Positive Rewards Dog Training/MV

01/03/2025

A little pre-advance notice -
April 12 11am - 12:30pm
May 10 11am - 12:30pm

I will be presenting at the Chilmark Public Library.

When considering adding a dog to your home, whether from a shelter or a breeder, it is easy to be swayed by an adorable puppy picture or a sad-faced shelter dog.

Captivating copy pulls at your heartstrings, and you can imagine snuggling up with a new best friend or sharing the best of times.

These presentations are designed to assist you in your search by providing important and thought-provoking questions to consider. They explain what a health clearance is (and what it is not) and set realistic expectations for bringing a dog of any age into your home.

April's topic will focus on dogs from shelters and rescue/foster situations.
May's topic will be about working with a breeder (pure or mix-breed dogs).

27/02/2025

This video is a testament to the level of training and the relationship credits that Alan and I have built together through reinforcement-based training.

You might ask why I didn't demand a "Leave it" & "Drop" so that I could take the deer bone from him.

Understanding why reinforcement training works involves the knowledge that regardless of how much I want Alan to drop the bone, that is still his decision—to drop or not to drop.

My goal is for Alan to choose to move away from the bone so that we can accomplish a change of ownership without escalation.

He has made a choice that checking out the strategically placed tossed kibble (yes, that is only dry dog food that he is making the choice to collect) is valuable.
Our training is still a work in progress; however, this was a huge pop quiz for him as we have not worked with this level of a distractor in a real-world scenario.

If you would like to know more about how to train this level of exchange without conflict, send an email to [email protected]

23/02/2025

How do you choose a dog with whom you will share your life?

It is very easy to lose track of your objectiveness when presented with an endearing photo with a tragic tale.

In this presentation, I will provide some suggestions for how to evaluate a shelter dog. Everyone has their own ideas about what 'makes' a great dog, and there are many diamonds in the ruff in the shelter system. But how do you make an informed choice?

I'll start by discussing important questions to ask before you meet the dog, as well as key things to consider during your meeting to help guide you in your decision-making process.

Meeting time: 6 - 6:45 pm
Date: Monday, February 24
cost: $10.00
registration deadline 2/24/25 @ 4:30 pm

for registration and payment link, send an email to [email protected]

Love to attend, but have to be somewhere else? The presentation will be recorded and available to registrants on 2/25/25

20/02/2025

Opening up your life and heart to a shelter dog can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life.
Or it can evolve into a train wreck.

Every day, countless dogs find themselves in shelters for a variety of reasons, often through no fault of their own. As you browse the “Adopt Me” photos on shelter websites, it’s hard not to feel a wave of compassion. The images and heartfelt descriptions truly tug at your heartstrings, reminding us of the love and companionship these dogs are so eager to offer.

When considering the adoption of a dog, what criteria should guide your choice to make sure you find the perfect companion?

If you are considering adopting a dog, this presentation will provide you with additional thoughts to add to your search process.

Share this post with your friends!

cost: $10.00

email: [email protected] for registration, payment details and the Zoom link to the session

20/02/2025

an important read!
We created dog breeds to assist with a variety of tasks - and the very traits that we encouraged through selective breeding are often maladapted to the life many dogs lead.
What we commonly label as 'misbehavior' is often times a normal genetic expression but mismatched for the situation in which we place the dog.

17/02/2025

This is an excellent article on a training method that is frequently suggested when a dog is 'putting on the brakes', exhibiting avoidance when presented with a situation.

Overriding the dog's choice " This is too scary!" or " I am not sure, I don't have enough information" or " I don't understand how to handle this!", can have serious consequences.

There are ethically more respectful and kinder ways to teach the dog (or horse, or...) to move forward into a situation without creating the mental chaos that flooding creates.

Basic law of behavioral science - Behavior that works, is highly likely to be chosen again in the future.

This works for dogs as well as humans.

So if you successfully force your dog to endure or engage in a frightening situation, you are likely to choose this technique again.

Until such time as the dog bites.

There are better ways.

Flooding as a dog behaviour modification procedure is almost always a terrible idea. Yet, it remains a popular approach in dog TV shows and online content. Unfortunately, people searching for...

15/02/2025

Your puppy is constantly acquiring information about how to safely and effectively navigate the world. Being observant, providing appropriate management, and reinforcing positive choices will make your life, as well as your dog's, much less frustrating and more enjoyable.

If you are wondering how to build great behavior choices in your dog (of any age) through reinforcement training, contact me at
[email protected].

Reinforcement training works! And it is much more than being a food dispenser.

