I'm considering enrolling in a fenzi dog sports academy class, probably either amy cook's dealing with fearful and reactive dogs: the play way or kim palermo's the big feelings dog: using control unleashed and free work to build resilience and lower arousal. I was wondering if anyone on dogblr had recommendations on which to go for, had taken either in the past, or thoughts on either trainer? "neither of these is useful / forget fenzi entirely" is also an acceptable response.
in terms of Rana's specific needs, his fear reactivity is very minimal and rarely triggered since we've got his pain management regime figured out, but there are still a few things to improve there. there's more to work on with the overarousal and frustration front; in particular, he's definitely still got some frustrated greeter tendencies with other dogs, being too sociable for his own good, etc. I'm also trying to accept that he's not very food motivated and is much more motivated by play and chasing, so the amy cook class could also be useful for learning about using play in training. but I'm quite interested in free work and I wonder if the kim palermo class might have more for the overarousal rather than fearful side?
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I feel like a lot of European/Anglo American critical race theory breaks down when you enter Latin America or other prominently "mixed-race" territories. Racism is still very real, of course, and it's worth addressing, but the kind of analysis we have imported from those countries falls short, because it relies on a clear-cut distinction between races that does not exist here to the same degree. We cannot speak of a white majority in Mexico, for example. Some people that would be considered "black" in the US (like my grandfather, or even my mother) do not see themselves as such. People that would be considered indigenous (like my great-grandmother, or my grandma), do not recognize this as their heritage. The national identity often takes precedence over the racial or ethnic one. Yet racism still exists. How do we analyse it? And how do we analyse the relationship of these people with defined white ethnic groups in other countries? When people are asked to mark a box with their race in polls and surveys, and stare at it confused because none of the options given apply? What do we do with people that identify as American because they were born in the CONTINENT of America, that feel alienated when US Americans use the term solely for themselves? And can we blame them for that, when it's the only term they have ever had? Those who feel alienated because they don't fit cleanly, that do not conform to Anglo American racial analysis? The people that doesn't have a language to describe their oppression, and the options given by academia feel just as patronizing?
I didn’t get that much out of Hidden Potential. I think overall I found it very concept-heavy without a lot of practical solutions. It just felt quite vague. What I’ve been struggling with this whole time is pinpointing specifics. I didn’t find the prompts or exercises in this course did a lot to help me figure this out. For example, in one of the lectures Sarah wrote “How can you help your dog to feel a more positive CER, if his current one is negative?” and I found this frustrating because I thought the point of the course was to help me figure out how to foster a more positive CER.
Here are my current notes on some of the lectures but not the ones I felt were impractical. I would like to try some of the games more and come back to this for a second evaluation. I will also work through my new course, BH265: Strategies for Training and Competing the Sensitive Dog, and see how it compares.
1.1 Assignment: Never Wrong/Sometimes More Right
I did a session or two of this, but I could try doing it again. I struggle with these types of things as value of rewards is so hard to figure out with Marceline. If one food is of lesser value she will usually just reject it outright, so this kind of game is difficult.
1.2 Information Gathering: Identifying Issues
Does your dog approach other dogs when out in the world, or avoid them?
Yes, she will approach other dogs but can get intimidated by large dogs.
Is your dog hyper social with people, wanting to jump on them, or would he rather not be greeted by your friends?
She likes people fine, as long as they respect her size. She will beg for treats from people she knows.
Do loud noises bother your dog?
A bit, not to an extreme extent.
What about crowds?
She hasn’t been in large crowds before.
2.1 Assignment: The Consent Signal
I do a test with tug first, then do a warm up using sitting by my side, hand touch and pop ups. I might try to introduce something else like eye contact. I also have a verbal “are you ready?” that she can respond to. She has established consent signals for other behaviours.
2.2 Talking Point: Accepting "No"
I recognise that I need to do this more. I have a tendency to try again when she says no to something. I think there are some instances where asking more than once is fair, like if she wants to go out, because she shows other signs of wanting to consent. In those cases I try to remove the barriers that are stopping her saying “yes”. But during a session, I think I need to stop and put her up if she is saying a clear “no”.
2.3 Information Gathering: Operant Counterconditioning
I honestly have no idea what to do for this one. None of the examples were applicable and I can’t easily identify one single, specific thing I could improve with counterconditioning. That’s not to say there isn’t something, just that I can’t think of it.
2.4 Assignment: Ring-Sustainable Reinforcement
I have created a “stash” marker cue and have incorporated this into our training.
3.1 Assignment: Using an Opt-Out Signal/Safe Space
I didn’t even try this because I struggled to think of an item that would be neutral value that she would still like to chew. I could try it with a supermarket style chew I guess. I also struggle with set-ups like this because in reality this isn’t what my sessions look like. I don’t know if that says something bad about my training but I found it hard to conceptualise putting this into action practically. When Marceline opts out, she doesn’t go to a base, she prefers to engage with the environment. She would not choose to be put up. But I guess I could improve this in general by rewarding her with something more like a chew when she is at her station.
3.2 Talking Point: Reading Opt-Out Signs
It’s definitely clear that I am still not responding appropriately to opt-out signs. I need to figure out a better response to these signs.
4.2 Assignment: Energiser Patterns
I do this a bit, but I could certainly incorporate more energising pattern games into my warmups.
4.3 Talking Point: What IS Reinforcement?
What reinforcement scenarios are working for you?
Generally I start with tug, switch to food from hand to warm up and then use a lotus ball to reinforce a sequence
Which ones are not?
I think food from hand within a sequence is not working. I think I should switch to a food toss marker if I need to re-engage in the middle.
How can you add more sustainable reinforcement strategies to your training?
I’m still trying to incorporate a stash cue as a major reinforcement strategy. I think a lotus ball is pretty sustainable, but food toss and food from hand are not.
4.4 Information Gathering: Hidden Aversives
Of the four things Sarah describes (confusion, pain, sensory input, fear and anxiety) I think the relevant one is confusion. I wonder if part of the problem is that I think things are trained better than they actually are?
5.3 Talking Point: A Culture of Choice
I think that I could offer more choices for Marceline. I keep things varied in her life, but I rarely present her with a clear choice of one thing or another.
6.3 Talking Point: Honouring the Dog
I think I should incorporate more solo enrichment time for her in general, rather than being with Luca or doing agility. Marceline highly values opportunities to sniff, roll and swim. I think I could offer her more of those opportunities on her own.
... to Sammy, who turns 12 today, and Bats, who turned 10 last monday! ❤️❤️❤️ Stay as happy and healthy as you are!
In honor of the occasion (not really, but it fits so well haha) I purchased the bronze Nosework 101 course on FDSA today! So curious to see how the doggos will like itttt! :D
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There’s a new blog post on how to be a good/effective online student at FDSA.
Martin was a disciplined Gold student - he averaged over 18 videos per course; he was still submitting videos in the advanced tracking course with stage four cancer until he lost the ability to read and write. I think the tips provided in the article are helpful but Stacy Barnett misses one important one. Building a close community with other FDSA students will help you stay engaged and prevent you from giving up when training gets really hard ...and it always does. Martin took Gold classes with the same three women for many years- they were always cheering for or gently mocking each other.
Day 2: now only rewarding when he slightly picks it up. He defaults to foot targets bc it has a high reinforcement history so getting his brain to switch to mouth is a little hard but he’s figuring it out
