Kay Laurence - Learning About Dogs

When we plan the future of this wonderful new life we can begin to think in terms of how we want them to be as adults. This can make our training plans quite narrow and centric to our expectations. Instead if we view them as learners that can be flexible then there is no limit to what they can learn for all of their future. 

As much as we would love to be able to let our youngsters enjoy plenty of freedom to explore, learn, run free; the realities of the desires of your adolescent dog means that:"Explore" morphs quickly into reverse engineering your sofa, laptop, waste bins; or run the neighbourhood until darkness and hunger drives them home"Learn" is discovering of the joyous sensations of digging, chewing, chasing"Run free" becomes a license to irritate all local wildlife, other dogs, other people or cats We can design an adolescence with plenty of selected opportunities to learn without compromising their development or blossoming personalities. This period is very much about learning the future skills of being an adult in your world. 

Important conversations when we graduate from one dog to two: Does one dog teach the other bad habits and can we ask them to teach good habits? Delivering rewards, you only have two hands, training one dog without excluding the other: learning the important skills of spectating and not feeling left out. Walking together: your body language is the dominant cue and we have to be careful not to let them feed off each other in arousal. Nose put out: the long term resident can feel upset by the demands of the new puppy. Be sure they have their special moments. 

Our hands are very often used for communication and for the pup most importantly CONTACT.  The way we use our hands, where they touch the puppy, how they touch the puppy will be building associations for life. Hands that can be trusted and hands that will deliver sensational rewards. Hands that will later becomes tools: hands can begin the feelings of brushes, cleaning and holding for stillness.  Building familiarity with the movement and actions of your hands can build a future for easy veterinary procedures in the future. 

A period of exceptional growth  where the pup's world seems to shrink as they grow larger. Feet seem gigantic and unmanageable, teeth are falling out, appetites and growing and sleep is the deepest kind. Not a time we should be expecting cognitive gymnastics but still need to feed the learning appetite. Having survived many of these transition periods Kay and Frances share their observations and recommendations. 

Most of us want to take our pup out-and-about with us; from the countryside walks to brunch at the local café or pub. We will plan to go on holiday, stay in hotels or visit friends, perhaps go to classes, a dog show or the local garden fête.To ensure these outings are as pleasant an experience for your dog as they are for you we need to begin to familiarise the youngster with these anticipated but unnatural environments.A familiarisation protocol should ensure that a puppy has the time to assess, observe, and become familiar with, the weird and wonderful life that will be their future. If you rush this and the pup becomes fearful of people at the cafe, then this shared outing may never be on your dream list.Do not rely on putting it right or fixing this associated anxiety at a later date. “Become familiar with” should never involve anxiety, it should always be gradual, never extreme and the pup should always have the right to say “no thanks”.FEATURE: Familiarisation

Kay Laurence and Frances McCormack of Learning About Dogs introduce a new member of Frances' family: Nika, a collie pup from rescue.  You can follow Nika and Frances through their first year exploring the many questions that arise.In this episode: Nika is 16 weeks and a voracious learner. We talk about Nika's learning in particular what lifeskills she will learn from her Cup on a Stick activities. A range of resources and articles are on our website: Learn About Puppies

Kay Laurence and Frances McCormack of Learning About Dogs introduce a new member of Frances' family: Nika, a collie pup from rescue.  You can follow Nika and Frances through their first year exploring the many questions that arise.In this episode: we talk about learning to say "no". and at the same time avoid shutting down your enquisitive pup who wants to run everywhere, put everything in their mouth, jump, grab and shred. Learn to see what learning they are seeking and how you can divert that into a lifeskill. More reading:Stop Doing That an Articles that examines how we can teach a "Cease That"  behaviour via teaching an alternative, and employing blocking, stationing, and consistency.A range of resources and articles are on our website: Learn About Puppies

Kay Laurence and Frances McCormack of Learning About Dogs introduce a new member of Frances' family: Nika, a collie pup from rescue.  You can follow Nika and Frances through their first year exploring the many questions that arise.In this episode: we talk about those tricky situations where you need to protect your pup from uninvited approaches from strangers when you feel the pressure to avoid seeming to be rude. Your contract, or loyalty is to your dog, not a stranger.  You can say "no", but thank you for admiring my puppy. Our consideration is for the long term  future of this puppy not the short term momentary pleasures of a passing stranger.  More reading: Lifestyle: Out and About A familiarisation protocol should ensure that a puppy has the time to become familiar with the weird and wonderful life that will be their future. This blog also examines verbal cues and how to handle strangers who want to touch the puppy.A range of resources and articles are on our website: Learn About Puppies

Kay Laurence and Frances McCormack of Learning About Dogs introduce a new member of Frances' family: Nika, a collie pup from rescue.  You can follow Nika and Frances through their first year exploring the many questions that arise. In this episode: Nika's learning is already well underway, but toileting outdoors is a work in progress. In this episode, we think about routines, management, and tackle the Great Puppy Pad Debate head on! 

Kay Laurence and Frances McCormack of Learning About Dogs introduce a new member of Frances' family: Nika, a collie pup from rescue.  You can follow Nika and Frances through their first year exploring the many questions that arise. In this episode: "First Days At Home" we talk about making the transition for the new pup, and setting up success for her first few days meeting the rest of the family. 

