Grisha Stewart - Behavior Adjustment Training 2.0: New Practical Techniques for Fear, Frustration, and Aggression

Behavior Adjustment Training 2.0

New Practical Techniques for Fear, Frustration, and Aggression in Dogs

Grisha Stewart, M.A., CPDT-KA

Dogwise Publishing

A Division of Direct Book Service, Inc.

403 South Mission Street, Wenatchee, Washington 98801

509-663-9115, 1-800-776-2665

www.dogwisepublishing.com / info@dogwisepublishing.com

2016 Grisha Stewart

Graphic design: Lindsay Peternell

Cover and interior illustrations: Lili Chin, www.doggiedrawings.net. Humane Hierarchy: Susan Friedman and James Fritzler.

Interior photographs: Animals Plus, Company of Animals, Dan Catchpole, Simon Conner, Dennis Fehling, Katrien Lismont, Dana Litt, Carly Loyer, Marie Legain, Stevie Mathre,Melissa McDaniel, Midwest Metal, Premier Pet Products, J. Nichole Smith, Smart Animal Training Systems, Thundershirt, Ris VanFleet.

Some text has appeared previously in: The Official Ahimsa Dog Training Manual: A Practical, Force-free Guide to Problem Solving and Manners by Grisha Stewart andBehavior Adjustment Training: BAT for Fear, Frustration, and Aggression in Dogs by Grisha Stewart.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, digital or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage or retrieval system without permission in writing from the publisher.

Limits of Liability and Disclaimer of Warranty:

The author and publisher shall not be liable in the event of incidental or consequential damages in connection with, or arising out of, the furnishing, performance, or use of the instructions and suggestions contained in this book.

ISBN: 978-1-61-781174-6

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data on file at http://www.loc.gov/publish/cip/

Printed in the U.S.A.

For my mother, who taught me that humans arent the only ones with feelings.

For Peanut, the first BAT dog: my soulmate dog, teacher, and muse.

I keep learning to pay even more attention to your choices.

What will you and little Bean teach me next?

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I am grateful to many people in the creation of BAT in general and this book in particular. First, I have so much gratitude to Peanut and Boo Boo, for showing me that there is a wise dog underneath the bluster, and for being patient as I looked for what was under my nose.

Thank you to:

My husband, John, for understanding that sometimes I just have to go camping with Peanut in the wilds of Alaska to write.

My amazingly empowering BAT support team, both in front of and behind the scenes: Ellen Naumann, Kristin Burke, Joey Iversen, Carly Loyer, Jo Laurens, Lisa Walker,Viviane Arouzoumanian, Jennie Murphy. I couldnt do it all without your help.

Jill Olkoski, for your patience during the development of BAT 1.0, for trusting me to train your dog (whos featured on the cover), and for invaluable help getting me to focus on the essentials.

Artist extraordinaire, Lili Chin for her lovely illustrations throughout this book and her efficient, friendly attitude during the process.

All of the people who developed the many methods using functional reinforcers from which I drew inspiration for BAT plus Leslie McDevitt (for Control Unleashed) and Karen Pryor and all the great clicker trainers.

Guild Certified TTouch Practitioner Lori Stevens for engaging conversation and idea-bouncing during my initial brainstorm on BAT 1.0.

Alta Tawzer of Tawzer Dog for her unbelievable support. You helped me get BAT off the ground, and I will never forget that.

Trainers Kathy Sdao and Joey Iversen for your training wisdom and insightwith Peanut and in general. And now we can say, Well always have Paris.

Susan Friedman, for bringing scientific information to the dog community about many things, including the importance of empowerment for our learners. Id also like to thank Susan for helping me keep my chin up and focus on the people who are ready to learn.

Certified BAT Instructors (CBATIs) around the world who have put time and energy into fully learning BAT and demonstrating their skill. Your effort makes the world a better place!

My seminar hosts around the world. I have learned from every experience and that information is all folded into BAT 2.0. Thank you for graciously welcoming me to your area and sharing BAT with the people there. You are part of the reason so many people have learned to do BAT.

From the first book: The trainers and dog lovers in the FunctionalRewards Yahoo! group around the world (including Sarah Owings, Jude Azaren, Donna Savoie, Irith Bloom, Dani Weinberg, David Smelzer, Barrie Lynn, Susan Mitchell, Danielle Theule, Rachel Bowman, Dennis Fehling, and many others), for your great ideas and for bringing BAT to the dogs in their lives. There are now about 10,000 people discussing BAT in various online discussion groups, so Im afraid I cant begin to mention you all.There are 46 moderators of different BAT groups on Facebook alone! That said, I will highlight Liz Wyant and Chelsea Johnson for moderating the big high-traffic official Facebook group and Jude Azaren in Yahoo. Thank you!

The many helper dogs and people that have helped BAT dogs learn and change.

The volunteer proofreaders for this book, including Susan Friedman, Jo Laurens, Carly Loyer, Bree Mize, Kristen Thomas, and Matt White. Any remaining errors are still my own.

The lovely folks who submitted write-ups on their experiences with BAT: Your stories help people see the power of choice.

Dogwise for publishing this book, especially Charlene Woodward for contacting me to publish the first BAT book. Thanks to Larry Woodward, Lindsay Peternell, Jon Luke,and Nate Woodward for helping me pull everything together.

Im passionate about the emotional well-being of dogs. This book will teach you how to use the latest version of Behavior Adjustment Training, a tool that I developed to help dogs and people live better lives together. For those who read my original BAT book, released in 2011, you might remember that I called BAT a work in progress. I have continually strived to fine-tune the protocols I use. Ive made so many changes that I no longer feel comfortable having clients read the older book. That meant it was time to write a new one! The way I teach and use BAT now has simplified many of the procedures and makes them less stressful and more pleasant for the dogs.

You can use BAT to rehabilitate fear, aggression, and frustration in dogs and also to keep reactivity problems from developing in puppies. While BAT is not the only tool in my training toolbox, it is the foundation of how I relate to all dogs and help clients with puppy socialization and dog reactivity. Im simply amazed at how much faster the dogs are progressing than they were before BAT, and even compared to BAT 1.0. Trainers around the world are seeing this with their clients, too.