Training Methods

At Flying Dog we use only the most effective and gentle training techniques to teach both you and your dog. At Flying Dog training is fun!

"We have enjoyed you and your classes tremendously! You are a wonderful teacher and I have appreciated all of your helpful advice."-Michelle & Cosmo

Positive Reinforcement Training Methods

Training is all about motivation. How will you motivate your dog to work and learn from you? There are many ways to motivate your dog: you can motivate your dog by using pain, force and fear (punishment) or you can motivate your dog by using treats, toys and praise (positive reinforcement).

Positive reinforcement methods are the only training methods used at Flying Dog. We use things the dog likes to motivate her to work for us and to build behaviors and skills. We do not use any physical punishment whatsoever - including leash corrections. Choke chains and pinch collars are not allowed in Flying Dog classes!

Training using positive reinforcement methods has been proven in numerous scientific tests to work better and create lasting results as opposed to using punishment. Using positive reinforcement methods has other advantages as well:

It makes training fun for both you and your dog.
So-called 'stubborn' or strong-willed dogs respond better to positive techniques than punishment.
Everyone in your family can use these methods: both your children and your grandparents will be able to control your dog using these techniques.
Positive reinforcement helps strengthen the bond of love and trust between you and your dog. Using punishment to train breaks that bond.
You can start training your puppy as soon as she comes home with these extremely gentle methods.
Positive reinforcement creates a willingness for the dog to work for you and makes the dog enjoy training.

"I really enjoyed our first class with you. I definitely like the clicker training idea better than the choke chain and correction idea. I know Bosco really enjoyed the class, especially his classmates. We are both looking forward to coming back..." -Melissa & Bosco

Clicker Training

Clicker training is not a fad or a gimmick. Clicker training is based on psychological learning theory. It is the fastest, most effective way to train your dog.

The clicker is a small plastic device held in your hand. When the inner mechanism is pressed with your thumb it makes a clicking noise. The clicker is used because it's small, easy to use and emits a consistent sound that is very important in Classical Conditioning...

Learning Theory - The Tools You Will Use to Train Your Dog

Classical Conditioning: From Pavlov's Dog to Yours

Classical Conditioning is a type of learning. In the 1902's Ivan Pavlov was made famous for his experiments with dogs, food, and the sound of a bell. Here's a condensed version of Pavlov's experiment:

First, present the dog with food and the dog will drool. Food is what is called an unconditioned stimulus; the dog is 'hard wired' to drool when he sees food, this is not learned. Drooling is what is called an unconditioned response; something that happens automatically, similar to a reflex.

Second, Pavlov paired the arrival food with the sound of a bell. After several trails of bell-food, bell-food etc. an association is made between the food and the bell. The bell becomes a conditioned stimulus; the bell, with no meaning, has been associated with a stimulus with meaning, food (the unconditioned stimulus).

Because of the association made between the food and the bell the dog will now droll from the sound of a bell.

In short, Pavlov's experiment tells us:

Food (unconditioned stimulus) = Drool (unconditioned response)
Bell (conditioned stimulus) + Food (unconditioned stimulus) = Drool (unconditioned response)
Bell (conditioned stimulus) = Drool (unconditioned response)

Why Do We Use It in Dog Training?

In training, it is important for the dog to know she has done the right thing immediately after, or as she is doing it. Unfortunately it is not easy to reward the dog at the exact time she is doing the thing you want. For exapmple, you may want to reward a dog for jumping through a hoop, when she is in mid air sailing through it, not after she has landed.

In order to overcome this problem, trainers use a clicker like Pavlov used a bell. We pair the sound of the clicker with a reward (a food treat) until the association is made between the two - until the dog hears the click and thinks Food!

The clicker is used to mark the exact behaviour the trainer wants. Also, as a bridge between the time the behaviour is performed and the time the reward is given.

Operant Conditioning: The Building Blocks of Learning

Classical conditioning is an association between two stimuli. Operant conditioning is an association between a behavior and a consequence: "If you do this, this will happen. If you do that, that will happen."

Consequences for behaviour must be immediate.

When working with animals, connections cannot be explained with words: for exaple, "Fluffy, because you didn't pull on the leash during our walk you will get a big dinner later."

Dogs don't understand English! Because of this, consequences must be immediate - Fluffy must get a big treat while she is walking nicely and not pulling on the leash.