Kay Laurence and Frances McCormack of Learning About Dogs introduce a new member of Frances' family: Nika, a collie pup from rescue.  You can follow Nika and Frances through their first year exploring the many questions that arise. In this episode: "Introducing Nika we talk about choosing a puppy from a litter, introducing a new dog to an existing canine resident, and why sometimes names just fit. "We have a range of Articles and Resources to help you both survive the first year.

Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire of Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs, join forces for the fourth season of the hugely successful, Learning About Dogs podcast.This is the final episode of Season Four, which featured short, one subject podcasts. This episode deserved a deep dive because we ask some very important questions. In this episode: "Can you identify good training? What does it look like?"Here is a treat, some wonderful training videos showing that good training stands the test of time.Learning About Dogs Video Channel.Courses:Self-directed, online with unlimited lifetime access.Build the LearningAs learning engineers we design access to rewards that shape the learning with guidance and suggestion. We cannot do the learning for our dogs, we can simply set up the situation that they learn from.Management or TrainingFind your pathway to suit your lifestyle of living with dogs. When you need management to temporarily support the learning, or choose training.Discover the power of passive learning and invest your energy to the active learning.Reward Skills CourseLearn about the fascinating landscape of rewards and make them the centre of training and relationship.Explore the different and diverse ways we can deliver rewards to bring excitement or relaxation, curiosity or confidence.Sue McGuire offers a limited number of consultations and courses for small groups human/canine learners. Contact her through Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs.

Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire of Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs, join forces for the fourth season of the hugely successful, Learning About Dogs podcast.Season four features short, one subject podcast no longer than 10 minutes. Although try as we might, we are shooting for not much over five minutes. But one salient thought.In this episode: "Why it is important to incorporate irrelevant cues while teaching relevant cues."Here is a treat, some wonderful training videos showing that good training stands the test of time.Learning About Dogs Video Channel.Courses:Self-directed, online with unlimited lifetime access.Build the LearningAs learning engineers we design access to rewards that shape the learning with guidance and suggestion. We cannot do the learning for our dogs, we can simply set up the situation that they learn from.Management or TrainingFind your pathway to suit your lifestyle of living with dogs. When you need management to temporarily support the learning, or choose training.Discover the power of passive learning and invest your energy to the active learning.Reward Skills CourseLearn about the fascinating landscape of rewards and make them the centre of training and relationship.Explore the different and diverse ways we can deliver rewards to bring excitement or relaxation, curiosity or confidence.Sue McGuire offers a limited number of consultations and courses for small groups human/canine learners. Contact her through Sue  Teaches Dogs.

Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire of Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs, join forces for the fourth season of the hugely successful, Learning About Dogs podcast.Season four features short, one subject podcast no longer than 10 minutes. Although try as we might, we are shooting for not much over five minutes. But one salient thought.In this episode: "Keeping track of all that you have taught your dog."Here is a treat, some wonderful training videos showing that good training stands the test of time.Learning About Dogs Video Channel.Courses:Self-directed, online with unlimited lifetime access.Build the LearningAs learning engineers we design access to rewards that shape the learning with guidance and suggestion. We cannot do the learning for our dogs, we can simply set up the situation that they learn from.Management or TrainingFind your pathway to suit your lifestyle of living with dogs. When you need management to temporarily support the learning, or choose training.Discover the power of passive learning and invest your energy to the active learning.Reward Skills CourseLearn about the fascinating landscape of rewards and make them the centre of training and relationship.Explore the different and diverse ways we can deliver rewards to bring excitement or relaxation, curiosity or confidence.Sue McGuire offers a limited number of consultations and courses for small groups human/canine learners. Contact her through Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs.

Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire of Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs, join forces for the fourth season of the hugely successful, Learning About Dogs podcast.Season four features short, one subject podcast no longer than 10 minutes. Although try as we might, we are shooting for not much over five minutes. But one salient thought. In this episode: "Can we ever do enough DISCRIMINATION SKILLS?"Here is a treat, some wonderful training videos showing that good training stands the test of time.Learning About Dogs Video Channel.Courses:Self-directed, online with unlimited lifetime access.Build the LearningAs learning engineers we design access to rewards that shape the learning with guidance and suggestion. We cannot do the learning for our dogs, we can simply set up the situation that they learn from.Management or TrainingFind your pathway to suit your lifestyle of living with dogs. When you need management to temporarily support the learning, or choose training.Discover the power of passive learning and invest your energy to the active learning.Reward Skills CourseLearn about the fascinating landscape of rewards and make them the centre of training and relationship.Explore the different and diverse ways we can deliver rewards to bring excitement or relaxation, curiosity or confidence.Sue McGuire offers a limited number of consultations and courses for small groups human/canine learners. Contact her through Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs.

Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire of Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs, join forces for the fourth season of the hugely successful, Learning About Dogs podcast.Season four features short, one subject podcast no longer than 10 minutes. Although try as we might, we are shooting for not much over five minutes. But one salient thought. In this episode: "Listen to your heart. If it's not enriching for you, this competition or training thing, then it likely is not for your dog either. Being a square peg in the round hole of the training world."Courses:Self-directed, online with unlimited lifetime access.Build the LearningAs learning engineers we design access to rewards that shape the learning with guidance and suggestion. We cannot do the learning for our dogs, we can simply set up the situation that they learn from.Management or TrainingFind your pathway to suit your lifestyle of living with dogs. When you need management to temporarily support the learning, or choose training.Discover the power of passive learning and invest your energy to the active learning.Reward Skills CourseLearn about the fascinating landscape of rewards and make them the centre of training and relationship.Explore the different and diverse ways we can deliver rewards to bring excitement or relaxation, curiosity or confidence.Sue McGuire offers a limited number of consultations and courses for small groups human/canine learners. Contact her through Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs.

Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire of Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs, join forces for the fourth season of the hugely successful, Learning About Dogs podcast.Season four features short, one subject podcast no longer than 10 minutes. Although try as we might, we are shooting for not much over five minutes. But one salient thought. This episode is a bit longer because it's a passionate topic; competition.In this episode: "People who compete with their dog are right to train to standard. But this should never be at a cost to the dog."Courses:Self-directed, online with unlimited lifetime access.Build the LearningAs learning engineers we design access to rewards that shape the learning with guidance and suggestion. We cannot do the learning for our dogs, we can simply set up the situation that they learn from.Management or TrainingFind your pathway to suit your lifestyle of living with dogs. When you need management to temporarily support the learning, or choose training.Discover the power of passive learning and invest your energy to the active learning.Reward Skills CourseLearn about the fascinating landscape of rewards and make them the centre of training and relationship.Explore the different and diverse ways we can deliver rewards to bring excitement or relaxation, curiosity or confidence.Sue McGuire offers a limited number of consultations and courses for small groups human/canine learners. Contact her through Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs.

Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire of Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs, join forces for the fourth season of the hugely successful, Learning About Dogs podcast.Season four features short, one subject podcast no longer than 10 minutes. Although try as we might, we are shooting for not much over five minutes. But one salient thought.In this episode: "Why it is beneficial to teach a dog to walk well, before you have them running. Walking well is a skill that will allow for a healthy life."Courses:Self-directed, online with unlimited lifetime access.Cup on a Stick as referenced in the episode. A terrific method for teaching a dog to walk well.Build the LearningAs learning engineers we design access to rewards that shape the learning with guidance and suggestion. We cannot do the learning for our dogs, we can simply set up the situation that they learn from.Management or TrainingFind your pathway to suit your lifestyle of living with dogs. When you need management to temporarily support the learning, or choose training.Discover the power of passive learning and invest your energy to the active learning.Reward Skills CourseLearn about the fascinating landscape of rewards and make them the centre of training and relationship.Explore the different and diverse ways we can deliver rewards to bring excitement or relaxation, curiosity or confidence.Sue McGuire offers a limited number of consultations and courses for small groups human/canine learners. Contact her through Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs.

Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire of Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs, join forces for the fourth season of the hugely successful, Learning About Dogs podcast.Season four features short, one subject podcast no longer than 10 minutes. Although try as we might, we are shooting for not much over five minutes. But one salient thought.In this episode: "The importance of focusing on simple moves before moving onto complex ones. This skill is vital to building strong behaviors?"Courses:Self-directed, online with unlimited lifetime access.Build the LearningAs learning engineers we design access to rewards that shape the learning with guidance and suggestion. We cannot do the learning for our dogs, we can simply set up the situation that they learn from.Management or TrainingFind your pathway to suit your lifestyle of living with dogs. When you need management to temporarily support the learning, or choose training.Discover the power of passive learning and invest your energy to the active learning.Reward Skills CourseLearn about the fascinating landscape of rewards and make them the centre of training and relationship.Explore the different and diverse ways we can deliver rewards to bring excitement or relaxation, curiosity or confidence.Sue McGuire offers a limited number of consultations and courses for small groups human/canine learners. Contact her through Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs.

Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire of Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs, join forces for the fourth season of the hugely successful, Learning About Dogs podcast.Season four features short, one subject podcast no longer than 10 minutes. Although try as we might, we are shooting for not much over five minutes. But one salient thought.In this episode, we discuss, "How rewards and cues and linked.  Cues are predictors of rewards and reward are cues."Courses:Self-directed, online with unlimited lifetime access.Build the LearningAs learning engineers we design access to rewards that shape the learning with guidance and suggestion. We cannot do the learning for our dogs, we can simply set up the situation that they learn from.Management or TrainingFind your pathway to suit your lifestyle of living with dogs. When you need management to temporarily support the learning, or choose training.Discover the power of passive learning and invest your energy to the active learning.Reward Skills CourseLearn about the fascinating landscape of rewards and make them the centre of training and relationship.Explore the different and diverse ways we can deliver rewards to bring excitement or relaxation, curiosity or confidence.Sue McGuire offers a limited number of consultations and courses for small groups human/canine learners. Contact her through Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs.

Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire of Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs, join forces for the fourth season of the hugely successful, Learning About Dogs podcast.Season four features short, one subject podcast no longer than 10 minutes. Although try as we might, we are shooting for not much over five minutes. But one salient thought.In this episode: "We settle once and for all, the controversy over, teaching sit and when to use this behavior. "Courses:Self-directed, online with unlimited lifetime access.Build the LearningAs learning engineers we design access to rewards that shape the learning with guidance and suggestion. We cannot do the learning for our dogs, we can simply set up the situation that they learn from.Management or TrainingFind your pathway to suit your lifestyle of living with dogs. When you need management to temporarily support the learning, or choose training.Discover the power of passive learning and invest your energy to the active learning.Reward Skills CourseLearn about the fascinating landscape of rewards and make them the centre of training and relationship.Explore the different and diverse ways we can deliver rewards to bring excitement or relaxation, curiosity or confidence.Sue McGuire offers a limited number of consultations and courses for small groups human/canine learners. Contact her through Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs.

Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire of Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs, join forces for the fourth season of the hugely successful, Learning About Dogs podcast.Season four features short, one subject podcast no longer than 10 minutes. Although try as we might, we are shooting for not much over five minutes. But one salient thought.In this episode, we discuss "How can we build a stand with stillness into an important default behavior."Courses:Self-directed, online with unlimited lifetime access.Build the LearningAs learning engineers we design access to rewards that shape the learning with guidance and suggestion. We cannot do the learning for our dogs, we can simply set up the situation that they learn from.Management or TrainingFind your pathway to suit your lifestyle of living with dogs. When you need management to temporarily support the learning, or choose training.Discover the power of passive learning and invest your energy to the active learning.Reward Skills CourseLearn about the fascinating landscape of rewards and make them the centre of training and relationship.Explore the different and diverse ways we can deliver rewards to bring excitement or relaxation, curiosity or confidence.Sue McGuire offers a limited number of consultations and courses for small groups human/canine learners. Contact her through Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs.

Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire of Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs, join forces for the fourth season of the hugely successful, Learning About Dogs podcast.Season four features short, one subject podcast no longer than 10 minutes. Although try as we might, we are shooting for not much over five minutes. But one salient thought.In this episode, we ask, "What are default behaviors and what is the value in teaching them?"Courses:Self-directed, online with unlimited lifetime access.Build the LearningAs learning engineers we design access to rewards that shape the learning with guidance and suggestion. We cannot do the learning for our dogs, we can simply set up the situation that they learn from.Management or TrainingFind your pathway to suit your lifestyle of living with dogs. When you need management to temporarily support the learning, or choose training.Discover the power of passive learning and invest your energy to the active learning.Reward Skills CourseLearn about the fascinating landscape of rewards and make them the centre of training and relationship.Explore the different and diverse ways we can deliver rewards to bring excitement or relaxation, curiosity or confidence.Sue McGuire offers a limited number of consultations and courses for small groups human/canine learners. Contact her through Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs.

Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire of Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs, join forces for the fourth season of the hugely successful, Learning About Dogs podcast.Season four features short, one subject podcast no longer than 10 minutes. Although try as we might, we are shooting for not much over five minutes. But one salient thought.In this episode, we ask, "How can we identify when we have taught our dogs a false behavior?"Courses:Self-directed, online with unlimited lifetime access.Build the LearningAs learning engineers we design access to rewards that shape the learning with guidance and suggestion. We cannot do the learning for our dogs, we can simply set up the situation that they learn from.Management or TrainingFind your pathway to suit your lifestyle of living with dogs. When you need management to temporarily support the learning, or choose training.Discover the power of passive learning and invest your energy to the active learning.Reward Skills CourseLearn about the fascinating landscape of rewards and make them the centre of training and relationship.Explore the different and diverse ways we can deliver rewards to bring excitement or relaxation, curiosity or confidence.Sue McGuire offers a limited number of consultations and courses for small groups human/canine learners. Contact her through Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs.

Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire of Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs, join forces for the fourth season of the hugely successful, Learning About Dogs podcast.Season four features short, one subject podcast no longer than 10 minutes. Although try as we might, we are shooting for not much over five minutes. But one salient thought.In this episode, we ask, "How to avoid getting a behavior through 98 not right repetitions. "Courses:Self-directed, online with unlimited lifetime access.Build the LearningAs learning engineers we design access to rewards that shape the learning with guidance and suggestion. We cannot do the learning for our dogs, we can simply set up the situation that they learn from.Management or TrainingFind your pathway to suit your lifestyle of living with dogs. When you need management to temporarily support the learning, or choose training.Discover the power of passive learning and invest your energy to the active learning.Reward Skills CourseLearn about the fascinating landscape of rewards and make them the centre of training and relationship.Explore the different and diverse ways we can deliver rewards to bring excitement or relaxation, curiosity or confidence.Sue McGuire offers a limited number of consultations and courses for small groups human/canine learners. Contact her through Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs.

Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire of Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs, join forces for the fourth season of the hugely successful, Learning About Dogs podcast.Season four features short, one subject podcast no longer than 10 minutes. Although try as we might, we are shooting for not much over five minutes. But one salient thought.In this episode, we ask, "How to build resilience in behavior? What should do when teaching the behavior(s)?"Courses:Self-directed, online with unlimited lifetime access.Build the LearningAs learning engineers we design access to rewards that shape the learning with guidance and suggestion. We cannot do the learning for our dogs, we can simply set up the situation that they learn from.Management or TrainingFind your pathway to suit your lifestyle of living with dogs. When you need management to temporarily support the learning, or choose training.Discover the power of passive learning and invest your energy to the active learning.Reward Skills CourseLearn about the fascinating landscape of rewards and make them the centre of training and relationship.Explore the different and diverse ways we can deliver rewards to bring excitement or relaxation, curiosity or confidence.Sue McGuire offers a limited number of consultations and courses for small groups human/canine learners. Contact her through Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs.

Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire of Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs, join forces for the fourth season of the hugely successful, Learning About Dogs podcast.Season four features short, one subject podcast no longer than 10 minutes. Although try as we might, we are shooting for not much over five minutes. But one salient thought.In this episode, we ask, "What should we build in the approach of the learner?"Courses:Self-directed, online with unlimited lifetime access.Build the LearningAs learning engineers we design access to rewards that shape the learning with guidance and suggestion. We cannot do the learning for our dogs, we can simply set up the situation that they learn from.Management or TrainingFind your pathway to suit your lifestyle of living with dogs. When you need management to temporarily support the learning, or choose training.Discover the power of passive learning and invest your energy to the active learning.Reward Skills CourseLearn about the fascinating landscape of rewards and make them the centre of training and relationship.Explore the different and diverse ways we can deliver rewards to bring excitement or relaxation, curiosity or confidence.Sue McGuire offers a limited number of consultations and courses for small groups human/canine learners. Contact her through Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs.

Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire of Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs, join forces for the fourth season of the hugely successful, Learning About Dogs podcast.Season four features short, one subject podcast no longer than 10 minutes. Although try as we might, we are shooting for not much over five minutes. But one salient thought.In this episode, we ask, "What skills you need to teach a dog?"Courses:Self-directed, online with unlimited lifetime access.Build the LearningAs learning engineers we design access to rewards that shape the learning with guidance and suggestion. We cannot do the learning for our dogs, we can simply set up the situation that they learn from.Management or TrainingFind your pathway to suit your lifestyle of living with dogs. When you need management to temporarily support the learning, or choose training.Discover the power of passive learning and invest your energy to the active learning.Reward Skills CourseLearn about the fascinating landscape of rewards and make them the centre of training and relationship.Explore the different and diverse ways we can deliver rewards to bring excitement or relaxation, curiosity or confidence.Sue McGuire offers a limited number of consultations and courses for small groups humane/canine learners. Contact her through Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs.

Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire of Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs, join forces for the fourth season of the hugely successful, Learning About Dogs podcast.Season four features short, one subject podcast no longer than 10 minutes. Although try as we might, we are shooting for not much over five minutes. But one salient thought.In this episode, we ask, "Can you identify what learning is taking place?"Courses:Self-directed, online with unlimited lifetime access.Build the LearningAs learning engineers we design access to rewards that shape the learning with guidance and suggestion. We cannot do the learning for our dogs, we can simply set up the situation that they learn from.Management or TrainingFind your pathway to suit your lifestyle of living with dogs. When you need management to temporarily support the learning, or choose training.Discover the power of passive learning and invest your energy to the active learning.Reward Skills CourseLearn about the fascinating landscape of rewards and make them the centre of training and relationship.Explore the different and diverse ways we can deliver rewards to bring excitement or relaxation, curiosity or confidence.Sue McGuire offers a limited number of consultations and courses for small groups human/canine learners. Contact her through Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs.

Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire of Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs join forces for the fourth season of the hugely successful, Learning About Dogs podcast.Season four features short, one subject podcast no longer than 10 minutes. Although try as we might, we are shooting for not much over five minutes. But one salient thought.In this episode, we ask, "What to learn, for both dog and person?"Courses:Self-directed, online with unlimited lifetime access.Build the LearningAs learning engineers we design access to rewards that shape the learning with guidance and suggestion. We cannot do the learning for our dogs, we can simply set up the situation that they learn from.Management or TrainingFind your pathway to suit your lifestyle of living with dogs. When you need management to temporarily support the learning, or choose training.Discover the power of passive learning and invest your energy to the active learning.Reward Skills CourseLearn about the fascinating landscape of rewards and make them the centre of training and relationship.Explore the different and diverse ways we can deliver rewards to bring excitement or relaxation, curiosity or confidence.Sue McGuire offers a limited number of consultations and courses for small groups humane/canine learners. Contact her through Sue McGuire Teaches Dogs. 

Learning.  Is it a construct? An idea?We cannot do the learning for the dogs, we can only set up situations where learning happens.Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire of Sue McGuire Teaching Dogs, join forces for the fourth season of the hugely successful, Learning About Dogs podcast.Season four features short, one subject podcast no longer than 10 minutes. Although try as we might, we are shooting for not much over five minutes. But one salient thought.In this episode, we ask, "What is learning?"Courses:Self-directed, online with unlimited lifetime access.Build the LearningAs learning engineers we design access to rewards that shape the learning with guidance and suggestion. We cannot do the learning for our dogs, we can simply set up the situation that they learn from.Management or TrainingFind your pathway to suit your lifestyle of living with dogs. When you need management to temporarily support the learning, or choose training.Discover the power of passive learning and invest your energy to the active learning.Reward Skills CourseLearn about the fascinating landscape of rewards and make them the centre of training and relationship.Explore the different and diverse ways we can deliver rewards to bring excitement or relaxation, curiosity or confidence.Sue McGuire offers a limited number of consultations and courses for small groups human/canine learners. Contact her through Sue McGuire Teaching Dogs.

It's time to flip another concept on its head--the whole idea that the dog MUST pay attention when you say their name before you start training.Nagging? Or would you rather consider reward approach a better plan? Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire of Sue McGuire Teaching Dogs, join forces for the fourth season of the hugely successful, Learning About Dogs podcast.Season four features short, one subject podcast no longer than 10 minutes. Although try as we might, we are shooting for not much over five minutes. But one salient thought.In this episode, we ask, "Why turn your dog's name into meaningless, white noise?"Courses:Self-directed, online with unlimited lifetime access.Build the LearningAs learning engineers we design access to rewards that shape the learning with guidance and suggestion. We cannot do the learning for our dogs, we can simply set up the situation that they learn from.Management or TrainingFind your pathway to suit your lifestyle of living with dogs. When you need management to temporarily support the learning, or choose training.Discover the power of passive learning and invest your energy to the active learning.Reward Skills CourseLearn about the fascinating landscape of rewards and make them the centre of training and relationship.Explore the different and diverse ways we can deliver rewards to bring excitement or relaxation, curiosity or confidence.Sue McGuire offers a limited number of consultations and courses for small groups human/canine learners. Contact her through Sue McGuire Teaching Dogs.

Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire of Plays with Dogs, join forces for the fourth season of the hugely successful, Learning About Dogs podcast.Season four features short, one subject podcast no longer than 10 minutes. Although try as we might, we are shooting for not much over five minutes. But one salient thought.In this episode, we ask, "What is this obsession over the term-proofing?"Courses:Self-directed, online with unlimited lifetime access.Build the LearningAs learning engineers we design access to rewards that shape the learning with guidance and suggestion. We cannot do the learning for our dogs, we can simply set up the situation that they learn from.Management or TrainingFind your pathway to suit your lifestyle of living with dogs. When you need management to temporarily support the learning, or choose training.Discover the power of passive learning and invest your energy to the active learning.Reward Skills CourseLearn about the fascinating landscape of rewards and make them the centre of training and relationship.Explore the different and diverse ways we can deliver rewards to bring excitement or relaxation, curiosity or confidence.Sue McGuire offers a limited number of consultations and courses for small groups humane/canine learners. Contact her through Plays with Dogs.

The Learning About Dogs podcast is your main source for all these dogs, teaching dogs, understanding dogs, and living with dogs.Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire of Sue McGuire Teaching Dogs, join together to continue the promotion of teaching that which benefits dogs. But how and when, methods, concepts and plans to teach dogs and guide their learning, is what these podcasts are all about.Season 4 introduces the concept of one thought per podcast. Short and to the point. One idea to digest. One thing to change or think about it in this wonderful relationship with these bright learning creatures.Courses: Self-directed, online with unlimited lifetime access.Build the LearningAs learning engineers we design access to rewards that shape the learning with guidance and suggestion. We cannot do the learning for our dogs, we can simply set up the situation that they learn from.Management or TrainingFind your pathway to suit your lifestyle of living with dogs. When you need management to temporarily support the learning, or choose training.Discover the power of passive learning and invest your energy to the active learning.Reward Skills CourseLearn about the fascinating landscape of rewards and make them the centre of training and relationship.Explore the different and diverse ways we can deliver rewards to bring excitement or relaxation, curiosity or confidence.Sue McGuire offers a limited number of consultations and courses for small groups human/canine learners. Contact her through Sue McGuire Teaching Dogs.

Markers are an integral part of the communication process when we are interacting with our learners.Whether you choose to use a clicker or not, the whole process behind "marker training" needs a close examination. Hanging your training psyche on the use of a clicker may not be the best use of your time. Especially if you are just starting out.On this, the final episode of Season 3 of the Learning about Dogs podcast, Kay Laurence and Sue McGuire challenge the use of a single tool to impart such important information.Learning about DogsArticle: Shaping by RewardsReward Skills CourseThe more we explore and blend the theory, biology and application it is clear that this is not a simple process, it is complex and very sophisticated. With active minds open to learning we can continue to understand more, apply in an educated format and improve the combination of learning and dogs that we know and love and call training.Online classes with Sue McGuireBasic Training and Manners starts Thursday October 15th @ 6:45 PDTIntermediate Training starts Thursday, October 15th @ 5:30pm PDT

Do we want habits or active learning?Probably both but there is a clear distinction between them which is dependent on the value of the reward, to the dog of course.On this episode of podcast, Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and TAKL graduate and host Sue McGuire talk about the advantages and drawbacks of teaching behaviors to the habit level and when do you want active learning.Season 3 of the "Learning about Dogs" podcast is about rewards and reward skill.Article: Shaping by RewardsReward Skills CourseThe more we explore and blend the theory, biology and application it is clear that this is not a simple process, it is complex and very sophisticated. With active minds open to learning we can continue to understand more, apply in an educated format and improve the combination of learning and dogs that we know and love and call training.

On this episode of the podcast, we do a little introduction of a new term that is so much BIGGER than a cue. What are cues anyway?Sue McGuire and Kay Laurence of "Learning About Dogs," introduce you to our new friend--REWARD PREDICTING STIMULUS.Season 3 of the "Learning about Dogs" podcast is about rewards and reward skill.Article: Shaping by RewardsReward Skills CourseThe more we explore and blend the theory, biology and application it is clear that this is not a simple process, it is complex and very sophisticated. With active minds open to learning we can continue to understand more, apply in an educated format and improve the combination of learning and dogs that we know and love and call training.

What is the point of learning?"When that brand new brain gets into motion it is going to have to find out how to secure the rewards needed for life, and once that is achieved set about finding the very best rewards, and lots of them. On a daily, minute by minute basis."In this episode of the "Learning About Dogs," Sue McGuire and Kay Laurence of "Learning About Dogs," talk about how the mind-blowing experience of having a peak of the season peach from California cemented understanding of REWARD PREDICTION ERROR. Season 3 of the "Learning about Dogs" podcast is about rewards and reward skill.Article: Normal is Always ChangingReward Skills CourseThe more we explore and blend the theory, biology and application it is clear that this is not a simple process, it is complex and very sophisticated. With active minds open to learning we can continue to understand more, apply in an educated format and improve the combination of learning and dogs that we know and love and call training.

