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Dogs of Course
Education for professionals and training enthusiasts.
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Get SMART about Training A seminar with Kathy Sdao MA, CAAB (associate)
When
Sat Sep 26, 2009 - Sun Sep 27, 2009
Where
Columbia, Maryland - United States
Instructor Kathy Sdao
Price
$130 - $210
Registration Info http://www.dogsofcourse.com/SMART_seminar.htm
Over the last twenty years, many dog trainers have made efforts to increase their use of positive reinforcement while minimizing their use of painful or anxiety-provoking punishments. This evolution toward a more humane approach to modifying behavior has far-reaching impact on dogs and trainers alike. But when we opt to avoid using “sticks” to motivate our dogs, we must make a commitment to become SMART about the use of “carrots” – positive reinforcers. Trainers who understand the science and practical applications of behavioral reinforcement gain the ability to be more creative and less coercive.
The acronym SMART stands for “See, Mark and Reward Training”; it summarizes the fundamental sequence of behaviors a trainer performs when using reinforcement effectively. We’ll discuss in detail each of these core skills – observation of the animal’s behaviors, pinpointing the desired behavior with a meaningful marker signal, and providing powerful rewards.
Through use of lecture, demonstrations and video, this seminar will explore all aspects of positive reinforcement: types, frequency, timing, placement, use of conditioned reinforcers, creation of new reinforcers, schedules of reinforcement, satiation, the use of distractions as reinforcers, and what reinforcement cannot accomplish.
Day 1
Brief review of operant conditioning
Operant conditioning as analogous to natural selection
Carrots and organic gardening: why choose positive reinforcement?
Unconditioned vs. conditioned reinforcers
Behavioral markers as the fulcrum
Using +R to shift the behavioral distribution curve
Creating new reinforcers
Preserving existing reinforcers: satiation, inadvertent chaining
Reinforcement timing
Day 2
Reinforcement frequency & schedules of reinforcement
Seeing behavior: setting your filter
Maximizing reinforcement opportunities; minimizing the need for punishment
What if the environment offers better reinforcers than you have?
Limits of what reinforcement can do
Behavioral economics and the “reinforcement package”
Placement of reinforcers
Choosing types of reinforcers
What about punishment?
WAYS TO PARTICIPATE:
This is a non-working seminar. Well-behaved, quiet, friendly dogs may attend on a 6' leash. Check the bottom of this page for complete rules and the specific location page for more details.