Active and Passive Training

I love teaching these two training methods to my clients:

Active Training involves teaching our dogs specific cues, such as "sit," "down," or "touch," and having them perform these actions on command. We can use luring or gentle pressure (applying light pressure to their bottom until they sit) to help them learn.

Passive Training, as I call it, focuses on reinforcing your dog's choices. For instance, when your dog chooses to sit, look at you, come back, or drop something, we acknowledge and reward these actions. This is done through catching and shaping. "Catching" means we mark their choice with a marker word like "Yes" or a clicker and then reward them, a process known as positive reinforcement. "Shaping" involves marking and rewarding behaviours that gradually lead up to the desired one, such as marking and rewarding your dog for progressively engaging with their bed until they learn to lie in it.

Passive training offers several benefits: it helps you recognise and reinforce desired behaviours, allows you to train at your dog's pace, and teaches your dog that their choices are valued. This approach builds confidence and strengthens your relationship.

If you think your dog could benefit from these training methods, get in touch!