Ep 4. Getting the Behavior: Prompting and Premack

Dog Training 101 season 1 episode 4 - "Getting the Behavior: Prompting and Premack" is an informative and practical show that provides insights and techniques on how to train your dog in effective ways. The episode explores the concepts of prompting and Premack and how they can help to get your dog to do the desired behavior.

Prompting is a training technique that involves using a specific cue to signal to your dog which behavior you want her to do. The show demonstrates how to use hand signals and verbal cues to prompt your dog to sit, stay, and follow other commands. The trainers emphasize the importance of consistency in using prompting techniques and demonstrate how to slowly add distractions while still giving the correct cues. They show how dogs can be trained to respond to their handlers in different environments and situations.

The second technique, Premack, is a motivational principle that helps to encourage good behavior in dogs. This technique relies on using a preferred activity as a reward for completing the desired behavior. The trainers demonstrate how to use Premack by encouraging a dog to sit before she is allowed to play or sniff around in the park. This technique can also be applied to other activities like eating and training, and the show provides insights into how to use the principle of Premack effectively.

Throughout the episode, the trainers demonstrate how to combine these two techniques to create effective training sessions. They show how to prompt the dog to do the desired behavior and then reward her with the preferred activity, using Premack. The trainers also discuss the importance of positive reinforcement in dog training and give tips on how to make training sessions fun and rewarding for your dog.

The show also provides a brief overview of clicker training, a popular dog training method that relies on using a clicker to provide positive reinforcement. Clicker training is a type of operant conditioning that reinforces good behavior by pairing the clicker sound with a treat, which can help to create lasting associations in the dog's mind. The trainers show how to use clicker training in combination with prompting and Premack to create a powerful training method.

In conclusion, "Getting the Behavior: Prompting and Premack" is an informative and practical episode that provides valuable insights into effective dog training techniques. The show covers the concepts of prompting and Premack and demonstrates how to use these techniques to create effective training sessions for your dog. The trainers emphasize the importance of positive reinforcement, consistency, and patience in dog training and show how a combination of different techniques can help to create lasting behavior changes in your furry friend. This episode of Dog Training 101 is a must-watch for any dog owner who wants to train their dog in a positive and effective way.