Drinking From the Toilet: Real dogs, Real training
A behind-the-scenes look into the reality of dog training, behavior, teaching, and learning. We love our dogs, we love our jobs, but sometimes it's not all unicorns and rainbows. Sometimes at the end of the day, you just need a drink and friend who gets it. We'll keep it fun, and keep it real.
The Mechanics Trilogy, Pt 1: Mechanics Aren't Just for Beginners
Hannah had more to say about training mechanics than her Control Unleashed conference presentation had room for, so this episode kicks off a trilogy about mechanics. She makes the case that mechanics are not a beginner prerequisite you check off in puppy class orientation, and that paying attention to them does not make your training cold or robotic. Along the way: why the mechanics of writing are a better analogy than the mechanics of machinery, how the whole sequence from just before your marker through the reset carries information your dog is actively using, and why trying harder has...
Protected Contact Isn't Just Management.
Protected contact gets filed under zoo training, the thing you do when your learner can eat you. Hannah used to think that way too, right up until she noticed she'd been quietly using barriers with dogs and horses for years and getting far more out of them than safety. In this solo episode she makes the case that a fence, an ex pen, or a PVC pole on the ground is a training accelerator, not a consolation prize, and walks through how to fade one down to almost nothing while keeping every benefit.
Key Takeaways:
The Matching Law: What It Is, What It Isn't, and Why It Matters | Hannah Branigan
Hannah follows up last episode's hot take on training speed with a deeper dive into the matching law, the behavioral principle that describes how learners allocate behavior in proportion to reinforcement schedules. She covers the original pigeon experiments, what decades of follow-up research have complicated, and how understanding this equation (without actually doing the math) can make you a more thoughtful and effective trainer in real life.
Key Takeaways:
The matching law describes behavior as proportional to reinforcement, but real life is messier than the original equation suggests: Variables like reinforcer quality, difficulty of t...
Is Positive Reinforcement Actually Slower? (A Hot Take, Revisited) | Hannah Branigan
Can you use a leash and still be force free? | Hannah Branigan
Somewhere on the internet, someone is arguing that using a leash means you aren't really a force-free trainer. In this solo episode, Hannah unpacks the difference between impact and intent, explains why force-free training is a set of values rather than a guarantee of perfection, and gets into the mechanics of how a leash can function as a neutral tactile cue trained entirely through positive reinforcement. If you've ever felt defensive when someone questions your training tools, this one gives you a more grounded way to think it through.
Key Takeaways:
Force-free training is an...
Training Faster Behaviors Without Frustration, Part 2 | Hannah Branigan
In this episode, we explore strategies to achieve faster and more precise behaviors in dog training. I discuss how clarity, timing, and reinforcement techniques can improve your dog's response times, reduce hesitation, and build confidence. Tune in for practical tips to keep your training sessions clean and effective.
Key Points:
- Clear communication prevents slow or hesitant behaviors in dogs.
- Reinforcement clarity is crucial, even when using a high rate of rewards.
- Capturing and reinforcing the initial signs of a behavior leads to quicker responses.
- Consistent timing with marker...
Training Faster Behaviors Without Frustration, Part 1 | Hannah Branigan
In this episode we discuss:
Speed vs. Latency: Speed is how fast a behavior is completed from the time it starts. Latency is the response time, or the time elapsed between when the cue is perceived and when the behavior starts. Motivation: While motivation is essential, it is just one piece of the puzzle. Overemphasizing motivation can lead to frustration, which might not always yield the desired outcomes. Natural Behavior Efficiency: Given a stable training environment, behaviors naturally trend towards faster, more efficient performance over time. Training Environment: The importance of considering training conditions (e.g., environment, timing...Avoiding Triggers and Situations | Hannah Branigan
In this episode, we discuss the practice of avoiding situations as part (or all) of a training plan. Often avoiding certain situations can be an important strategy, helping to prevent mistakes and reduce stress for both the dog and the handler. But it's usually not a long-term solution by itself and misconceptions about avoidance can result in teams getting stuck and unable to make progress.
We also discuss:
- Definition and role of avoidance in dog training.
