Browsed by
Tag: behavior chains

Accidental Behavior Chains, Part 2: How Do We Fix Them?

Accidental Behavior Chains, Part 2: How Do We Fix Them?

Last time, we talked about behavior chains – what they are, how they work, and why it’s so easy to accidentally train your dog to do something you don’t want. We had some great discussion in the comments section of that post, and several readers asked for some additional information about how to apply this concept on a practical level.  Namely, if we’ve inadvertently trained a behavior chain that includes unwanted “links” like jumping on visitors or pulling on the…

Read More Read More

Accidental Behavior Chains: Are You Training What You Think You Are?

Accidental Behavior Chains: Are You Training What You Think You Are?

My family got our first dog, a long-legged sable Sheltie named Duncan, when I was sixteen years old. As a brand-spanking-new trainer, I had lots of enthusiasm but very little actual skill.  We went to classes and dabbled in a few different dog sports – including, most notably for today’s topic, competitive obedience. In the novice obedience ring, one of the exercises that dogs are required to master is the formal recall.  This involves leaving your dog in a sit-stay,…

Read More Read More