I have been reviewing the free content at this point, as until I have at least the basics down, more advanced content would be nice but maybe not a huge advantage? Also been reading a blog of another awesome motivational trainer who has some nice videos as well

You know that marker and motivational are not quite synonymous, right?

"Motivational" is a huge (and fairly vague) term, usually meaning positive-reward-based but not necessarily implying markers, and often completely excluding corrections.

"Marker" is very specific.


It's great to pick and choose from many sources, but for me, it's crucial that I get the actual basics of each one down pat before mixing up protocols in training. JMO!

 Quote: Kristin Muntz

I have been reviewing the free content at this point, as until I have at least the basics down .... )

Is this where you are reading about good as an Intermediate Bridge?

http://leerburg.com/markers.htm

#3 QUOTE:
GOOD is a word that means "I like what you are doing and I want you to continue to do what you are doing."

In other words GOOD is the word we use to add duration to a command. A perfect example would be to use GOOD when we are teaching the dog to STAY DOWN. When we teach duration for the down we would not mark the dog when he went down with a YES because the mark is the release. If we marked the down that would mean we just gave the dog permission to get up and get his reward.

So new trainers need to understand that GOOD is not a release command. When we say GOOD the dog needs to understand that if he continues to do exactly what he was doing when we said GOOD he will get a reward at some point in the future.

Unlike training the mark, when we first start training duration we can say GOOD a number of times in a row. We can say GOOD GOOD GOOD as many times as we need to get the dog to continue to do what he is doing. END QUOTE

That last paragraph is very important. Took me a while to find it in print. (I know right where to get to it on the DVDs.) That is, "good" as an intermediate bridge isn't a word, uttered alone and distinctly and separately, like the terminal bridge of "yes" (if that's your marker).

Have you seen anyone in any video using an intermediate bridge? If not, I want to find one for you. The way you described trying to get in the "good" word before he flopped made me think it might not be the repeated syllable that I use.


This would be another reason to hold off on introducing duration with an IB for a bit .... to get the use of it down pat.


Either way, I still think you're right, that you've gotten a little ahead of yourself in introducing duration.

JMO!

Good thread, BTW.

Good thread, by the way.

I'm going to slap you.

Corners, everyone!
Michael Ellis Philsophy on Dog Training - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xe0-oqqoXvw

I actually use the youtube links as I can stream the lectures on my phone through speakers while I drive home at lunchtime

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6V_SUh-PCFI - Rush, Cindy and Ellis on Positionals

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFln5ighLqU - an outtake from the power of training with food

Those are from this morning's watching.

And I was listening to something on avoidance training on the way home, which was from the remote collar seminar. (ETA: nope, not even thinking about the remote collar - only interested in it as it pertains to understanding how dogs are trained to leash pressure)

I have watched a number of examples of marker training being done properly, and improperly. My timing is not what it should be, but I'm working on it - the last month has been bad overall for training for personal reasons, I kept things very very simple - strictly obedience, 'housework' and some leash manners. As those reasons are clearing up, I'm getting back into things - I see your point in keeping training focused on a single philosophy/set of techniques to ensure you understand and execute properly before expanding repertoire. I think I will back off of the bridge to extend positions for now, as suggested, and try to ensure I'm happy with the positions that we have - just realized when I said 'mark it good' I did not mean that I SAY good, that would be me saying "yes" at that point. I have been trying to leave good out of the training lexicon. That's hard when you speak english and your dog is making you happy. Maybe I need another bridge

"just realized when I said 'mark it good' I did not mean that I SAY good, that would be me saying "yes" at that point. "



OHHHHHHHHHH.

Then he's holding it just for a second? Or do you mean you WERE trying to introduce a little duration by not marking immediately?

" I think I will back off of the bridge to extend positions for now, as suggested, and try to ensure I'm happy with the positions that we have"


Very good idea; you don't want to add duration to anything you don't love as is, and that's reliable as is.

WOW! This is a really good thread!