- Common client misunderstandings about avoidance.
- Benefits of avoidance: preventing mistakes, reducing stress, and allowing time...
What's Wrong with "Drilling"? | Hannah Branigan
In this episode we dig into the concept of drilling, and how it applies in dog training. It's pretty common for most of us to have an emotional response just to the term itself - for good reason! But is there any baby in this bathwater?
Drilling is significant for skill acquisition in various contexts beyond dog training, our emotional responses to drilling are shaped by personal experiences and the nature of the activity, a good drill should isolate core components of skills for focused practice and efficiency, coercive drilling methods that ignore the learner's needs lead...
#183: Demand Barking, Part 3, with Kiki Yablon
In this episode, we discuss the history behind Kiki's master's thesis project, Signaled Differential Reinforcement of Other Behavior to Address Excessive Vocalization in Dogs, what gave her the idea - the case of the dog barking when guests are over, how training stay on a mat actually seems to have caused the problem, the new strategy - signalling that food will not be available when towel was hung up ("if this van's a rocking"), a discussion of DRO w/o extinction, and does this strategy apply to other behaviors like demand whining?
For full show notes and...
#182: Demand Barking, Part 2
In this episode, we discuss using concepts around stimulus control to stop demand barking before it stops, how cues create expectations of what reinforcement is available, using naturally occurring events that are already built into your routine to signal when reinforcement is available and when it is not, overly-simplified reminders of including good dog household management, which you already know, but sometimes it's good to hear it again, teaching the stand up-sit down game, and principles to apply these strategies in your own home.
For full show notes and transcript, visit: www.hannahbranigan.dog/podcast/182
This p...
#181: Demand Barking, Part 1
In this episode, we are talking about Demand Barking. This is a three-part series, at least for now. For the first two episodes, I'll be sharing my thoughts and what I've learned about working with dogs that "demand" bark. And then for the 3rd episode, we'll talk to a guest on the subject!
In this episode, we discuss how barking isn't just one behavior, it's actually a lot of different behaviors that we lump into one category, in order to figure out what to do about problematic barking, we need to know what the function of that...
#180: Building Food Drive and Nuanced Reinforcement with Ashlee Osborn
In this episode we discuss the importance of getting really, really good at working with reinforcement, how the topic of reinforcement and using it in training is FAR more nuanced than most trainers recognize, food is probably the most convenient reinforcement but it does require specific conditioning and strategies to use effectively in training, Ashlee's game, Clockwork - a fancy application of treat tossing that specifies where and when to toss for clients, and building motivation for food even when dogs are really just not into it.
For full show notes, visit: www.hannahbranigan.dog/podcast/180
T...
#179: More Strategies to Reduce Errors
In the last episode, we talked about what errorless learning really means. And I shared a few strategies that might make it easier to apply in your training.
Of course, the major benefit to using errorless learning concepts in your training is the outcome of behaviors with a cleaner learning history and less emotional baggage.
Of course, we don't want attempts to avoid errors to mean we also avoid making progress. We still want to get where we're going, just with fewer wrong turns.
In this episode we discuss behavioral momentum, using behavioral...
#178: How to Apply Errorless Learning Principles in Practical Training Sessions
In his 1968 book, The Technology of Teaching, B.F. Skinner wrote:
Errors are not a function of learning or vice-versa nor are they blamed on the learner. Errors are a function of poor analysis of behavior, a poorly designed shaping program, moving too fast from step to step in the program and the lack of the prerequisite behavior necessary for success in the program. - BF Skinner
And that sounds great. It also sounds like a lot of pressure on the dog trainer. Never fear! In this episode, we discuss what errorless learning actually means...
#177: Dr. Clive Wynne Says Some Controversial Things About Dominance
In this episode, we discuss what is the ethological definition of dominance?, how does dominance show up in behavior?, how might dominance be relevant in dog training?, differences in dog-dog vs dog-human relationships, and does dominance require aggression or punishment?
