The Polyvagal Theory Applied to Dog Training

The Polyvagal Theory, developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, is originally a psychological and physiological theory that explains how mammals, including humans and dogs, respond to…

Behavioral Contrast

Behavioral contrast is a concept from behavioral psychology that can be observed in dog training. It refers to the phenomenon where the rate of a…

Herrnstein’s Matching Law

Herrnstein’s Matching Law is a behavioral psychology principle, particularly within operant conditioning, which is also applicable to dog training. Initially formulated by Richard J. Herrnstein…

Premack Principal

The Premack Principle is a valuable concept in dog training, often referred to as “Grandma’s Rule.” It was developed by psychologist David Premack and suggests…

Tertiary Reinforcer

A tertiary reinforcer is a type of conditioned reinforcement used in training that has become rewarding to a dog through its association with a secondary…

Active vs Passive Submission

Active and passive submission are behaviors that dogs exhibit to communicate their social relationships, particularly their acknowledgment of another’s dominance or authority. Here’s how they…

Bob Bailey

Bob Bailey is a highly respected animal trainer known for his work in the field of operant conditioning. His contributions to animal training, especially in…

Introduction to Grooming

Objectives Why understand basic grooming? Why do dogs have problems with grooming, even with reasonably skilled groomers? Grooming Tools to Know: If you have client…