Misapplication of Force in Misapplication of Force in Police Dog TrainingPolice Dog Training

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Jerry Bradshaw, Training DirectorJerry Bradshaw, Training Director Sanford, NCSanford, NC

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Canine Learning ReviewCanine Learning Review ObservationObservation: Mimicking behaviors (e.g. : Mimicking behaviors (e.g.

teaching open stairs in a group).teaching open stairs in a group). Classical ConditioningClassical Conditioning: Learning by : Learning by

association, dogs respond to a signal in association, dogs respond to a signal in anticipation of another event. (e.g. They anticipation of another event. (e.g. They get excited seeing a decoy because they get excited seeing a decoy because they are anticipating biting).are anticipating biting).

Operant ConditioningOperant Conditioning: Learning by : Learning by consequence.consequence.

Reinforcing Consequences (positive & negative)Reinforcing Consequences (positive & negative) Punishing Consequences (positive & negative)Punishing Consequences (positive & negative)

Summary of learningSummary of learning Dogs learn through Dogs learn through

observation, classical, and observation, classical, and operant conditioning.operant conditioning.

Learning takes place Learning takes place whether we are aware of whether we are aware of it or not. The dog’s it or not. The dog’s environment provides environment provides myriad consequences. myriad consequences.

There are constant gains There are constant gains and losses from the dog’s and losses from the dog’s mind during learning.mind during learning.

Learning is not a linear Learning is not a linear process.process.

Applying Force: Two OptionsApplying Force: Two Options Positive Punishment: Positive Punishment:

Application of force after Application of force after an unwanted behavior an unwanted behavior occurs as a consequence occurs as a consequence of that unwanted behavior. of that unwanted behavior.

Example: Dog Growls at Example: Dog Growls at the handler – handler the handler – handler corrects the dog for corrects the dog for infringement of handler’s infringement of handler’s perceived social position.perceived social position.

Negative Reinforcement: Negative Reinforcement: Applying force in order to Applying force in order to remove it when a wanted remove it when a wanted behavior occurs.behavior occurs.

Example: Choke chain sit.Example: Choke chain sit.

Misapplication of Force: Misapplication of Force: Dominance AggressionDominance Aggression

Canine Dominance Facts…Canine Dominance Facts… Dominance is a pack-relative social behavior.Dominance is a pack-relative social behavior. As pack animals, dogs expect all relationships to be unequal. Somebody has to be As pack animals, dogs expect all relationships to be unequal. Somebody has to be

in charge.in charge. Dominance aggression is usually shown by male dogs (85% of cases) and is most Dominance aggression is usually shown by male dogs (85% of cases) and is most

intense as social maturity is approached (2-2.5 yrs). Social maturity takes a lot intense as social maturity is approached (2-2.5 yrs). Social maturity takes a lot longer than sexual maturity. longer than sexual maturity.

Dominance aggression is both genetic and learned.Dominance aggression is both genetic and learned. The genetic component is formed while still in the womb when a testosterone The genetic component is formed while still in the womb when a testosterone

surge “masculanizes” the brain. If no testosterone surge occurs, a female brain is surge “masculanizes” the brain. If no testosterone surge occurs, a female brain is created.created.

Therefore, castration has little effect on correcting this behavior. However, since Therefore, castration has little effect on correcting this behavior. However, since learning is involved, extinction is still possible.learning is involved, extinction is still possible.

Dogs tend to direct their dominance aggression toward those that are threats to Dogs tend to direct their dominance aggression toward those that are threats to their social position (i.e. the K9 handler). their social position (i.e. the K9 handler).

Common Triggers:Common Triggers: AffectionAffection Placing or removing collars/leads which initiate control on the dog.Placing or removing collars/leads which initiate control on the dog. Punishment (staring/discipline).Punishment (staring/discipline). Frustration (e.g. keeping the dog under obedience when he thinks he may do bite work).Frustration (e.g. keeping the dog under obedience when he thinks he may do bite work). Grooming (Postural)Grooming (Postural) Classical Conditioning: Can be context driven (e.g. place associated, obedience command Classical Conditioning: Can be context driven (e.g. place associated, obedience command

associated)associated) Can be psychologically dominant and physically submissive (e.g. allow physical touching/handling). Can be psychologically dominant and physically submissive (e.g. allow physical touching/handling).