In the early days of using positive reinforcement and clicker training, the delivery of that reinforcer, (reward), was not part of the consideration. The format of the research experiments favoured a mechanical magazine to deliberately remove any variables that human delivery would include.When people become the mechanism of delivery we have to consider the variable elements that effect of the reinforcer, or reward. Sadly “mechanical delivery” and the mechanical skills are still seen as desirable elements of training and a whole series of additional valued- rewards are being ignored and lost.Season 3 of the "Learning about Dogs" podcast is about rewards and reward skills. Kay Laurence of "Learning About Dogs," and Sue McGuire, host/producer, are calling this our "A Season of Rewards," because that is exactly what we are diving into this year.On this episode, we look at reward delivery patterns and the source of rewards. You will never look at a treat pouch on a hip the same way again. Article: Release Cue or Stay Cue? Pick a PathReward Skills CourseThe more we explore and blend the theory, biology and application it is clear that this is not a simple process, it is complex and very sophisticated. With active minds open to learning we can continue to understand more, apply in an educated format and improve the combination of learning and dogs that we know and love and call training.Online Learning on Basic Skills with Sue McGuireStarts August 22, 2020Virtual Live Class at 9am (PDT) RegistrationVirtual Live Class at 10:15am (PDT) Registration

ALWAYS REMEMBER:REWARDS ARE DEFINED BY THEBEHAVIOURAL REACTIONS THEY INDUCE.It is the individual that decides if it is rewarding or not. What are rewards? We are in Season 3 of the "Learning about Dogs" podcast. Kay Laurence of "Learning About Dogs," and Sue McGuire, host/producer, are calling this our "A Season of Rewards," because that is exactly what we are diving into this year. Living a reward centered life with our dogs. But first we must explore, "What are rewards?"Reward Skills CourseThe more we explore and blend the theory, biology and application it is clear that this is not a simple process, it is complex and very sophisticated. With active minds open to learning we can continue to understand more, apply in an educated format and improve the combination of learning and dogs that we know and love and call training.

“REWARDS ARE NOT DEFINED BY THEIR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES BUT BY THE BEHAVIOURAL REACTION THEY INDUCE.”Welcome to our "Season of Rewards" on the Learning about Dogs podcast with Kay Laurence and Sue McGuire. This third season of the podcast is all about living a "reward centered life" with our dogs. What do we mean by that? Take a read of Kay's blog Shaping by Rewards.Reward Skills CourseThe more we explore and blend the theory, biology and application it is clear that this is not a simple process, it is complex and very sophisticated. With active minds open to learning we can continue to understand more, apply in an educated format and improve the combination of learning and dogs that we know and love and call training.

"Having discovered this world of rewards and reinforcement I protectively wrap my dogs’ learning with an envelope of reward probabilities. This is where I begin," says Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs. And this is where we begin this season's journey.We are dog trainers, who must make the conscious and scientifically appropriate decision, to lead a reward-centered life with our dogs.Sue McGuire, producer of the podcast, a TAKL graduate, and Kay Laurence of Learning about Dogs are dedicating this season of "Learning About Dogs " podcasts to rewards. That may seem like a narrow focus, but we assure you, it is not.Reward Skills CourseThe more we explore and blend the theory, biology and application it is clear that this is not a simple process, it is complex and very sophisticated. With active minds open to learning we can continue to understand more, apply in an educated format and improve the combination of learning and dogs that we know and love and call training.

Living with multiple dogs can be fun and challenging. It comes with a demand to develop a great deal of observation skills to make sure your group is working for the dogs as individuals, and their life with you.How many is too many dogs? What breeds and what sex combinations? It depends.Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire a TAKL graduate and manager of a canine behavior program at an animal shelter near San Francisco talk not about one dog but multiple dogs.Learning their names--when it is about them and when it is not about them. Video example of beagles knowing it is their time to be fed. Join in the discussion at our Facebook page. Whilst I was listening to the podcast.New courses! Online!Learning About Dogs CoursesThis is the end of our second season of Learning About Dogs. Thank you for listening.Our third season will premier in late summer and early fall 2020 Be prepared for a multi-layered exploration of rewards and reward skills.

Menomics can be handy when it comes to finding a quick and simple way to remember a spelling or phrase. But using these devices does require us to decide if they actually help learning or hinder it.In dog training, we have a few of these devices that require much more consideration before accepting them as valid. The three Ds. Duration-distance-distraction. There are some who even add a fourth "D," difficulty.On this episode of Learning About Dogs, Kay Laurence and Sue McGuire discuss how we owe it to ourselves and our dogs to question the use of the "Ds." Is it appropriate to teach a dog to do something at a distance if it's not in the best interests of the dog? Question "simple" approaches.Online courses of good quality:Learning About Dogs New Online Course OfferingsOnline Learning from Sue McGuireBasic Level 1

