In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw discusses: Classical versus operant conditioning. Recognizing and understanding the emotional states of your dog. How your emotions and confidence affect the emotional state of your dog. Understanding the classical effects of your operant conditioning. The magic in the emotions. Key Takeaways: Most dog training starts with operant work then folds in classical conditioning. When training with a dog, you are not working in laboratory conditions. There are other asso...
Jun 16, 2022•1 hr 24 min•Ep 110•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw and Pat Stuart discuss: Utilizing e-collars for more than just negative reinforcement. Understanding what low-level actually means with the e-collar. Creating learning phases and utilizing more than one tool in your training tool kit. Negative reinforcement and positive punishment. Activation in e-collar training. Key Takeaways: The level of e-collar stim needs to be at a level where it doesn’t derail the dog from what he was going to do anyway. Duration matters w...
Apr 22, 2022•2 hr 35 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw and Dr. Jessalyn Klein discuss: Working with people with different personality types and different opinions. Successfully dealing with a know-it-all, a boundary pusher, and others. Setting expectations from the beginning. Giving necessary education and managing magical thinking. Using the DEAR MAN trick for dealing with people. Key Takeaways: As the trainer, be willing to throw the trainee a bone, but give them the big picture and show them how what they are sayin...
Apr 07, 2022•1 hr 28 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw discusses: Multiple markers for different reward types. The purpose of markers and when a marker may or may not be necessary. Types of markers and what they indicate to your dog (even if you didn’t intend for that behavior). Reward prediction error and reward preferences. Key Takeaways: With more rehearsal, the neurons that release dopamine activate on the expectation of reward, not when the reward is delivered. Markers create clarity in behavior. A marker is some...
Mar 31, 2022•1 hr 12 min•Ep 107•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw discusses: Having a full, firm, and hard grip (which may not be calm). Developing a hunt drive in your dog. Working dogs on markers and having different types of markers. How to be an active learner and advice for young trainers. How primacy of learning applies to training. Key Takeaways: You want a bite suit to be as form fitting as possible to allow the dog to feel the person underneath while still giving protection to the decoy. Your dog should have a genetic p...
Mar 17, 2022•57 min•Transcript available on Metacast Introducing…The Detection Blueprint! If you have ever wanted to learn how to train canine detection from start to finish, you can join us for the three part series, The Detection Blueprint! Over this three part series, we're going to break down detection training and share knowledge, insights and tactics - tactics that I've learned over the last 25 years training working dogs. In 3, 2-hour long sessions, you will learn detection foundations, your detection process, and making your detection oper...
Mar 17, 2022•4 min•Transcript available on Metacast Introducing… StreetReadyK9.com ! On the brand new site, you will be able to see all upcoming seminars from Tarheel Canine, download all registration information necessary for the seminars, as well as use the portal to request information regarding hosting a seminar with little to no cost to you (no matter the size of your department). If you are looking for a seminar and some quality training Tarheel Canine Training can provide it for you! Go on to StreetReadyK9.com and look at the different opt...
Mar 10, 2022•10 min•Ep 104•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw discusses: What a heuristic is and how it applies to rewards and punishments. Allowing for mental development during your training. Training multiple commands for the same actions. Differences in training obedience and detection. Key Takeaways: Histories create biases. You also need to understand your dog’s temperament and how they are going to generalize behavior. You do not need to perfect the behavior you are training all at once. Allowing time between working ...
Mar 10, 2022•57 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw discusses: Thinking about the end game from the beginning of your training. Creating neutrality through all kinds of distractions. Look at me, look at me while, look at that, and look at that while commands for your dog. Balancing draw to fight against drift. Key Takeaways: Attention is the dog’s anchor. Give them a point to focus on that allows them to be neutral to everything else around. You have to control a dog’s eyes to control their behavior. You want to la...
Mar 03, 2022•1 hr 10 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw discusses: Best practices and variations on utilizing a back tie. Appropriate, sturdy back ties on different surfaces and tables. How to decoy while using a back tie for many types of training. Balancing bringing the dog to the decoy, and the decoy to the dog. Key Takeaways: The longer the back tie, the bigger the circle is. This creates additional challenges with the dog possibly getting tangled. The back tie is adjustable based on your needs. Look at what traini...