For full show notes, visit: www.hannahbranigan.dog/podcast/177
This podcast is supported by Patreon: www.patreon.com/DFTT
#176: Taking Short Cuts with Stimulus-Stimulus Pairing with Kiki Yablon
In this episode, we discuss what is stimulus-stimulus pairing and how it works?, what is a "classically conditioned recall" and why might we consider calling it something different, revisiting the differences and interplay between operant and classical conditioning, the difference between describing a procedure and describing a process, and lots and lots of examples of how to apply this concept in different training applications.
For full show notes, visit: www.hannahbranigan.dog/podcast/176
This podcast is supported by Patreon: www.patreon.com/DFTT
#175: Over the Top - High Arousal in Dogs
In this episode, we discuss what is arousal?, how does arousal show up in our training?, how does arousal affect both people and dogs?, how arousal affects reinforcers, and "eating as behavior" and how to build functional food drive with a dog that won't eat.
For full show notes and transcript, visit: www.hannahbranigan.dog/podcast/175
This podcast is supported by Control Unleashed Over the Top Workshop for High Arousal Dogs: www.cleanrun.com
#174: Families with Dogs and Kids with Jennifer Shryock
In this episode, we discuss the most important thing for dog professionals to know about working with families, the importance of understanding developmental milestones, working with and setting expectations, finding ways for children to safely participate in training, and the importance of providing support to families and especially mothers.
For full show notes and transcript, visit: www.hannahbranigan.dog/podcast/174
This podcast is supported by Zero to CD: hannahbranigan.dog/z2cd/
#173: Dealing with Problem Behaviors - Using Alternate Behaviors
In this episode, we discuss that the first step to dealing with a problem behavior is to identify the function, figuring out a plan to control access if possible and practical, if that reinforcer is not practical to work with, identifying a substitute reinforcer that is as close as possible to the original, choosing your alternate behavior, strategies if you are teaching the alternate behavior from scratch, deciding if you'll be using differential reinforcement, and if you are not planning to use differential reinforcement, planning to setup the environment for (mostly) errorless learning.
For full show notes...
#172: How to Tell That Your Classical Conditioning Plan is Working
When we pair two stimuli together as part of a classical conditioning training plan, it can sometimes be hard to determine when the association has been made between the old stimulus and the new stimulus… the "food" and the "bell", to draw from a popular example. In this episode, I answer a question submitted by a patron with some ideas on what to look for to determine if that association is strong enough and it's time to proceed to the next step.
In this episode, we discuss quick review of conditioned emotional response, what happens when you pa...
#171: Maintenance Mode
In this episode, we discuss, when you might outsource maintenance to the environment?, functional difference between intrinsic and extrinsic reinforcers in maintaining behaviors, how easy it is for behaviors to start slipping before we notice, one way to avoid or minimize that slippage is to design a rotation, start by grabbing some behaviors or exercises that matter to you, then give yourself a time frame to rotate through those behaviors (I usually use a 2 week block), and starting with your item at the top of the rotation for today (do a test run for the purposes of seeing where...
#170: How To Avoid Too Much Drilling
In this episode, we discuss tradeoffs when using systematic "drills" to isolate specific aspects of an exercise, drills help us isolate specific aspects of an exercise and give us the advantage of Deliberate Practice for expertise, what is meant by "fun"?, play and fun often introduce more variability as well as a dialogue, strategies to protect myself from myself, using "play sandwiches" to break up a session, training overlapping skills in the same session, and using "different-but-not-harder" creatively for novelty and flexibility.
For full show notes and transcript, visit: www.hannahbranigan.dog/podcast/170
This podcast is s...
#169: Advocating For Your Dog with Erin Moore
In this episode, we discuss what inspired Erin's Tiktok, what advocating for our dogs even means, why does it matter?, what gets in the way?, how does trauma affect our ability to advocate?, what societal factors may be in play?, and how can we support ourselves and each other?
