Dog Training and Education Resources
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Description
The Theory and Practice of +Reinforcement in Modern Dog Training
1 Day Event. 9am - 5pm
Location: Upstate Canine Academy, 24 Corporate Drive, Halfmoon, NY 12065
Join us for a one-day seminar exploring the theory and practical application of rewards in training.. Through a blend of theory, real-world insights, and hands-on application, we’ll examine how reinforcement—when understood as both an event and a process—can be shaped, modified, and optimized to build clarity, flexibility, and reliability in training.
Key Themes & Topics:
- Dipping our toes into Behavioral Economics: Yeah it's a science but it's also pretty intuitive. Understanding what it is and how it drives behavior.
- Lessons from Bob Bailey’s Chickens: criterion, timing, and mechanics—what I learned from chicken workshops and Skinner, the Brelands and Bob's influence today.
- Genetics & Motivation: Understanding what your dog truly values and how natural instincts shape potential.
- The Power of Training with Food: Leveraging food as a primary reinforcer while maintaining engagement and control.
- Prey, Play & Optimizing the Interaction: Harnessing natural drives to build motivation, impulse control, and a game that functions.
- Reinforcement as an Event & a Process: How to make reinforcement more meaningful and adaptable to different training goals.
- Hierarchies & Transferring Value: Managing arousal and teaching dogs to shift focus by strategically transferring reinforcement value.
- The Double Edged Sword or Anticipation: Critical for early learning & how to mitigate mistakes and pavlovian interference later on.
- Modern Marker Systems & Discrimination: The benefits of discrimination—using precise communication to create clarity and thinking in the face of high value rewards and competing motivators.
-8 Working spots
-30 Spectator spots
*If you are considering a working spot - it will be helpful if your dog is comfortable interacting with rewards in new environments. Working teams can expect two sessions Saturday. Please bring food & toy rewards, and any training equipment you are currently using.
This seminar is designed for trainers, handlers, and dedicated dog owners who want to deepen their understanding of the overarching principles of reward based training and modern practical application. With a mix of theory and hands-on work, participants will leave with a refined perspective on reinforcement, a handle on mechanics and techniques, ideas for building more motivation and responsiveness in their dog's performance, and a clearer path to customizing the strategies and techniques to support their individual goals. .
Date & Time
Sat, Jun 7, 2025 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Venue Details
Upstate Canine Academy
24 Corporate DriveHalfmoon, New York 12065
