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This candy is not for eating!

    This entry is part 1 of 3 in the series This Candy Is Not For Eating
    Candy at a souq in Damascus, Syria.
    (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

    A thoughtful person gave my friend Melissa a package of candy for her daughter Emma, and Melissa kept them for Sunday morning.  Emma is just 3, and sometimes the morning church service gets a bit long, so Emma enjoys earning (silent) reinforcement with games during the sermon.  She might repeat a key phrase the pastor used, cite a sermon point, or remain sitting quietly rather than kicking in the pew — her target behaviors vary according to her juvenile abilities and the need of the moment.

    Bitework doesn’t reduce bite inhibition — how annoying!

      Have you ever tried to train against a taboo?

      There are some who oppose all forms of trained protection sport and protection work, citing variously that the training is inherently abusive (it’s not), or that the dogs dislike it (obviously untrue!).  Occasionally a protester will suggest that biting a person in a sleeve or suit must of course reduce a dog’s bite inhibition, making it more likely that the dog will mouth or bite a person not in protective gear.

      I’ve argued logically against this before, but now I have empirical proof — I can’t even pay my dogs to bite!

      Doberman Shakespeare clicker training book

      Clever Dog?

        Doberman Shakespeare clicker training book
        the honorable Shakespeare To Go

        So tonight I sent Shakespeare to fetch a dinner bucket, as I often do.  We feed the dogs in steel pails.  Both Shakespeare and Laev will retrieve buckets when asked; Inky will happily carry her bucket full of food to a more private dining area, but she as yet has no idea that it can also travel empty.  That’s Inky….