[nagdu] statement re: ownership and qeustions re: schoolspolicies

[Hope Paulos]

Rox'e, either on or off list, could you please give a description of how you 
teach "zen" to the dogs? Beignet is charged to the clicker (in a previous 
message I said that I teach new behaviors using this training method) but 
Beignet doesn't know the concept of "zen".
Thanks.
Hope and Beignet
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "The Pawpower Pack" <pawpower4me at gmail.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, February 28, 2009 11:38 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] statement re: ownership and qeustions re: 
schoolspolicies


> Hi Merry,
>
> I am so glad you were able to make the decision about your last dog.   It 
> sounds like it was heartbreaking, though.
>
> As for using food with my dog in training, I have been using clicker 
> training exclusively now for about five and a half years.  My current 
> guide, Laveau, a Doberman, has been trained exclusively with the  clicker 
> and food.
>
> I first teach a concept called Zen.  Zen basically means that the dog 
> must give up whatever she wants to get whatever it is that she wants.   So 
> if I'm holding out a big juicy steak in my hand, the best way for  my dog 
> to get said steak is to lay down and ignore it.  I teach Zen in  all kinds 
> of situations, with all kinds of distractions.  She is no  more or less 
> food distracted than a traditionally trained dog.  I do  wear food in a 
> treat pouch on the waste of my pants and she ignores  it, and doesn't try 
> to do drive by snacking.
>
> I think food is a wonderful motivator, but the dog needs to understand 
> the ground rules around food and what behaviors will earn food and  which 
> will not.
>
> I don't have any problems with her in cafes or the like; she ignores  the 
> food, goes under our table and just sleeps.
>
> Let me know if you have more questions.
> Rox and Laveau
>
>
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