Typist: Bethany
It was my first training class with Tynan when I heard the instructor give her speech about the word "sit" for the first time. "You might want to consider using a different word, one that your dog understands as 'this is my trainer cueing me' as opposed to a kid at the park or a clerk at the store ask you dog to do something cute," she urged. Yet in all the times I heard that speech, in classes with Tynan, Wilhelm, Brychwyn, and Huxley, when the instructor would go around the room after asking "what word will you be using?" I only once heard someone say something other than "sit." And, unfortunately, it wasn't me. Now, I have three super smart dogs who can go anywhere and be adored, but not one of them knows "sit."

One flaw in my dogs "sit" is that I used the word "sit." If I had used any other word, a word that isn't said to them dozens of times a day by neighbors, shop keepers, mail carriers, etc, my cue to lower the tail end may not have been poisoned. But I chose "sit." Yet if I had worked harder in proofing the cue before they heard it over and over again from people all over in our travels, people who rewarded them even if they didn't obey, the cue may not have been poisoned. So my true training confession is that I am terrible at proofing.

I am not a bad trainer. I am just way more focused on socialization than proofing. Back when I was gung-ho about titles and competitions, I was horrified when a child at the park told my dogs to "sit." Yet, I didn't like horrified trainer me. The being able to take the pets anywhere happily trainer me, even if the dogs don't obey every random "sit" they hear, is a much more fun trainer me. Happy, well-socialized pets matter more to me than perfect, consistently compliant to obedience cues pets. The only exception to this lazy proofing attitude is I insist on a speedy recall and, like all good pet owners should, the pets and I work on it daily. I know that if I gave "sit" a new cue word and the same attention as our recalls, the dogs would learn it in no time. After all, they are smarter than me! I am really the one that does not know "sit."

Just because I am bad at proofing skills doesn't mean you have to be! Here's a great resource on proofing. Do you have any proofing tips to share?

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Typist: Bethany
Most hobbies are expensive, requiring an investment in equipment and a budget to sustain. Yet all that is needed for positive reinforcement pet training is a pet, a voice and a hand. I can train anywhere, anytime, for free! Too often we pet people and animal trainers get caught up in doing everything perfectly, like on TV, or we just don't bother. Training a pet, though, especially using positive reinforcement training methods, doesn't require lavish tools, luxury locations or celebrity instruction. Any pet (yes, any) can be trained simply by using the fun, positive method that the trainer and the animal both enjoy. The simplicity of positive reinforcement dog, cat and parrot training as a hobby does not diminish it's rewards. In return for my positive training time, I get an incomparable bond with each of my pets as well as pets that I can take anywhere. We trust each other in any situation. We have enough positivity to share, here in our three simple ways to train using positive reinforcement training:

1) Attitude is Everything
Wilhelm, Brychwyn, Huxley, Leo, Amelia, and I were hanging out near the beach a few months ago watching a perfect Puget Sound Sunset. I saw another sunset watcher approach us and prepared the pets to greet her politely. Instead of asking to pet the dogs and cat or asking me about an adventuring cockatoo she neared us and simply stated, " your family is so special. I just love how you talk to them. It's so nice." I thanked her, and as I promptly praised the dogs for remaining quiet I realized how right she was. I do speak nicely to my pets. Shouldn't everyone? In transitioning from a formerly negative trainer to a positive one, the way that I talk to my dogs has indeed been the biggest change. I tell them "yes, good job" instead of "no, don't do that." Through more positive language, my attitude is better. With my better attitude, the pets are happier. Because the pets are happier, people extend positive comments. Positivity is contagious. And it is so simple to start the infectious positive chain reaction. Just say "yes!"

2) The Best Thing To Do With A Pet
Back when I taught dog training classes, I heard the "there is no way I could handle the dog, treats, and a clicker" excuse daily. But positive reinforcement training does not require the use of a clicker. Instead of using a clicker to mark, or identify, correct behavior, choose a short, one syllable marker word like "yes," "good," or even say "click." Then praise the pets success with a special, exciting word or phrase like "hooray," "awesome work," or "you're the best" accompanied by a celebratory scratch, rub, or game. Being a positive trainer does not require the use of treats. A reward to a pet is as simple as a pet! The key is simply being positive. My training plan has never been teaching my pets a behavior in record time so even though studies have shown that marking behaviors exactly and having the perfect training rewards mean that pets learn faster, I just stay positive even without a click and food reward. The dogs, cat, cockatoo and I don't currently have competitive goals or learning deadlines. I simply want well behaved pets that are active, mentally stimulated, living fulfilled and happy lives. We train casually and simply, positively and fun. And anyone can do it!