For full show notes and transcript, visit: www.hannahbranigan.dog/podcast/169
This podcast is supported by Karen Pryor Clicker Training's Brand-New On Cue! Training Treats: clickertraining.com/treats
#168: Things That Are Saving My Life Right Now
In this episode, we discuss why everything is hard (just kidding, no answers here. Why IS everything so hard?); behaviors, routines, and material acquisitions that are helping take the edge off; behaviors that reduce my daily annoyance level and make it easier to enjoy my dogs (stationing/crating from a distance, putting their own collars on, picking up my ear buds when they fall, especially under furniture, Cavaletti, front and back paw targets); routines (nail trimmers on same hook as leashes, feeding out of slow feeders, Zoom training meetups); and material acquisitions (dry erase sleeves, pony jet, Bissel machine...
#167: What is Ethics About and Why Should We Care?
In this episode, we discuss what are "ethics" and why should we care?, can we answer the question "am I a good person?, how can we measure welfare?, the five freedoms/five domains of welfare, every animal has right to freedom from, hunger, thirst, discomfort/injury, and to express normal behavior, guidelines for beneficence: even if some good comes, can't outweigh the harm done to the group that were subjects.
"Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one." - Marcus Aurelius
For full show notes and transcript, visit: www.hannahbranigan.d...
#166: Why is Shaping So Hard?, Pt. 2
In this episode, we discuss why we often consider shaping to be an advanced technique, why I think it doesn't have to/shouldn't be that way, why I think how many of us first learned about shaping is contributing to the problem, how the expectations we have around shaping (based on how we were taught) might be getting in the way of doing good training, the two expectations that can get in the way: that shaping is linear and that it should be spontaneous, changing how we think about shaping to consider the whole ABC contingency can allow us...
#165: Why is Shaping So Hard?, Pt. 1
In this episode, we discuss why we often consider shaping to be an advanced technique, why I think it doesn't have to/shouldn't be that way, why I think how many of us first learned about shaping is contributing to the problem, how the expectations we have around shaping (based on how we were taught) might be getting in the way of doing good training, the two expectations that can get in the way: that shaping is linear and that it should be spontaneous, changing how we think about shaping to consider the whole ABC contingency can allow us...
#164: Play & Aggression with Karen London
In this episode, we discuss what could aggression possibly have to do with play?, the importance of engaging in play for behavioral wellness, what do we mean when we are talking about play in this context?, and how Karen incorporates play into her protocols when working with aggressive behavior.
For full show notes, visit: www.hannahbranigan.dog/podcast/164
This podcast is supported by Voilà! Pets: www.voilapets.com/?ref=DFTT
Because DFTT listeners have loved Voilà! Pets treat pouch so much, many color and sizes are sold out! If you're interested in trying my favo...
#163: Is It Really R+ or Could It Actually Be R- (With a Cherry on Top)?
In this episode, we discuss, can we use a tactile cue like leash pressure to train in an R+ framework or is it still just R- that we put a treat on top of to make us feel better?, putting food in the picture doesn't necessarily make it positive reinforcement, so how can we tell what contingencies are really in play?, review what we mean by positive and negative reinforcement, an example of a situation that I thought I was training with R+ but now I'm realizing it's really R-, despite my best intentions, questions I can ask myself...
#162: Working with Compulsive Behaviors Pt 2, with Dr. Michaela Hempen
In this episode, we discuss a question from one of my favorite listeners about a stereotypic/compulsive tail chasing behavior in her dog, brainstorming steps one might take when unpacking a stereotypic (I'm practicing my language!) behavior problem, taking a baseline to help with staying objective about the training, identifying and testing possible variables that might be part of the antecedent, considerations when selecting a goal or replacement behavior, and layering in relevant pieces of the antecedent or trigger while maintaining a clean loop. We also get a little bit deep pondering on how much power really have to...
#161: Working with Compulsive Behaviors Pt 1, with Dr. Michaela Hempen
In this episode, we discuss what are compulsive behaviors?, using the language of stereotypy vs compulsive to describe this category of behaviors, cribbing behavior in horses and the effects on welfare, and a case study of Blondie, including getting a baseline, changing the environment for training sessions, introducing new behaviors to expand her repertoire, the plan to integrate training into life, and where Blondie is now and the state of her cribbing behavior.
For full show notes, visit: www.hannahbranigan.dog/podcast/161
This podcast is supported by Voilà! Pets: www.voilapets.com/?ref=DFTT
Bec...