K9 Dominance IssuesK9 Dominance Issues Can affect both new and experienced handlers.Can affect both new and experienced handlers. If progresses to handler aggression can seriously If progresses to handler aggression can seriously

affect mission.affect mission. Typical response to dominance is to establish rank by Typical response to dominance is to establish rank by

force (force (Positive PunishmentPositive Punishment). Fight fire with fire.). Fight fire with fire. This may work well, or may initiate a cycle of This may work well, or may initiate a cycle of

constant struggle for supremacy in the relationship if constant struggle for supremacy in the relationship if the punishment is not severe & traumatic. the punishment is not severe & traumatic.

Changing behavior through Changing behavior through negative punishmentnegative punishment is used less often, and may be seen as less is used less often, and may be seen as less proactive, but may be safer and more effective.proactive, but may be safer and more effective.

Have you ever worked a dog you didn’t think you Have you ever worked a dog you didn’t think you could win a fight with? One you can’t traumatize with could win a fight with? One you can’t traumatize with punishment? You behave a lot differently!punishment? You behave a lot differently!

Specific Dominance Specific Dominance PerceptionsPerceptions

Public vs. Pack Sociability: Many new handlers think Public vs. Pack Sociability: Many new handlers think dominance applies to the dog they just took out of the crate!dominance applies to the dog they just took out of the crate!

““I want a Tough, Hard Dog with no Rank Issues…”I want a Tough, Hard Dog with no Rank Issues…” ““I like a dog that comes up the leash…I respect that…”I like a dog that comes up the leash…I respect that…” “ “if I let him get away with anything, he will lose his respect if I let him get away with anything, he will lose his respect

for me…” leads to constant nagging of the dog about every for me…” leads to constant nagging of the dog about every little thing. Alphas don’t sweat the small stuff. Avoid little thing. Alphas don’t sweat the small stuff. Avoid confrontations you cannot control or are not certain you will confrontations you cannot control or are not certain you will win – use retreating reprimands.win – use retreating reprimands.

Try to look at things from the dog’s point of view: If you use a Try to look at things from the dog’s point of view: If you use a “dutch method” to train the out….you may think you are “dutch method” to train the out….you may think you are training an out, but your dog may think you are fighting him training an out, but your dog may think you are fighting him for possession of the decoy.for possession of the decoy.

Techniques for Changing Techniques for Changing BehaviorBehavior

Remove the StimulusRemove the Stimulus Punish the Behavior (Positive Punishment)Punish the Behavior (Positive Punishment) Punish the behavior (Negative Punishment)Punish the behavior (Negative Punishment)

Extinction: If a learned response is not rewarded any longer, the Extinction: If a learned response is not rewarded any longer, the behavior is gradually lost and the frequency of the behavior will behavior is gradually lost and the frequency of the behavior will return to naturally occurring levels. If naturally recurring levels are return to naturally occurring levels. If naturally recurring levels are high, however, no noticeable change will have occurred. (e.g. high, however, no noticeable change will have occurred. (e.g. proofing off plastic bags and reward toys in detection training).proofing off plastic bags and reward toys in detection training).

Modify the BehaviorModify the Behavior Re-Direct the BehaviorRe-Direct the Behavior Train Mutually Exclusive BehaviorsTrain Mutually Exclusive Behaviors Habituation: Constantly exposing a dog to a neutral (non-harmful Habituation: Constantly exposing a dog to a neutral (non-harmful

or non-rewarding) stimulus. or non-rewarding) stimulus. Flooding: Habituation through constant heavy exposure to a non-Flooding: Habituation through constant heavy exposure to a non-

neutral stimulus.neutral stimulus. Systematic Desensitization: Habituation through gradual exposure.Systematic Desensitization: Habituation through gradual exposure.

Addressing Dominance ( Judo Addressing Dominance ( Judo for K9 Handlers) for K9 Handlers)

Key: Gain the dog’s Key: Gain the dog’s respect using your brain, respect using your brain, not your hands. Imagine not your hands. Imagine you are training a grizzly you are training a grizzly bear and not a dog. bear and not a dog. What would you do?What would you do?