3) Let The Games Begin
Training should be fun. Always. Every time. If I find myself getting bored with training, I know it is time to evaluate what I am doing. I can't be the best, positive trainer that my pets deserve, if I am bored. Most importantly, if I am bored, the dogs, cat and parrot will be too. So how do I keep training fun? The number one way is to always be aware of how much my pets love it. The excitement of each pet when I give them a cue or get out a training toy, brings me such joy. If we try something they don't love, I review my journal and go back to something they enjoyed. And if my pets are happy, I am happy. Yeah. I am that easy to please! Another way to ensure training stays fun is to keep seeking new training games to play, behaviors to learn, and positive reinforcement training methods. Books, workshops, classes, videos, articles, and online events like National Dog Training Month and Positive Reinforcement Pet Training Week are constant positive pet training inspiration resources. Simply being present with my pets, observing even the smallest positive change in their behavior when we train, helps me remember to keep training pleasant. Plus I work to put their personality traits, good or bad, to work in making our training positive, effective and always, always fun.

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This is Positive Reinforcement Pet Training Week, December 7th - 13th, where we are learning and sharing about the gifts of positive reinforcement pet training. The holidays in Cascadia with five pets are a busy time but don't worry, we are always supporting Positive Reinforcement Pet Training Week and positive reinforcement pet training. As always, any and all posts and comments about positive reinforcement training methods for pets of all kinds are welcome. Positive Reinforcement Pet Training Week begins on the first Monday of every month. Our next event will start January 4th. The goal of Positive Reinforcement Pet Training Week is to build a community of bloggers and readers with dogs, cats, parrots or any other pets committed to positive reinforcement training methods and every month we share with, learn from and support each other. Enjoy!

Typist: Bethany
Everything in life is a balancing act. Constantly adjusting the balance of how I spend time with my pets sometimes feels overwhelming. When the dogs, cat and cockatoo are not interested in training, I wonder if they are getting enough exercise. When Wilhelm, Brychwyn, Huxley, Amelia and Leo are not focused when we are on pet friendly adventures, I wonder if we have been doing enough training. I want my pets to lead enriched, happy lives so mentally and physically stimulating them is extremely important to me. But finding the time and balancing the schedule to get the right amount of training and exercise plus making it all exciting and fun feels like a full time job.

Training is Exercise
Of course, training is often exercise. Dog sports like agility, Flyball and herding involve a lot of running. Leo gets a lot of exercise practicing tricks that involve flapping his wings and walking. Even Amelia gets a work out when I attempt to put cues to jumping or we simply practice her recall. Yet no matter how active and fun the pets positive reinforcement training sessions, it is still work. My job as a Pilates instructor is often great exercise but it's my job. I want to get my heart rate up when I don't have to think. I like the pets to have the same relaxed exercise time. All work and no play would make my pets and I dull!

Exercise is Training
Walking is the activity all of the pets most enjoy as leisurely exercise. But every walk is a training walk. The rules of society apply no matter where we walk. It is work for the dogs to not bark at, well, everything. I have to make sure we follow traffic rules. Leo and Amelia have to keep their leashes and harnesses comfortably loose. Even playtime in the yard or house has rules to follow. We often practice "quiet," "give" and "take" cues at playtime as well. After all, it is important that all the pets are always learning and staying fit. And both mental and physical stimulation activities should always be fun.

Timing Is Everything
My experience has been that some dogs and other pets are more open to training after or during exercise while others consider exercise a training reward. Since sharing both physical and mental stimulation time with pets increases the human-animal bond, it doesn't take long to figure out what kind of exercise and training timing makes the most sense for each individual pet. Wilhelm focuses better on cues before exercise. Brychwyn pays better attention when he is tired. Huxley needs training and exercise time evenly mixed together as he considers moving a reward. It is always best to catch both Amelia and Leo right after a nap to get some training mixed with exercise in with them. Then I get back to balancing how much training and/or exercise we do in he time we have together.

Is there a perfect balance of challenging mental and fulfilling physical stimulation for my pets? I haven't yet found this balance for myself! I regularly remind myself that there are plenty of pets in the world not getting daily exercise or any sort of mental stimulation through training. So it's okay that I may not get my pets the perfect amount of training and exercise. As long as we have fun while I try my best to fulfill their needs, our bond grows deeper. And that bond is what matters most.

A dog activity monitor with a wireless on-collar clicker can help dogs get enough exercise and have fun training too. The AMPT Animal monitor is coming soon!

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Cascadian Nomads have been offered a free AMPT Animal monitor and no other compensation to spread the word about AMPT Animal. AMPT Animal is not responsible for post content.

How do you balance exercise and training time with your pets?

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