Positive reinforcers strengthen responses when they are presented. Negative reinforcers strengthen the behaviors that caused them to be removed.

Lee, not that I am trying to speak for Dennis, but this is what I believe he is trying to say.

In additional to the traditional concept of -R, i.e. correction for unwanted behavior, another form of -R is the withholding of a reward. In other words, dog gets command, fails to respond, dog does not get his reward (treat, toy, bite, etc.) When used in protection training for example, a dog is dirty in the blind, the dog is called out and no bite is given. the -R is the withholding of the reward/bite.

If I'm wrong, my apologies to all of you, it won't be the first time. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Originally posted by Dennis Hasley:
Positive reinforcers strengthen responses when they are presented. Negative reinforcers strengthen the behaviors that caused them to be removed. The individual's behavior removes something undesirable.

Example: I feel a ttouch a rose bush with my hand it procks me and I move my hand away....sorry for the confusion I sort of hurried though the sections before i went to bed and wanted them posted..again it pays to read through once and thanks Lee.

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

and it won't be the last. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Hey, it's been 15 years since my last psych class, hence the caveat. Thanks to both of you for clearing it up.

To answer your question Gretta.

I have had an on again and off again love for this sport and the people involved in it. I am a trainer of many dogs including police k9, hunting, obedience and behavior problems. I am often referred to when the never say no operant methodologist clubs from around the state didn’t quite meet training expectations by veterinarians and others. My focus is once again turning to Police K9 training fulltime while continuing to invest in new business ventures that are dog related.

It is very dangerous to think because you have one or two dogs trained or you participate in one sport you have some exclusive to the ability to train others while others do not. Many trainers are not diversified and as such, having maybe trained only one or two dogs to any level of competent ability give little credibility overall but everyone needs to have a beginning.

But to indulge this subject so I don’t need to return to it I will place before you a few facts as a professional and rest this subject about qualification and conjecture knowing the fickleness of dog folks in general.

I work with many dogs and people through the year. I look at and handle many litters per month evaluating the general health and mentality of the puppies. Many small breeders appreciate my knowledge and ability to assess the right home for a particular puppy based on an ever-increasing demand for this service.

Beyond my behavior services, this has been built completely by word of mouth. I am working every day with dogs and doing what I love. I admit I had little care about Schutzhund mostly because of the politics that seem dredged with it. When I was younger, I resented people who touted expertise yet had only worked and trained one or two dogs in their life.

Today, I sort of take a mind over matter position...I don't mind and they don't matter...at least as far as it effects my life and efforts to continue to do my best in training as i can.

Can i train shutzhund?

Having worked with several marginal K9s and handlers who could not pass certification that later went on to not only qualify but also meet the qualification for the nationals. Understand, not just one of them qualified but all of them in the group perhaps says something. Then again maybe not…

Being able to find and train my last team to take 2nds in team and 3rd place overall in their first K9 trials ever perhaps also says something again maybe not.

Training an assistant who later is able to win his regional and know a respected trainer himself perhaps says something again maybe not.

Knowing my largest competitor (a state ran national certification and training center) whose head trainer’s dog had his start with my training…well there you have it.
Currently I am building relations in Russia and Belarus and a few other Eastern Europe countries trying to initiate cooperative exchanges of training and ideas as well as establishing some of their bloodlines here.

Maybe I am qualified to do schutzhund training too. At least I hope so because I just bought 9 week GS puppy named ILTZA to do just that.

If others don't think so: I don't mind...
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

There is no way on God's green earth that I would join a club that didn't have a TD with at least two or three SchH IIIs under his/her belt and some National experience.

Sammy wrote: "I have a question ~ something I have never *really* understood.... why only the traditional breeds??"

That should be simple, because they are the best dogs for the work.

The strange thing about that statement is how many people have actually HOT 2-3 puppies to s Schutzhund III and their dogs turnout to be great dogs? I will remind you that buying a trained dog and playing around with him is quite a bit different then training one from the start.

Have you?

Ivan was the only HOT in the top ten I think.

I wish someone were in the State of Iowa who could make a claim of two or three from the beginning to end and present a dog that looked as great as its title. The fact is I look at Schutzhund as a basic dog for K9 because I expect the K9s to do at least II level work and be able to sniff narcs and go into dark building and be able to handle flash bangs going off and so on.

I respect Schutzhund people because I think the sport is a noble one. I would like to promote the breed and so on. I respect VC’s opinion not to join and I think he has valid concerns. Still people can flap all they want about greatness because of some Yoo-hoo von Likenhund (breed lines) or about personal BS reasons centered in their own pride.

The fact remains for this club: My commitment. I won’t claim to be the best I will however give my best. I think in time we will find that is good enough.

At any rate, I still welcome people wanting to train and am committed to taking their dog off the field better then when they brought them on it.