Seminar in Hailey, Idaho

April 19, 2003

This was the first event co-sponsored by Best Behavior Dog Training and Positive Puppy Dog Training. Morgan did a one-day seminar under the "All Things Pawsible" name, introducing essentials of clicker training to an audience of trainers largely unfamiliar with clicker methods.

In all his seminars Morgan explains and demonstrate principles of operant conditioning working with dogs that participants bring to the event. The participant presents a particular issue she would like Morgan to help solve, and the fun begins.

The seminar was held at Fran Jewell's Positive Puppy Dog Training facility in Hailey. And no, we're not out in the woods; the background is a lovely mural painted especially for Fran and her facility. All photos were taken by Laurie Ceccarelli.

Fran and Hattie enjoy the show

Morgan works with a Dalmatian mix, teaching control in going for food and waiting for the click before expecting food from the trainer.

Working on focus in motion. This is foundation work; the only issue is focus on the handler. Proper heel position will come later.

 

Shaping a target discrimination. Morgan has yellow tape at various places on the stick; the Kelpie touches wherever the yellow tape is.

Working on focus with a nice Australian Shepherd

 

Jeni and her Corgi learn to play the "hot target" game (thanks to Bob and Marian Bailey and their chicken workshops). In this game the handler shapes the dog to go to one target, then fades that target in favor of another one. A fun mind-bender for dog and handler alike.

The Aussie was a bit of a chowhound so Morgan had to work on "doggie Zen" with this dog for a while too

 

Shaping focus with Max, a young male pit bull being fostered by Anita Fahrenwald.

Working “treat for position” with Jeni and her Border Collie. By delivering the treat at the position you want the dog to take you get not only the effect of the clicker but also the effect of the food as a reinforcer.

 

 

Shaping the Kelpie to move to the target stick. You can tell by the dropped tail that she's a little uncertain as to what I want her to do here. We worked it out. Here is where "splitting" is critical; you have to give the dog a lot of information in order to work the dog through its uncertainty.

Teaching "scoot fronts" to the Dalmatian mix. Morgan is taking half a step back, holding bait in one hand, clicking as the dog scoots forward, treating when the dog sits.

 

 

 

(Left): This young GSD was reactive to other dogs. Morgan shaped her to be non-reactive, using a high rate of reinforcement to strengthen any behavior that was not reactive. (Right) The Corgi has moved past and the GSD is sniffing the ground, a classic canine calming signal. All is well.