If you haven’t read through all of the “about me” information on my site, you may not know that over the last fifteen or so years, I’ve also worked as a marine mammal trainer and dog trainer. For the last four years, I’ve taught people how to train their dogs using positive reinforcement training techniques. Having been initially trained by the staff at a marine life park, I’ve always been a reward based trainer. In my heart I believe, and through practice with hundreds of dogs, I know, that it’s possible to change behavior without using coercion and positive punishment. This is a topic that is dear to my heart.

In a recent forum discussion, someone asked about how the concepts of operant conditioning using the R+ quadrant apply outside of dog training and I put together some links and information that I thought my readers here might also find interesting.

One of the seminal works for the lay person is Karen Pryor’s book, Don’t Shoot the Dog. For many people who are positive trainers, this was the first book they read and the one that inspired them to follow the path of non-coercion. It’s a great book that talks about how we can use the concepts used in marine mammal training to improve relationships with our spouses, co-workers, bosses, dolphins, kids and dogs.

More recently, Amy Sutherland wrote an article for the NY Times that evolved into the book, What Shamu taught me about Life, Love and Marriage. While doing research for her book, Kicked, Bitten and Scratched, she was exposed to how zookeepers use behavior modification to manage the animals they care for. She follows up on this by exploring the idea of using the principles of operant conditioning to get her husband to pick up his socks (and other things)! She shares a variety of stories about how these principles affect our lives in ways that we might not even expect. (here’s a direct link to the NYTimes article.)

The book Whale Done! was written by a couple of Sea World marine mammal trainers to help managers improve the performance of their employees using the science of behavior modification.

Karen Pryor’s organization has started a program called Tag Teach. It’s a way of using the same concepts as clicker training to help kids master complex skills.

Although she focuses primarily on animals in her more mainstream writing, Temple Grandin writes about behavior with unique insight. She always makes me think and adjust my perspective on concepts that I thought I understood!

And what about parenting? Or working with kids in a classroom? There is an interesting article available online that is partly based on the work of Murray Sidman. A Teaching Approach to Discipline explores the concepts of reward and punishment in the context of working with kids. (This article also has a complete bibliography listed.)

Several years ago, I had the privilege of attending several sessions with Kathy Sdao. Kathy is an incredibly motivating speaker. She brings to her lectures a sense of all the good that is possible if we seek out kindness and respect in all that we do when we interact with other people and creatures. On her recommendation, I read the book, Coercion and it’s Fallout by Murray Sidman. This book looks at the effects of using the P+ quadrant and extrapolates how this affects individuals and our community both on a local and global scale. His premise is that we live in a world which defaults to coercive tactics to manage and control it’s populations. Perhaps it’s human nature – or perhaps we can do better if we can imagine what is possible.

This last one is of my neighbor’s son, Benji. He’s also the one giving his dog, Heidi, a drink of water in one of the images above. This is a kid after my heart. He LOVES dogs (he didn’t pose for this – I happened to notice him going around and giving kisses to all of the dogs and snapped this shot). He loves each and every one of them big and small. Often when we’re walking by their house, he’s out in the front yard wrestling with his dog. He’s also spent time playing with Gus. He’s sweet and gentle and has that one true love – one he shares with me. The pure and unadulterated love of all dogs.

To purchase prints from the 2009 Brecksville Dog Jog, visit the online gallery (password: brecksville)!

We were happy to be able to participate as a vendor and a photographer for the event. I’ll be posting three slide shows over the next few days so that anyone who wants to look for themselves or relive the event can enjoy the photos.

The three slideshows are:

The Race! It was a photo finish!
The Contests! This years turnout was wonderful – tricks, frisbee catching and costumes. And the ever popular, “Who Looks Like Their Dog” contest.
The Crowd! Big dogs, little dogs and their people.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by the Fur in Focus table and either signed up for the newsletter or entered the drawing for the photo cookie session. We’ll be drawing a winner and announcing it here on the blog tomorrow. Be sure to check back to see if you might be the winner!

To purchase prints from the 2009 Brecksville Dog Jog, visit the online gallery (password: brecksville)!

This Saturday, as a part of Brecksville’s Home Days celebration, the Recreation Department will be holding the Annual Dog Jog at the Blossom Hill Recreation Complex on Oakes Road.

Registration for the one mile fun run with your dog starts at 8am! The race starts at 9am and will be followed by a variety of contests, prizes and a raffle.

Fur in Focus Photography will be there. We’re offering a gift basket in the raffle where one lucky pet owner will win a gift certificate for a free photo session and 5 x 7 gift print of their dog (a $100 value!). We’ll also be holding a drawing at our table for another free session and gift print. The winner of the drawing will be announced here on Monday, June 29th.

Check back for the winner, event photos and don’t forget to say hi to us at the Dog Jog!

From last year’s 2008 Home Days event: The Annual Dog Jog! A day full of costumes, games and fun.

To purchase prints from the 2009 Brecksville Dog Jog, visit the online gallery (password: brecksville)!

One of my favorite photos of my adorable nephew. There’s a line in the movie, Little Man Tate, where Fred says, “I’m not crabby, I’m pensive.” My nephew gets these serious looks on his face and it makes me think of that movie.