#160: Spring Clean up for Dog Trainers, Pt 3: The Things We Overlook
This week we are finishing up our Spring Cleaning series... you've already organized all your resources you've collected over the weekend, you've worked out a new better system for your planning and record keeping and this time you've got the magic one that will actually work.
Now let's get to the training itself! Wouldn't it be cool if you kept your training clean all the time? Then there would be nothing to do here!
What are the things you put off? The built up dirt and grime that's been hidden or not so hidden?
<...#159: Mentorship with John Anthony Shahor
In this episode, we discuss what does mentorship mean?, what makes a good mentor?, what makes a good mentee?, how can you get the most out of a mentorship relationship?, and what is the most important thing to focus on to be a better mentor?
For full show notes, visit: www.hannahbranigan.dog/podcast/159
This podcast is supported by Voilà! Pets: www.voilapets.com/?ref=DFTT
For 10% off of your Voilà! Pets order, visit the link above or visit the Voilà! Pets website and use code DFTT.
#158: Spring Clean up for Dog Trainers, Pt 2: Planning and Record Keeping
In this episode, we discuss getting a fresh start with your planning and record keeping, what gets in the way of being your best self, where to start when nothing is working for you, looking at switching systems a little differently - regularly switching systems IS a system!, identifying what is important to you in a record keeping system and what likely obstacles will get in your way, start with a little back-chaining by recording what you are already doing, add a simple planning matrix - which days you'll train which categories, and that plans are flexible, and so...
#157: Rescuing RiffRaff, Pt 2: Placing a Dog With a Bite History with Gaby Boijsen
What kind of people adopt a dog with a bite history? This episode is the second in a 2-part special series following the journey of RiffRaff, a rescue dog with some seriously problematic behavior.
In this episode, we discuss what was Gaby even thinking when she was working with this dog?, did she ever think about just giving up?, what kind of people would adopt a dog that bites?, and how did she arrange the transition to RiffRaff's new home?
For full show notes, visit: www.hannahbranigan.dog/podcast/157
This podcast is supported by V...
#156: Rescuing RiffRaff, Pt 1: Fostering a Dog With Aggression with Gaby Boijsen
This episode is the first in a 2-part special series following the journey of RiffRaff, a rescue dog with a tendency toward violence. This sounds like a common story, but I assure you... RiffRaff's story does not end the way you think. No spoilers though! In this episode, we discuss what we know about RiffRaff's history and how he ended up with Gaby, identifying the triggers of RiffRaff's aggressive behavior, exploring possible causes of his behavior, how did Gaby decide to work with him, early steps of his training, teaching him to wear a muzzle, and getting creative with protected...
#155: Spring Clean up for Dog Trainers, Pt 1: Organizing and Applying Your Hoard of Resources
This week we are starting a "spring cleaning" of sorts for our training with a decluttering and organizing theme, but I'm not going to talk about how to store all your platforms and treat pouches. It has come to my attention that the biggest pile in my dog training life that is desperate for some attention is made more of information rather than equipment. I'm talking about all the information that we have hoarded, particularly over the last year - training books, classes, webinars, conferences, and even podcasts like this one!
Sorting it out and hopefully even...
#154: Training Bloopers with Karen London
In this episode, we discuss some of our truly epic training bloopers, why Karen encourages us to think of them as "bloopers" instead of failures, the importance of normalizing bloopers and sharing them, thoughts on how to recover after an "incident, " and being kind to yourself.
For full show notes, visit: hannahbranigan.dog/podcast/154/
This podcast is supported by Patreon: www.patreon.com/DFTT
#153: Tips for Raising Criteria Without Breaking Everything
In this episode, we discuss the power of starting your session conservatively, how being in a position to increase your criteria rapidly is better than being greedy and being forced to lower it, the importance of avoiding getting stuck on a plateau, how to save yourself if you've already done it, implementing an easy/hard/easy pattern in your session, using a reinforcement strategy that continues the path of the entire loop, and increasing criteria between the click and the treat before increasing it between the cue and the click.
For full show notes, visit: www.hannahbranigan.d...
