jackienmutts
Honored Member
I just finished reading "Plenty In Life Is Free" by Kathy Sdao, ACAAB . Can't say enough about this book - it was excellent!! Not sure where I should begin or how much anyone really wants to know - but she totally takes on and refutes the whole NILIF concept. I have been a Kathy Sdao fan for several years, and this has made me even more of one.
She uses her own dogs and the lessons she's learned from them and other paths she's traveled and lessons she's learned in her life, to help explain her training philosophy which has moved way beyond leadership, and is focused on developing partnerships in which humans and dogs can exchange reinforcements and also fluidly cede the upper-hand role to each other. It's a book I'm sure would make old-school trainers gasp.
She promotes a concept of SMART (See, Mark, and Reward Training) x 50 - she encourages you to cut up 50 tiny training bits/day, and See, Mark, and Reward all good behavior. She said envision the dog you want, and reward anything throughout the day that you see, that you like - til your baggie of 50 treats is empty (this is done daily). Dog laying quietly on the dog bed while you watch tv? Click (or mark with a YES or whatever)/treat. Dog sitting patiently while you make it's breakfast? Click/treat. Dog just pottied outside? Click/treat. You get the idea. She said if you adopt a "trying" dog, or are having a particularly bad day or some trying times, then just "ok" behavior (meaning, not horrible) is ok too. Sometimes you gotta take the best you can get, even if it's not up to par, or not nearly what you want ... you'll get there. If you read the book, you'd clearly understand where she's coming from.
I love her ideas and concepts, and am loaning the book to a friend who is having some 'issues' with her one yr old puppy (we all know how that age can be). Overall, the pup is wonderful, just a few issues here and there that come and go. I've been telling her about this book and encouraging her to try the SMART x 50 and I think she'll have a winne. I think the "growing pains" will just go away, and the good behavior will take over.
She stresses how she's always been against the withholding of life's necessities from dogs until they perform as required - meaning, some trainers have owners withhold food, water, affection, etc - if dog won't (fill in whatever), then they don't get "it", period. I'm so thankful that when I used NILIF years ago, it was so watered down and soft, I guess it almost didn't qualify (compared to what she referred to). I now see how I would handle it differently if I ever adopt another very large, pushy, demanding dog in the future
but I did the best I could at the time - and I certainly didn't withhold any life necessities, affection, etc. EVER.
Anyway - I told you all I'd give you a review when I finished it. If anyone is looking for an excellent book to read, I absolutely recommend it. It's not long and overwhelming, and it's an easy read. Great book. It will def by on my list of fav training books. I give this one 2 thumbs and 4 paws up!!
She uses her own dogs and the lessons she's learned from them and other paths she's traveled and lessons she's learned in her life, to help explain her training philosophy which has moved way beyond leadership, and is focused on developing partnerships in which humans and dogs can exchange reinforcements and also fluidly cede the upper-hand role to each other. It's a book I'm sure would make old-school trainers gasp.
She promotes a concept of SMART (See, Mark, and Reward Training) x 50 - she encourages you to cut up 50 tiny training bits/day, and See, Mark, and Reward all good behavior. She said envision the dog you want, and reward anything throughout the day that you see, that you like - til your baggie of 50 treats is empty (this is done daily). Dog laying quietly on the dog bed while you watch tv? Click (or mark with a YES or whatever)/treat. Dog sitting patiently while you make it's breakfast? Click/treat. Dog just pottied outside? Click/treat. You get the idea. She said if you adopt a "trying" dog, or are having a particularly bad day or some trying times, then just "ok" behavior (meaning, not horrible) is ok too. Sometimes you gotta take the best you can get, even if it's not up to par, or not nearly what you want ... you'll get there. If you read the book, you'd clearly understand where she's coming from.
I love her ideas and concepts, and am loaning the book to a friend who is having some 'issues' with her one yr old puppy (we all know how that age can be). Overall, the pup is wonderful, just a few issues here and there that come and go. I've been telling her about this book and encouraging her to try the SMART x 50 and I think she'll have a winne. I think the "growing pains" will just go away, and the good behavior will take over.
She stresses how she's always been against the withholding of life's necessities from dogs until they perform as required - meaning, some trainers have owners withhold food, water, affection, etc - if dog won't (fill in whatever), then they don't get "it", period. I'm so thankful that when I used NILIF years ago, it was so watered down and soft, I guess it almost didn't qualify (compared to what she referred to). I now see how I would handle it differently if I ever adopt another very large, pushy, demanding dog in the future
but I did the best I could at the time - and I certainly didn't withhold any life necessities, affection, etc. EVER.Anyway - I told you all I'd give you a review when I finished it. If anyone is looking for an excellent book to read, I absolutely recommend it. It's not long and overwhelming, and it's an easy read. Great book. It will def by on my list of fav training books. I give this one 2 thumbs and 4 paws up!!
LOVE IT!!! Yeah, hamburgers do provide inspiration indeed, to a dog!! LOVE IT!!