If you are curious about why your dog makes choices and what you can do to quietly influence how he or she decides to behave in the future jump on board!

06/02/2025

Paying attention to your dog's behavior is important, but we often overlook the small moments that can have a significant impact.

Becoming too absorbed in your own activity goals may lead to neglecting your training partner's decision-making process. And therein lies a disconnecting moment.

Young dogs are often impulsive - you can help them learn how to make choices that work for both them and us, by using a few simple considerations, such as this one.

Here's a quick tip from my Building Behavior video series.

https://youtu.be/HijDsOVf0S0?si=5Zlrz1ZWYyaZHuGq

Need help with your busy dog? Help is here - send an email to [email protected]

31/01/2025

Do you have a Gobbler?

My next presentation Monday, February 3, at 6 pm is all about dogs who eat (in our opinion) too quickly...

This will be a very informative session on different tactics you can use to slow down your dog's consumption rate...

In addition, you'll learn about
* different types of slow feeders
* find answers to the questions about WHY my dog eats too fast
* dangers of fast eating and why some dogs might be more at risk for health complications..and more!

At $10 a session, my Connect! series of mini-online classes are a wealth of information.

If you are interested in attending, email [email protected] to register and for payment options.

27/01/2025

Myles sends Birthday wishes to all his brothers and sisters.
We're a Great 8 today!

We are all a little older and grayer but still rocking along:)

Thank you Linda for bringing this extra special boy into my life.

26/01/2025

Just a reminder - my next Connect series mini-class is tomorrow evening at 6 pm - at $10 a session these are a real gem!
There will be a 20-30 minute presentation followed by a short Q/A session.

I will be speaking about socialization - not only what it is and why it is vital to the healthy development of your young puppy, but also how to set up the best socialization experiences for your puppy.

If you are interested in attending, you can still register until 4 pm EST.

Contact: [email protected]

21/01/2025

Socialization is one of the most misunderstood aspects of raising a puppy.

Join me next Monday evening at 6 PM for the second mini-webinar in my Connect! series. I will be discussing socialization: what it is, how to create safe socialization experiences for your puppy, and a general timeline for the topics you should focus on.

You will discover how to maximize this critical period in your dog's life and understand the consequences of insufficient socialization.

To save your space for this fascinating look into the mind of a young dog, send an email to [email protected] for registration information.

20/01/2025

It’s going to be a chilly evening!

If you’ve ever found yourself looking for the perfect food-foraging toy for your dog, only to feel:

* Confused by the multitude of choices
* Frustrated after spending money on toys your dog just ignores
* Horrified when a supposedly indestructible toy becomes a potential chew-and-swallow item

Grab a favorite beverage, your comfy chair, and click in to join the first in my Connect! mini-series on all things Dog.

This first-in-the-series will be on understanding how to choose a (or several) food-foraging toys that will work well for your dog.

As an introductory bonus, this podcast is free! -
For information on how to join this evening's presentation, please send an email to
[email protected]

15/01/2025

Enlighten and entertain your mind with our Winter online mini-class series - Connect-

Grab your favorite beverage, a comfy chair and join us live on Mondays at 6 pm for 45 minutes for an exciting journey into topics ranging from

* De-mystifying Food Foraging Toy Choices
* Socializing Your Puppy
* Got a Gobbler? A look at Slow Feeder Options
* New Love - Helping your newly adopted dog adjust

and more!

The cost per class is $18.00.

Email us at [email protected] for registration information and Zoom meeting link.

06/01/2025

This is a pretty clear communication of commitment!

NW2 trial, Normandy Farms Campground, Foxboro, MA November 17, 2024

05/01/2025

Karen Pryor will always be remembered as a driving force behind the shift in training for animals.
She was an amazing person and her passion for helping build a more compassionate and conversational world between learners bridged the species' differences.

If you want a facinating read into what makes behavior tick - check out her book "Reaching the Animal Mind"

RIP, you may be gone, but you will never be forgotten.

Send a message to learn more

13/08/2024

It is with the heaviest of hearts that I share the news of Fenway's passing. Pam & Chip's beloved BC Fenway has left us, gaining his wings yesterday.

Fenway was an amazing dog and a true spokesman for the Border Collie breed. I first met Pam and Fenway when they came to my agility classes way back in the early years.

He and Pam were regulars at our weekly Sniffer Dog classes up to two years ago, as an elderly senior, he thoroughly enjoyed searching and was not shy about telling Pam that she was 'late' in holding up her end of the bargain

Fly high and strong Fenway - you are greatly missed.
To Pam and Chip, with deepest condolences from all your Sniffer class friends.