Ora the Pit Bull

This little guys name is Jasper. Hes been in the program for some time but is new to my home. Dogs like Jasper have a lot of drive and generally a lot of energy as well. They can be a bit hard to train and work with because they often place a lower value on food rewards than their non driven counterparts. They also often get very excited when toys are present or at least something they perceive as a toy, like a squirrel.

I been working with Jasper for a couple days now with a goal of bonding with him and to help him learn toys are funner when I am involved. It very common for dogs to place a lot of value on possessing something. My goal is to shift the focus away from possession and toward the act of playing itself. I like to downplay the value of the toy while increasing MY value to the dog. This naturally builds a retrieve and reduces toy guarding all while increasing YOUR value to the dog.