Conditioned punishers...

[jocomoreno]

When and how would you introduce a "conditioned punisher" in the 3 phases of training obedience?

[Mike D'Abruzzo]

The conditioned punisher in phase 3 should be the same as taught in phase 1 on the "climb". That will be the "no". If dealing with "heel" the dog would have learned the conditioned punisher in phase 2 which would be the body language warning before the correction.

If you mean when do you start using the "conditioned punisher" in phase 3, that would be after the dog seems to understand the "escape conditioning" phases in phase 3. We label these "transitional" exercises in phase 2 and 3 because we originally used layman's terms, but will be using the more scientific terms in the new videos we will put out - since I am working on a version 2.0.

So for instance, suppose you are teaching the dog a down stay with the e-collar. You would have the dog already in the down and as soon as the dog starts to get up you would pulse the nick THEN help with the leash. When the dog seems to understand what to do before he needs help, you can start the "avoidance conditioning phase" or as we have it now in layman's terms the "complete" downs. Here you would start using the conditioned punisher again "no" before the correction.

The transitional (escape conditioning) phase is a necessary evil where you NEED the dog to mess up so you can teach what to do to rid themselves of the correction. These phases should be made as stress free as possible for the dog - that's why you start them in the position so it is easier to help them back in.

On a side note, we will eventually add these phases on the site for the phase 3 climb and place. The dogs should in phase 3 be on the climb or place and then automatically corrected and helped with the ecollar until they understand this before starting an avoidance phase with the "no".

If this didn't answer your question, please let me know.

[jocomoreno]

Crystal clear. Thank you sir