Positively | Victoria Stilwell | Forum

Mattie, I think I get the most frustrated because I have been there and done that. I understand where they are coming from. I was there and don't know what anyone could have said to convince me that I was damaging my relationship with my dog or that I could have easily gotten more enthusiastic compl...

I don't believe that "all positive" training is effective. There is no such thing as "all positive" training and stating that there is shows a deep ignorance of learning theory. Fisrt misconception: Positive reinforcement based trainers do not use only positive reinforcement to ...

I agree with ckrantz. I would not allow my dog to interact with this dog. If you want to maintain a non canine relationship, then do so, but your first responsibility is to your dog and I would cut that aspect of the relationship off. It only takes one encounter to undo all the work you have done wi...

Sorry, Cracker, it's Scaredy Dog, but you are right, Ali is the Queen of Reactivity and between her two books, she maps out a step by step plan for rehabbing a reactive dog.

1) Dominance theory is an outdated theory based on a pack of unrlated wolves in an unfamiliar situation where many of the behaviors were misinterpreted. 2) The part of the brain responsible for symbolic thinking is underdeveloped in dogs (and wolves) making it highly unlikely they can assign rank. 3...

First, sayin "lie down, lie down, lie down" is teaching the dog that the cue is not "Lie down", but rather "Lie down, lie down, lie down". I would use a clicker and capture it. First, charge or load the clicker like this: Click then treat then repeat until you see the l...

has the best correction noise? Do't use them, don't like them. Correction noises, be they an ACK or a tssst, are positive punishment and I do not nclude P+ in my training. Of course, if I had to choose, since the tsssst is usually accompnied by a "hand bite", I would seriously avoid that....

Ceasar and Victoria could not be further apart on thier philosophies. Cesar is nothing more than an old school Ntauralist trainer, in the vein of Koehler and the Monks of New Skeete. The emphasis is on controling the pack by being the "Alpha". I do not think Cesar is a bad man or a cruel m...

Nope. I train LLW on a flat or rolled collar or a regular harness and don't use corrections other than witholding reinforcers, so this wouldn't cut it for me.

Can you make the kitchen a more inviting place? Maybe a big comfy bed if you don't already have one? And, when you put her there, provide her with something special, like a kong, stuffed with wonderful food and frozen, as a bedtime snack? Something that will make her happy to go into the kitchen. My...

Joanne, I am very excited for you. Talk to Nancy Martin too (look her up in the company directory if you do not know her. Tell her you want to know about Ali and Kim told you to contact her). Nancy is taking Hershey through Foundations right now. Here is how much I adore Ali. She has worked with 4 o...

Maggi, Joanne is a friend of mine in person. So weird you sent her to Ali, because she lives nearby. Joanne, you will be required to take 3 private lessons before you can go into the class. I think they are around 300 for the 3 lessons (~4 hours). Then, it is 160 for a set of 6, but you don't bring ...

Joanne, Ali is reasonable. I am taking semi private Rally II lessons with her right now and she is charging the two of us 160 for 4 classes. That is for a class with only 2 people in it. She may require a set of 3 private lessons before the Reactive DOg group classes, but she is not that expensive. ...

Me: Seriously, your book is fairly popular on some of the forums I frequent. Ali: nice to know! hopefully the next edition will be even more popular. Me:After reading your book, someone asked: "I've read "Scaredy Dog" and there's a section on training your dog inside your car. I live ...

Joanna, lucky, lucky you! Amazing opportunity!

Emotions, I love Donaldson. She is one of my favorites. And Dunbar is so much more charismatic when you can see and hear him than he is in his books.