The Best Things in Life...

are aren't free (at least not for Neko, they aren't)!  So much for using song lyrics to guide your dog-training practice!

Our first day of kindergarten was extremely informative and worth our time!  I'm so glad, because I had a relatively negative experience with the trainer on the phone last week (when she called to cancel due to #snomaggedon).  Followed by a string of positive ones during class so all is forgiven/forgotten.

First of all, let's just say why it's really awesome to go to puppy class - all the puppies!  There are 6 of us: Golden Retriever, Yellow Lab (class know-it-all whose handler has trained service dogs before), Pit Bull (luckily is the youngest in class at only 9 weeks so still harmless), Pomeranian (poor thing is scared of her own shadow), and last (but not least) "Sparkles" the 14-week-old English Mastiff!  Sparkles is my favorite (excepting Neko, of course) because she wears all pink and is handled by a 4-year-old girl who takes the whole process very seriously and is, frankly, quite a good handler.

Our training program utilizes Animal Learning Theory (as opposed to Dominance Theory).  The best explanation from our trainer was, "dominance training was based on 2 captive wolf studies...think how you would behave if you were locked in your bathroom with 6 strangers...no wonder they came up with such a strange model".  I also appreciated how she explained that the dominance model does not explain how service dogs go through doors before their owners, don't maul disabled people (who are unable to "dominate" their dog), etc.

Animal Learning Theory seems pretty simple: behavior that is rewarded is likely to be repeated; behavior that is not rewarded is likely not to be repeated.  [Best part: all animals learn this way so there were many jokes about using these techniques on spouses & children.]  So, Neko's most serious behavioral problems are jumping on people and barking.  For jumping she got to be the demonstration dog for class - it's as simple as turning your back on the dog (not saying anything, not pushing them off) and when they stop jumping, you come back and tell them what a good decision they're making.  That's it.  Couple of minutes practicing in class and she's on her feet much more often than before!  Barking is harder.  You apply the same principle by turning your back and walking away until she stops barking for 5 seconds and then you come back.  The problem?  The bark is like a knife through your skull, and it's embarrassing to me...I'm working on it.

We use rewards to train behavior, only using positive reinforcement and extinction as methods.  No corporal punishment, no yelling...it definitely seems like the "kinder, gentler version" of dog training and I'm very happy we're participating.

I think the hardest part for me is the reward and the fact that the dog now earns everything she gets (including her regular meals).  So, if I ask her to sit during the day, she earns a few pieces of kibble...if she's calm in the office, a few more pieces...I currently have 2c of kibble in my purse - sexy!  Not sure this cute-dog-owning-thing is actually going to get me any dates after all - but I digress:

We take a TON of treats to school!

Neko is obviously responding to the style so we just need to keep her owner "on the program" to be sure that she achieves her goals.

Neko in my office

On a *bonus* note: there's a dog-friendly bar across the street from school, so you know where to find us on school nights...