Obedience training is really applied psychology. What is cool about it is that you quickly learn whether your strategy works or not. My 1-year-old German shepherd Bama often balks at entering his spacious crate. Most of the time, I use positive reinforcement and reward cooperation with a puppy treat.
Sometimes when he has food left in his bowl, I’ll ask, “Bama, would you really mind if I gave Samantha all of your kibble?” He usually responds by sprinting into his crate and growling to remind Sam that it’s his kibble.
My student worker Bama claims that Bama respects him so much that he doesn’t need to use treats or strategy. He just meekly obeys. I suspect that this is because Bama lifts very heavy weights and might easily be mistaken for a wookie.
Reading
What are you reading, Dr. Shaffer? For work, Porges’s Polyvagal Theory. For play, Guy Gavriel Kay’s Under Heaven.
Wine
What is your favorite cab selling for under $100? 2007 Caymus.
What do you recommend for a student budget? A 2006 Rodney Strong cab.
