Michael Ritland

So the key, and I'm not going to say it's easy, but it's very simple, is you need to make A plus B not equal C enough times to where the dog questions it.

So the key, and I'm not going to say it's easy, but it's very simple, is you need to make A plus B not equal C enough times to where the dog questions it.

Correct. And so in that environment, instead of putting a prong collar or a remote collar on and punishing the dog, because again, the dog's been bred, raised and trained to be naturally forwardly aggressive and not take shit from anybody. So when that dog is at a 10 or a nine and you, you know, put, put punishment into them, that's when you create conflict between the handler and dog.

Correct. And so in that environment, instead of putting a prong collar or a remote collar on and punishing the dog, because again, the dog's been bred, raised and trained to be naturally forwardly aggressive and not take shit from anybody. So when that dog is at a 10 or a nine and you, you know, put, put punishment into them, that's when you create conflict between the handler and dog.

Correct. And so in that environment, instead of putting a prong collar or a remote collar on and punishing the dog, because again, the dog's been bred, raised and trained to be naturally forwardly aggressive and not take shit from anybody. So when that dog is at a 10 or a nine and you, you know, put, put punishment into them, that's when you create conflict between the handler and dog.

Interesting. And then that's when, when those problems now cascade and avalanche into a much bigger problem where now the dog is not going to let go when he's in the fight, because the other problem with, with that part of that equation is in training is the dog is on the bite. He doesn't want to let go. So what do we do? We make him let go, right?

Interesting. And then that's when, when those problems now cascade and avalanche into a much bigger problem where now the dog is not going to let go when he's in the fight, because the other problem with, with that part of that equation is in training is the dog is on the bite. He doesn't want to let go. So what do we do? We make him let go, right?

Interesting. And then that's when, when those problems now cascade and avalanche into a much bigger problem where now the dog is not going to let go when he's in the fight, because the other problem with, with that part of that equation is in training is the dog is on the bite. He doesn't want to let go. So what do we do? We make him let go, right?

So what the, it's like an opposition reflex kind of thing. And so, The two ways that you combat that in the first scenario is instead of trying to punish it, I'll stand there with a clicker, which, you know, there's varying degrees of dismissiveness, I would say, within the working dog world as to how to approach it.

So what the, it's like an opposition reflex kind of thing. And so, The two ways that you combat that in the first scenario is instead of trying to punish it, I'll stand there with a clicker, which, you know, there's varying degrees of dismissiveness, I would say, within the working dog world as to how to approach it.

So what the, it's like an opposition reflex kind of thing. And so, The two ways that you combat that in the first scenario is instead of trying to punish it, I'll stand there with a clicker, which, you know, there's varying degrees of dismissiveness, I would say, within the working dog world as to how to approach it.

There's still a lot of very archaic old school guys that just want to make the dog do what they want. From my perspective, again, putting yourself in the dog's shoes, just like anytime you're teaching anybody or anything, anything, you have to look at it from their shoes. And so I just wait.

There's still a lot of very archaic old school guys that just want to make the dog do what they want. From my perspective, again, putting yourself in the dog's shoes, just like anytime you're teaching anybody or anything, anything, you have to look at it from their shoes. And so I just wait.

There's still a lot of very archaic old school guys that just want to make the dog do what they want. From my perspective, again, putting yourself in the dog's shoes, just like anytime you're teaching anybody or anything, anything, you have to look at it from their shoes. And so I just wait.

And the second the dog stops barking, even if it's for a split second, I'll click and let him go in and bite. So now he understands when I shut up, when I'm calm, that's when I get to bite. So instead of picking a fight with him.

And the second the dog stops barking, even if it's for a split second, I'll click and let him go in and bite. So now he understands when I shut up, when I'm calm, that's when I get to bite. So instead of picking a fight with him.

And the second the dog stops barking, even if it's for a split second, I'll click and let him go in and bite. So now he understands when I shut up, when I'm calm, that's when I get to bite. So instead of picking a fight with him.

Right. And at first, it's going to be a millisecond of silence. Obviously, the goal is to cap that drive for, in some cases, maybe minutes.

Right. And at first, it's going to be a millisecond of silence. Obviously, the goal is to cap that drive for, in some cases, maybe minutes.

Right. And at first, it's going to be a millisecond of silence. Obviously, the goal is to cap that drive for, in some cases, maybe minutes.