For Reliability and Enthusiasm Why Proof?

Clarifies the concept

Result is reliability Result is enthusiasm Increases confidence For our dog For us Intensifies commitment Result is reliability Result is enthusiasm Result is increased confidence

PROOFING
Part One

NOTES

What is Commitment?
That magic point in time when the conscious
decision is made to proceed A conscious decision means the subject is aware of what he is doing This point in time is called the commitment point Use the maintain criterion to create and capture awareness Unless a response has a maintain criterion it cannot be proofed Commitment points are generated and controlled by their consequences Commitment points are a result of operant conditioning

Lets Talk Theory and Clarify

Classical conditioning
Is a reflexive response Has no commitment point Follows the formula: Stimuli (=emotional state) = response Example: Blinking Blinking Your brain senses that your eyes are in need You blink to lubricate or protect them Blinking is automatic (reflexive) It does not require a conscious decision It doesnt have a commitment point It is a reflexive response as a result of a defensive emotional state It is not modifiable using reinforcement or punishment It cannot be proofed It can be affected only by changing the subjects emotional state The response changes from reflexive to non-reflexive THE THIRD WAY ~ Chris Bach ~ 2011 PROOFING for Reliability and Enthusiasm
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 Operant conditioning
Is a non-reflexive response Has a commitment point Follows the formula: Stimuli/antecedent/cue = response = consequences (= release) Example: Closing your eyes on cue (maintain) Closing your eyes on cue You are cued to close your eyes You consciously choose to close them on cue That decision moment is the commitment point You commit to keeping them closed until released These commitments are generated and controlled by their consequences This cued response can be modified by manipulating its consequences The response to this cue can be strengthened through proofing

NOTES

More about Commitment Point

One must give a dog the chance to commit before
taking action Automatic interference ruins commitment Its OK for a dog to be in conflict! Conflict presents a wonderful learning opportunity! Not immediately stopping an inappropriate response at commitment point ruins progress Once a commitment is made, TAKE ACTION: Reinforce what you want Stop what you dont want

Stopping
Stopping vs. correcting
Stopping is an unavoidable aversive We can never remove all aversives from training What can be done about this? Minimize the punishing affect Maximize the reinforcing affect Stopping is different than correcting Correcting is intended to tell the dog stop that and dont ever do it again! Because correcting is more severe than stopping it maximizes the punishing affect and minimizes the reinforcing affect

THE THIRD WAY ~ Chris Bach ~ 2011 PROOFING for Reliability and Enthusiasm
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NOTES
Stopping vs. Ignoring
Stopping is more effective than ignoring Stopping doesnt allow wrong responses to be reinforced Stopping prevents classical conditioning of undesirable emotional states Stopping gives the dog accurate information Stopping prevents the formation of bad habits Stopping maximizes the effectiveness of the teaching process Ignoring is not the same as waiting during conflict Ignoring means disregarding a commitment Waiting during conflict means waiting for then responding to a commitment point

Why Proof THE THIRD WAY?

It uses commitment points effectively It has proven to be very effective in assuring reliability
and enthusiasm

What is THE THIRD WAY?

A Way of thinking about dogs A Way of being with dogs A Way of teaching dogs skills

A way of thinking about dogs

Dogs are perfect at being dogs They are self serving Example: Doozi vs. Stunner Is Stunner more willing to please? Doozi can be taught to be as committed as Stunner through proofing Dogs do what it takes to feel safe and satisfied Dogs dont test, they experiment Dogs dont try to show whos boss, they do what works for them Dogs cannot have abstract verbal conversations Externally (with us) We cannot verbally explain what we want Dogs cannot learn the meaning of words Dogs can only learn what words or cues mean to them Proofing helps clarify the meaning of cues

THE THIRD WAY ~ Chris Bach ~ 2011 PROOFING for Reliability and Enthusiasm
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NOTES
We cannot explain how we want things done Dogs cannot understand abstract comparisons Dogs can learn what is safe/dangerous or what is satisfying/unpleasant Internally Dogs cant sit and ponder over things! Dogs cant plan for a better future Dogs cant ponder over changing things to make their life or your life better! Changing a dogs behavior will be strictly up to you! Proofing can greatly improve some behaviors Dogs cannot learn what NOT to do What not to do is not clear-cut without verbal explanation Dogs can only learn what to do Teaching is based on: Deciding exactly what you want your dog to do with his body Capturing and reinforcing that specific response Anticipating what could go wrong and using proper management to prevent or stop it Proofing will be based on the same Plan your Proofing program to clarify what you want your dog to do

A way of being with dogs

THE THIRD WAYS Touchstone:

Part Two

Be on the Dogs Program The three Touchstone questions: What is my dog doing? How am I affecting my dog? How is the environment affecting my dog? These are VERY important concerns when Proofing: Capture commitment points: Stop what you dont want Reinforce what you do want It doesnt matter what you are thinking, it only matters what the dog is thinking! You cannot put in more want. but you can take it out!