When a dog "generalizes" a behavior, it means they can do the behavior under a wide variety of conditions. But a dog being able to do that has very much to do with how we originally taught the behavior.On this episode of Learning About Dogs, Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs, and Sue McGuire, a canine behavior program manager at a humane society near San Francisco discuss the concept of generalization.For more information:Learning About Dogs website. Become a member and gain access to a plethora of valuable information that will broaden and enrich life with your dog.Every Dog Every Day is the primer of how to navigate sharing your life with a dog.Be sure to read the "Connection Collection." On the various ways we can live with our dogs with a deep connection.Sue McGuire offers "The Art of Teaching Dogs" The Art of Teaching Dogs is a six week in person course offered by Sue McGuire at the Humane Society of Sonoma County, in Santa Rosa, California. Level 1 Class starts in August

One must be careful about using terminology we hear at seminars or read in books and apply to our training.Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and co-host Sue McGuire love tackling these habits of trainers applying a label to something they think they are seeing, when what might be happening, is not really happening.What? We chat about the concept of learned helplessness. We're not saying this does not exit in certain histories. Might this actually be a lack of having taught the necessary skills to dogs? Or providing time to allow a dog to show us what they know?For more information:Learning About Dogs website. Become a member and gain access to a plethora of valuable information that will broaden and enrich life with your dog.Every Dog Every Day is the primer of how to navigate sharing your life with a dog.Be sure to read the "Connection Collection." On the various ways we can live with our dogs with a deep connection.Sue McGuire offers "The Art of Teaching Dogs" The Art of Teaching Dogs is a six week in person course offered by Sue McGuire at the Humane Society of Sonoma County, in Santa Rosa, California. Level 1 Class starts in August

Not all online learning is created equal.The sudden move to online learning for many disciplines, not just dog training, has been astounding.On this special bonus episode of the "Learning About Dogs" podcast, Kay Laurence and Sue McGuire attempt to provide a bit of a tutorial for students who want to know how to separate the good, from the not so good, to the downright hucksters out there. Kay Laurence Blogpost: Separating the Wheat from the ChaffOnline courses of good quality:Learning About Dogs New Online Course OfferingsOnline Learning from Sue McGuireBasic Level 1Article from Educausereview :"The Difference Between Emergency Remote Teaching and Online Learning"

Errors are feedback.Set the dog up for success.Develop the skill to know what to change in a teaching set up, and when.Teach the prerequisite skills--even the rats and pigeons in the boxes were provided that information.Emotions underly all learning.There is much to chat about on the concept of "errorless learning" in dog training. On this episode of the Learning About Dogs podcast, Kay Laurence of "Learning About Dogs," and Sue McGuire, a TAKL (Trainer Accredited by Kay Laurence) Certified Trainer and manager of canine behavior program at animal shelter near San Francisco, dive in. For more information:Learning About Dogs website. Become a member and gain access to a plethora of valuable information that will broaden and enrich life with your dog.Every Dog Every Day is the primer of how to navigate sharing your life with a dog.Be sure to read the "Connection Collection." On the various ways we can live with our dogs with a deep connection.Sue McGuire offers "The Art of Teaching Dogs" The Art of Teaching Dogs is a six week in person course offered by Sue McGuire at the Humane Society of Sonoma County, in Santa Rosa, California. Level 1 Class session starts in August.

Dogs are aware of our every move and have decided which ones are relevant to them and which are of little consequences.This is so apparent when we use our hands, be it, living our daily lives with them, or participating in a training sessions.When puppies come to us, this is when we should be teaching what hands mean.Hands are always a sign of welcome....In this episode of Learning About Dogs Podcast, Kay Laurence of Learning About Dogs and Sue McGuire, a TAKL graduate and manager of a canine behavior program at a shelter near San Francisco, talk about the use of hands.For more information:Learning About Dogs website. Become a member and gain access to a plethora of valuable information that will broaden and enrich life with your dog.Every Dog Every Day is the primer of how to navigate sharing your life with a dog.Be sure to read the "Connection Collection." On the various ways we can live with our dogs with a deep connection.Sue McGuire offers "The Art of Teaching Dogs" The Art of Teaching Dogs is a six week in person course offered by Sue McGuire at the Humane Society of Sonoma County, in Santa Rosa, California. Continue to check up back for more Level 1 classes.

Almost 20 years ago, Kay Laurence developed a game to teach communication skills and learning concepts to students.Over the years, Gen Abacab has been used in universities, schools and seminars for human and dog training, and on ships in the middle of the Caribbean. Just as doing a task is not the same as learning a task, experiencing the learning process is not the same as observing the learning process. Experiencing and learning skills of puzzle solving are unique to each individual - person, dog, chicken.The Gen Abacab game is a valuable experience for learner and teacher and everyone should have experience in both roles. Experience of poor teaching is as valuable as much as experience of good teaching. Good teaching will leave the learner enthused, satisfied, confident and "expanded" !On the Learning About Dogs website, look for the members section. Join this learning community.Video of Gen Abacab being played.We want you know of some new courses coming up from Learning About Dogs online.Training Beyond and Above Online courseThis course is for people who relish learning as a community with a plentiful opportunities to travel with new eyes and change the way you look at things.We shall go Beyond and Above the standard recipes that will generate many Aha moments, engineer more questions, dissolve assumptions and challenge habits. This is not a course for replicating demonstration but identifying how to learn from demonstration, select critical points, identify skill sets, build clear task analysis, explore the concepts, adapt and apply the concepts to new conditions.The Art of Teaching Dogs is a six week in person course offered by Sue McGuire at the Humane Society of Sonoma County, in Santa Rosa, California. Continue to check up back for more Level 1 classes.