the fear? (That's kind of unempathetic, isn't it?), and the more progressive message to dog owners is that you can't reinforce fear, because fear is an emotion. But, for the true behavior nerds though, it might be fun to go a little deeper?, what is fear?, what...

In this episode, we discuss what reinforcers are in play in herding behavior, marking and rewarding the dog for the human's behavior, training skills out of context, the heretical use of food during herding, switching reinforcement, and behaviors you can train at home to prepare for your herding lesson (when you don't have sheep of your own). For full show notes, visit:  www.hannahbranigan.dog/pod...