Feb 17, 2022•1 hr 11 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw and Ben Lepinski discuss: Raising and training sport dogs and police dogs from a decoy perspective. Attributes that make for a good sport dog. Handling a dog in fear and avoidance (without creating a bigger problem in the fear period). Digging to the root of an issue and not just taking it at the surface level. Teaching the dog to solve problems on his own with proper progressions. Key Takeaways: When selecting a puppy, understand what you want to do with the dog,...
Feb 03, 2022•2 hr 41 min•Ep 100•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw discusses: Handling hyper aggressive or hyper passive suspects on high risk deployments. Taking role play seriously in training to properly prepare for high risk scenarios. Component training for good scenario training. Backup neutrality and realistic role playing. Key Takeaways: There must be clear communication between the canine handler and the SWAT team with highly aggressive suspects. Your dog must be a well conditioned athlete to endure a long and powerful f...
Jan 13, 2022•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw discusses: Remediation through focus drills. Training door poppers with high communication and understanding. Patient handling to improve focus and targeting. Training in different conditions, such as night and day, and with different variables. Key Takeaways: Dogs have a wide field of vision. It is possible that the first thing your dog sees may be the first thing they fixate on. Your dog is not going to learn every single thing they need to learn in a basic trai...
Dec 30, 2021•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw and Dr. Jessalyn Klein discuss: Strategies for improving your people skills. The building blocks of emotional intelligence. The power in taking a pause. Asking for (and processing) feedback, open ended questions, and how to connect with those you’re working with. Key Takeaways: Emotional intelligence is the key to understanding people, including yourself. Self-awareness involves both taking the time to check in with yourself physically and emotionally, and paying ...
Dec 23, 2021•1 hr 16 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw discusses: Understanding the basic biting principles. Creating neutrality to the equipment and distractions. The importance of understanding civil work. Human focused confrontation solved through biting. Training progressions in civil and bite work. Key Takeaways: We want to teach the dogs in their basic foundation how they can win even when they get pushed into defense. Be more obsessed with the dog's mood and how he is dealing with confrontation than you are wit...
Dec 09, 2021•1 hr•Ep 96•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw discusses: Giving control and responsibility to your club members for their own progression. Balancing the top down control with the individual responsibility in your training clubs and business. Getting things done on time and not allowing perfection to be the enemy of good. Defiance in dogs. Key Takeaways: When growing a team, you have to remember that everyone on the team is an individual. Responsibility drives meaning. Let people make their mistakes. You can v...
Dec 02, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw discusses: Details and schedule for PSA Nationals 2021! How to watch Nationals. Important information for both competitors and spectators. Key events and sponsors for Nationals. Key Takeaways: PSA Nationals is at Five County Stadium in Zebulon, NC on November 12-14, 2021 - a dmission is FREE! Sport Dogs Live will be live streaming the whole event for those who cannot make it in person. If you are not there for the handler’s meeting, you will be struck from competi...
Nov 11, 2021•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw discusses: The differences between hard and soft surface tracking (see episode 53 for more on hard surface tracking). Advantages of soft surface tracking. Having multiple ways to reward a dog during tracking. The importance of variation and its relationship to hope. Key Takeaways: To start, begin in shorter grass. Taller grass will hold human scent more than short, manicured grass. Think of your track as a story with a beginning, middle, and end. It is important t...
Nov 04, 2021•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw discusses: Training prey and defense training in your police dogs. Diversifying training with and without equipment. Avoiding sweeping generalizations in your training. Training in the four quadrants of operant conditioning. Key Takeaways: Muzzle biting is not the end all be all. While it can show you many things about your dog’s engagement, it does not guarantee a bite off the muzzle. A dog in conflict is going to choose life and is more likely to have a failed e...
Oct 28, 2021•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw discusses: Being suspect of always or never statements in training. The art of prey guarding. Laying your own tracks. The downsides to canine demos. Key Takeaways: By saying you never do defense work with puppies, you erase an entire section of training 2457 On any given track, you will have a combination of human odor and ground disturbance. How much of each will be different depending on the type of track. There can be benefits to laying your own tracks, includi...
