Disc dogger’s have a problem. We all want to play this game so darned much that it’s hard to remain consequent and focused on the component skills that build our game. Once our dogs start to approach the realm of performance potential, it’s hard to keep our focus on being successful because of the handler’s expectation of performance. This is classic putting the cart before the horse behavior and can be very detrimental to a team’s long term potential.

This is a brief overview of our methodology for working with reactive and fearful dogs.

STARR Protocol for Reactive Dogs

Working with reactive or fearful dogs is a specialty of Pawsitive Vybe. The key to dealing with these troubled dogs is allowing the dog to make decisions – simple decisions – that will help to center and ground them and to enable them to deal with environmental distractions on their own terms.

The Pawsitive Vybe STARR Protocol is an elegant system for handling reactive and/or reactive dogs.

Skinner Rocks but Pavlov Rules

The realm of rational decisions (operant behavior) are dictated by the classically conditioned state.

The woman who stands on the chair in the kitchen shrieking, broom in hand, in the presence of a mouse, is not making a rational decision. She canʼt. Sheʼs over threshold. Sheʼs making a silly decision, a decision that is … Read More »

The Disc Dog Bed and Breakfast is back!

Last weekend we had our first full Disc Dog Bed and Breakfast guest since relocating our dog training operation to Kingston, NY. It went off without a hitch, and guess what? He wants to come back at the end of October for another session. How cool is that?

What is the B&B?

For those of you who don’t know, the Disc Dog Bed and (get your own damn) Breakfast is a dog training weekend at Pawsitive Vybe HQ in Kingston, NY. It has been in operation since 2006 and most of our guests have been back multiple times to take advantage of the unique learning experience that the PVybe Pack offers.

There is no typical B&B stay. The weekend is tailored to the needs of the dog and handlers on hand. Sometimes we do a ton … Read More »

Si offers a trade: Leash for a hotdog?

Si poses for the camera while Ron orders a hotdog.

Si does Ron a favor by picking up her leash and giving it to him. It was a no brainer,”He has a hotdog!”

Count how many dogs are in this pic… And Ron is not one of them…

Judy uses the wall to help Chess establish position and Apryl Lea & Captain share a moment.

Captain America and Chess work side by side in Uptown Kingston.

Here they are, still chattin’…

Captain America and Apryl Lea talk to a nice man about Animal Farm Foundation’s Assistance Dog Training Program.

Judy & Chess, Ron & Si And Apryl Lea & Captain America do some public access dog training In Uptown Kingston, NY.
This is where we will be running Canine Interaction classes and personal lessons.
This was the second half … Read More »

Flag and Flash Cuing is a cuing system developed by Pawsitive Vybe for teaching dogs to leap over and off of their handlers. The quick and dirty Over and Vault applications are great. Pro discdoggers should have this tool in their toolbox for sure.

When working with Multiple Dogs, how we mark is important. One of the things we like to do at Pawsitive Vybe is to use a finger point to mark behaviors.

The above video is a demonstration of the Finger Point Mark. It’s real nice for keeping the dog’s focus on the handler and for silently marking behaviors.

Conditioning the Finger Point Mark

This is no different from conditioning the Positive Marker or the Clicker. If we want to be boring we can point then feed the dog, establishing a consequent relationship – the Point happens then comes the cookie. All you do is substitute pointing with your index finger for the click or verbal,”Yes!”

We can also mark Attention (unsolicited eye contact) and reinforce with a cookie. This is the preferred method of charging the marker at Pawsitive Vybe.

Of course we can just … Read More »

In this Video, Apryl Lea and Pan work on a Pedestal, or raised spot. The intent of the session is to Manufacture the Approach and Generalize the Handler position.

Foundational Positioning is a huge part of the game of disc. A killer limitation in the game of disc is the not being able to get your dog into the proper position required for a particular trick.