THE THIRD WAY ~ Chris Bach ~ 2011 PROOFING for Reliability and Enthusiasm
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NOTES
How am I affecting the dog?
Am I clear about whats available and when? Am I making this clear consistently? Am I clear and consistent about what I expect? Are my expectations too high? Is my posture intimidating or inhibiting my dog? Be aware of social pressure SMILING is the #1 way to minimize social pressure Proofing can also help to minimize the affects of social pressure Use Proofing to clarify availability and expectations How is the environment affecting my dog? Does my dog look intimidated by something other than me? Is my dog overly stimulated? Do I need to remove my dog or remove something in the environment? Can my dog function under these circumstances? Function = Can I engage a drive? Can my dog perform under these circumstances? Performance = Can the dog fixate on me, himself or the environment on cue A dog must be in Performance mode in order to be proofed Proofing maximizes your dogs ability to perform and minimizes the affects of the Environment

A way of teaching dogs skills

Uses Three Steps to Achieve Ultimate Performance
Step One: Teach Step Two: Proof Step Three: Rehearse Step One: Teaching THE THIRD WAY The three elements of teaching Get it on a voluntary basis Put it on cue Manage all possibilities Get it on a voluntary basis Avoid forcing a dog to do anything while teaching, proofing or rehearsing Get the dog to offer the behavior on his own Introduce the maintain criterion immediately Must have a maintain in order to Proof

THE THIRD WAY ~ Chris Bach ~ 2011 PROOFING for Reliability and Enthusiasm
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NOTES
Put it on cue
Know exactly what you want the dog to do with his body when you give a cue Must have consistent On switches Must have consistent Off switches Must have Off switch to have a maintain Must have a maintain in order to proof Must be able to proof to get reliability Manage all possibilities Remember that teaching is a guessing game! Your dog will guess wrong You will guess wrong Good management minimizes guessing Good management maximizes teaching effectiveness Step Two: Proofing THE THIRD WAY Teaching lets your dog ask you the question Is this what you want? Proofing lets you ask your dog the question Can you do it if this or that happens? When your dog has asked all his questions and you have asked yours it is time for Step Three Step Three: Rehearsing THE THIRD WAY When you are in rehearsal the behavior is habit The response is self-reinforcing Food (or other reinforcements) are unnecessary Management devices are unnecessary Dogs need: Continued rehearsing Confident handler Consistent cue system Questions (Proofing) to keep responses keen and clear

STEP TWO: Proofing

The Three Cs of Proofing
Clarifies the concept resulting in reliability and enthusiasm Increases the dog and trainers Confidence Intensifies Commitment Commitment = Performance Performance is all about commitment and recommitment Proofing teaches a dog how to commit and recommit 6

THE THIRD WAY ~ Chris Bach ~ 2011 PROOFING for Reliability and Enthusiasm
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 What the dog needs for successful proofing

Good on and off switches The ability to maintain a commitment Information via Reinforcement for intensified commitment To be comfortable with each challenge before the difficulty is increased, i.e. the response is a piece of cake! A wide variety of challenges

NOTES

A Wide Variety of Challenges

The Three Ds of Proofing
Distraction Distraction challenges are used to: Intensify commitment Prepare the dog for the unexpected

Part Three
Duration A trainer cannot teach duration by reinforcing duration Duration is an abstract concept Recommitment is a tangible concept Use proofing with distractions to teach recommitment and get long duration commitment Distance Introduce distance last A trainer cannot give a dog accurate information about his behavior from far away There are four types of distractions: #1 Static Used to intensify commitment Used to clarify the concept #2 After commitment point #3 At commitment point #4 Before commitment point Used to prepare the dog for the unexpected Remember that you cannot train out the startle reflex Used to practice recovery from a startle Used to practice recommitment

How to set up a Proofing Session

The Proofing Game
1. Have something your dog really wants Using Reinforcers to their best advantage Building and using secondary reinforcers

THE THIRD WAY ~ Chris Bach ~ 2011 PROOFING for Reliability and Enthusiasm
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Parts Four, Five & Six

2. Pick a response 3. Decide on the ultimate goal 4. Break this goal into achievable steps 5. Find the step where your dog is successful 6. Repeat this step until it is Piece of cake (Piece of cake is now rehearsed and not longer reinforced) 7. Increase the challenge difficulty step-by-step 8. When the goal is reached, decide on another goal or proof another response

NOTES

Lets Proof!
When working alone When working with a friend In a class situation

How to Set up a Proofing Class

The Working Triangle
The Team The trainer decides what skill to test The trainer decides what types of distractions to use and how The Tester Tests the dog according to the trainers directions The Observer/Holder/Helper Holds the testers dog if necessary Picks up food, toys, etc. as necessary Reminds the trainer to smile! Makes sure his team is not accidentally interfered with by another team Observes the dog being tested and offers suggestions The Double Line-Up The Team The trainer decides the skill to test The trainer directs what the challengers should/should not do The Testers Decide the skill they want to test their dog on Accommodates the working team trainers requests What to do What not to do

Proofing Ideas
When working alone When working with a friend In a class situation
THE THIRD WAY ~ Chris Bach ~ 2011 PROOFING for Reliability and Enthusiasm
Visit our website at www.trainthethirdway.com