He did pass his CGC but for therapy dog testing he will have to go through their test and I am pretty sure they have the separation test again. Its similar to the CD test. I might call the humane society that is a good idea. I just know one time I walked him down to Safeway and went inside to shop leaving him tied up outside, next thing I know he was in the store looking for me, with a big smile.

Beth, please check your private messages.

Alberto,I don't think you made the distinction very clear between a motivator and a bribe?

What exactly do you think is the difference?

I personally dislike using the term "bribe" at all when discussing dog training.

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Alberto,
In your posts, you seem much more interested in the meaning of words instead of dog training. Your posts read like you're pulling short passages out of a beginners dog training book. If you want to argue semantics, you're in the wrong place. We train dogs here.

Mimi,
As far as the website for Kevin Salim, take a look at his bio : http://www.dogsecrets.com/articles/a_28.html.

Kevin has no problem telling people that he
" is considered to have one of the brightest minds in the world of dog training. He does it all. He is a dog trainer, behavior consultant, lecturer, writer, columnist, musician, martial artist and conducts seminars all over the country, on dog training, dog behavior, as well as educating and helping other inspired trainers nationwide."

*IN THE WORLD*? Funny....I've never heard of him. :rolleyes:

Hmmm.....odd, what Kevin *doesn't* list in his bio is actual accomplishments. Like titles in *any* dog sports - nope, none listed.
His seminars? The ones that he holds "all over the country"? I've never seen them listed in any dog sport or obedience magazine. Ever.

His columns? Despite him being " considered to have one of the brightest minds in the world of dog training" , I've never seen anything that he's ever written.

His site is a slick ad to sell people a dog training package. He's a low level pet trainer with an severly inflated sense of achievement.
Let the buyer beware.

As I am not a professional dog trainer (one who trains dogs for money), I will speak as an amateur. (one who does it as a pastime.) What you construe as a bribe, is actually the motivater to teach the dog.

Taken from Oxfords:
Bribe:a gift offered to influence a person to act in favor of the giver, persuade by this.

Motivate: a persons reason for doing something.

You can use whatever motivator you want: food, toy, praise, pets, to help your dog Learn what you want from him. When I wish to teach a new command, I like to use food. Positive motivation! While this works for my dogs,individuality of dogs have to be considered.

What is considered the dog's desire to please has to have roots in something, whether it is food, toy or praise.

The dog also learns that in order to get the 'bribe', he is doing it for you, remember, the reward is coming from you, so all focus is on you. (yes I also do the spit out of the mouth thing.) These excercises are the very basic beginnings, you just don't stop there. Once your dog learns the commands, you move to proofing stages and use secondary motivators, such as praise.

Perhaps that is where the confusion is coming from. The difference between teaching and learning and the dogs' willingness to work for you once he's been taught. It all boils down to the relationship you've cultivated with your dog. Developing the bond is another topic.