Sep 09, 2021•59 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw discusses: What is involved in getting on the field and having a great performance. Creating the right mindset from a young age in your dog. Reading the important moments happening all the time. Mirroring your training ritual in your trial ritual. Key Takeaways: Expose your dog to new environments with new attractions and continue to practice your rituals. You can get additional time on field by utilizing long downs. Experiment with what works for you and your dog...
Aug 12, 2021•57 min•Ep 90•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw discusses: The key to creating a street ready dog with the highest probability of making an engagement. Equipment orientation and odor discrimination. Discrimination drills to show there is no value to the training equipment for the dog. Bridging from training to civil encounters to lead to engagement success. Key Takeaways: Visually, we need to make sure the dog can show aggression to the human form without the equipment, such as a bite suit or sleeve. Train a ci...
Jul 01, 2021•1 hr 18 min•Ep 89•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Jerry, Erin, and Briella discuss: Learning and training PSA, even when you’re young. Different ways that you can train with toys and with food. Lessons learned from training a PSA dog. Inspiration and the future of PSA. Key Takeaways: Engaging with your dog is extremely important. When training at club, don’t compare yourself to other people. Just focus on what you’re doing and what your dog is doing. Dog training is a journey that you and your dog are going through together. Do...
May 06, 2021•52 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw discusses: The drive model of canine behavior. Choosing your paradigm of how you look at any particular dog. The clarity of boundaries, the expression of drive, and balancing reward and compulsion. Understanding how paradigm and training fit together. Key Takeaways: The way in which you see dogs define your paradigm. You can apply working dog training paradigms to training pet dogs if you understand the paradigm. Drive neutrality is like marathon training. It won’...
Apr 22, 2021•1 hr 14 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw discusses: The blue ribbon emotions and how they show in canines. Managing frustration in training. Recognizing human interpretation of intentionality in relation to canine behaviors. The physical, mental, and emotional health of dogs. Key Takeaways: Dogs have brain structures that produce emotions. In other words, those brain structures are similar to the emotion-producing brain structures in humans. In both children and in puppies, rough and tumble play is vital...
Mar 11, 2021•1 hr 18 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw discusses: The importance of working dogs in defense, without creating avoidance. Pre-avoidance behaviors and how to read and manage them. The role of a skilled decoy in defense training basics. Understanding the dog is going to do what it has been trained to do. Addressing strengths in a puppy and working in those strong drives. Key Takeaways: When you’re working with a dog, you have to adjust your behavior, in real-time, to avoid creating an avoidance situation....
Feb 04, 2021•1 hr 11 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw discusses: Timing the puppy training early and with directed purpose and handling the fear periods in dogs. Habituation, spontaneous recovery, sensitization, and learned irrelevance. When to reorient and when to address fears. Understanding your dog’s phobias to learn how to solve the problem. Common fears and phobias seen in police and sport dogs. Key Takeaways: Too many people restrict social and experiential learning in puppies during the critical stages of dev...
Jan 28, 2021•2 hr 36 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw discusses: How the grip can vary depending on the sport you’re training for. What it means to have a bad grip and why different ways bad grip may manifest. Teaching your dog to be unsatisfied with any bite that is not at the back of the mouth. Teaching the basic fundamentals from a young age, including social interaction and teaching the dog to work with other trainers. Taking the proper time through progressions and not pushing too hard too fast. Key Takeaways: A...
Jan 14, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw discusses: The power of just showing up and investing in the outcome with a manageable solution strategy. Book references for being a better K9 entrepreneur. What it means to be effective in your life and business. Planning for the future and investing in yourself and diversifying your business. Reflecting on life and doing the best that we can with our decisions. Key Takeaways: Do a little something every single day towards your goal and watch that success breed ...
Jan 07, 2021•2 hr 37 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw discusses: Laying a good foundation for bite work from a young age. Using a flirt pole to emulate prey action to entice the puppy. Encouraging biting with the back teeth through bite progressions. Training before and after, but not during, teething. Focusing on bite mechanics during all aspects of training. Key Takeaways: The puppy needs to know, from a young age, that he is in control of the process. A leather rag is a more slippery bite than a terrycloth roll. B...
Dec 17, 2020•1 hr 10 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
