Grunt Style Canine Training

04/07/2025

Question: if lions have different hunting styles, is that a phenotype of a gene, or is it possible that is a meme acting as a gene? They have to be taught the hunting style associated with that particular region, so it is passed on like a Gene but needs adaptability for changes in supply.

04/07/2025

When you try to capture a photo of a dutchie 😂😂

Second meeting with this dog and he's a freaking MACHINE!

04/06/2025

Emotions are a fascinating topic but why do you feel them? Why do you avoid some of these feelings and why do you face them? Take for example: I’m afraid. I'm a coward because I didn't face my fears. I'm courageous because I faced my fear. I'm angry. I'm angry with myself because I was angry. I'm angry but that anger assisted me in creating boundaries and/or standing up for myself.

We feel and then create a narrative of our surroundings and self, but was the feeling even necessary at the moment? I was discussing a video of two dogs playing with another trainer. The trainer and I enjoyed watching the two dogs interact; it showed us a great deal of understanding the two dogs have for one another.

The owner, on the other hand, did not feel the same about their situation. The owner's representation of the two dogs playing was very anxious, uncertain, and even paralyzing. Do we sell this individual “basic obedience” (obedience is somewhat the problem but not the entirety. I think it would be more of a placebo effect versus tackling the real issue)?

This is why I always encourage thought versus obedience for fixing issues. We are trying to obtain some sort of self-actualization about your situation because there are many paths to dealing with it. Again, going back to my opening paragraph: I'm afraid. I'm a coward because I didn't face my fears. I'm angry. Etc. Etc.

Which are you willing to accept? Do you understand accepting these narratives comes with its own valence/consequences (positive or negative)? Do you understand that once we've chosen a path it is not a forever path? You will have to negotiate/fight/ or even let go of some of these difficult choices (as hard as that might be) but it is up to you.

03/31/2025

Reactivity work

03/31/2025

Current rabbit hole: this is just the tip of all the reading and Genes/Genes expression is still widely debated. If I were to fall into a camp, or decide what I believe, it would have to be Lisa Feldman Barrett “we have the sort of nature that requires nurture”.



nature vs nuture richard dawkins

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/genes-and-genetics

https://researchers.mgh.harvard.edu/profile/7109394/Lisa-Feldman-Barrett

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/behavioral-and-brain-sciences/article/abs/toward-ageneral-psychobiological-theory-of-emotions/B09ABA6E2B1333EFFBD687253617E698

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149763422001828

Toward a general psychobiological theory of emotions - Volume 5 Issue 3

03/30/2025

I don't know if you knew this, but I love working with dogs 😂😂😂

03/29/2025

When I use a term like “punish” I am referring to the behavior psychology definition: “a consequence that aims to reduce or eliminate an undesirable behavior”. I then use valence (refers to the positive or negative emotional value, or hedonic tone, associated with an object, event, or situation, ranging from pleasant to unpleasant or attractive to aversive) as a guide to how much pressure (the actual act of punishing) to actually apply.

This is a problem. The range varies to a great extent and it requires simplifying:

Leash pressure: will refer to negative reinforcement

Pop, pop, pop: will refer to the same pressure we use for leash pressure but applied through gentle pops.

Disconnect: disengage with our obedience and restart from the beginning position.

These are the mental notes from today's protection sessions! Oh, it was so much fun and Foxi had her first bite on the suit, eekk!

03/29/2025

Jet (Jetti-Boi) stopping in for a stay and these were our first and second sessions of the day.

03/26/2025

Photo of Elsa for attention: I will be posting a video (this afternoon) demonstrating what I mean by “pressure”. Stretched across people the word “pressure” carries a different meaning, so it is important to understand how I am using it.

03/26/2025

03/25/2025

You see something beautiful, you want to capture it, but you don't have the eye for it. The experience you have with your camera (this image is a cellphone photo) is limited but you feel it. This feeling arises within you as an ember and “you have to fan that ember into a flame” (a little Cus D’Amato).

There is no sure pathway to a destination, if you expect smooth waters, excellence at every turn, you're sure to experience loads of disappointment; it is up to you, however, to uncover and discover where that call leads you and manage those voices within.

03/25/2025

Maybe Merci will get more into this