by katiek0417 » April 30th, 2010, 6:20 am
TheRedQueen wrote:I'm a big fan of apprenticing...take as many seminars, classes, etc that you can. Soak in the knowledge of others...
x2 This is the best way to learn...
But also, do yourself a favor, and get a used psych textbook on learning and behavior and read through the chapters that discuss classical conditioning, the consequences of operant conditioning, and reinforcement schedules. You'd be surprised at how many trainers don't use the consequences the way they were originally intended!
I'm also a huge fan of the Steven Lindsay books (the series, Handbook of Applied Dog Behavior and Training)...he was actually one of the lead investigators on the Army's BioSensor Puppy program. I, specifically, like his books because there is a ton of good information in there...I don't necessarily follow what he says to a "t" but I think he does try to explain things well...
I also just read
The Mind of a Dog by Alexandra Horowitz. She's a cognitive science professor at Columbia University, and has spent much of her time doing research on the cognition and behavior of dogs! It's actually a very good read (and she discusses science in a very understandable manner)....
"Rumor has it, compulsion is evil."
Katrina
Sacha CGC - Dumb Lab
Nisha CGC, PDC, PSA TC, PSA 1 - Crazy Malinois
Drusilla SLUT- Pet
Nemo - Dual-Purpose Narcotics
Cy TC, PSA 1, PSA 2, 2009 PSA Level 3 National Champion
Axo - Psycho Puppy
Rocky - RIP My Baby Boy