Reject model of Alpha for Reject model of Alpha for that of “Super-Alpha”that of “Super-Alpha”

Dogs don’t expect Dogs don’t expect equality, so put all the equality, so put all the odds in your favor.odds in your favor.

Judo Continued……..Judo Continued…….. Specific Techniques of the No Free Lunch Program (Bill Specific Techniques of the No Free Lunch Program (Bill

Campbell). Campbell). Disorient his expectations, and set the dog up to have to show Disorient his expectations, and set the dog up to have to show

deference to get anything he desires, including affection, rewards, deference to get anything he desires, including affection, rewards, food, etc. (including toys, bite sessions). food, etc. (including toys, bite sessions).

Use obedience as a pre-cursor to his favorite activities or those where Use obedience as a pre-cursor to his favorite activities or those where he gives you problems (e.g. obedience for bites). he gives you problems (e.g. obedience for bites).

Keep a level head – leaders do not explode with anger. Be results Keep a level head – leaders do not explode with anger. Be results oriented, and do not become upset if you need a few trials to get the oriented, and do not become upset if you need a few trials to get the desired behaviors. desired behaviors.

Regiment his life. He makes no decisions, and he makes no choices on Regiment his life. He makes no decisions, and he makes no choices on his own. Use negative punishment to reduce unwanted behaviors his own. Use negative punishment to reduce unwanted behaviors (dominance behaviors). Positively reinforce appropriate behaviors. (dominance behaviors). Positively reinforce appropriate behaviors.

Use rewards in obedience (food rewards work well – little chance of Use rewards in obedience (food rewards work well – little chance of fighting over possession of the reward).fighting over possession of the reward).

Focus on the pre-cursors to aggressive responses, and plan your Focus on the pre-cursors to aggressive responses, and plan your training to set yourself up to win any possible confrontations. (e.g. You training to set yourself up to win any possible confrontations. (e.g. You know he gets frustrated and impulsive prior to bite work, and know he gets frustrated and impulsive prior to bite work, and challenges your authority to control him). challenges your authority to control him).

Desensitize the dog to triggers (e.g. corrections, by focusing the dog Desensitize the dog to triggers (e.g. corrections, by focusing the dog outwardly during the use of physical correction, and planning ahead). outwardly during the use of physical correction, and planning ahead).

Misapplication of Force: Misapplication of Force: Obedience TrainingObedience Training

Typical Training Typical Training MethodologiesMethodologies

Obedience training philosophies run the gamut from motivational to Obedience training philosophies run the gamut from motivational to compulsive, and a mixture of the two.compulsive, and a mixture of the two.

Purely Motivational: Positively Reinforce new behaviors by rewarding Purely Motivational: Positively Reinforce new behaviors by rewarding them and ignore incorrect responses (extinction) applying negative them and ignore incorrect responses (extinction) applying negative punishment. punishment.

Advantage:Advantage: low stress learning. low stress learning. ProblemProblem: competing motivations.: competing motivations. Purely Compulsive: Use negative reinforcement to teach new Purely Compulsive: Use negative reinforcement to teach new

behaviors, and maintain the learned response by correcting behaviors, and maintain the learned response by correcting unwanted behaviors (positive punishment), and rewarding correct unwanted behaviors (positive punishment), and rewarding correct ones with praise (positive reinforcement). ones with praise (positive reinforcement).

Advantage:Advantage: Preserves Alpha Model. Preserves Alpha Model. ProblemProblem: stress/confusion can : stress/confusion can trigger aggression in dominant dogs, and shut down softer dogs.trigger aggression in dominant dogs, and shut down softer dogs.

Eclectic Method: Teach new cues & behaviors motivationally Eclectic Method: Teach new cues & behaviors motivationally (positive reinforcement & negative punishment), and once behaviors (positive reinforcement & negative punishment), and once behaviors are learned to a certain level of competency, variably reinforce are learned to a certain level of competency, variably reinforce correct responses, and positively punish (e.g. leash corrections) correct responses, and positively punish (e.g. leash corrections) incorrect responses to commands.incorrect responses to commands.

Key: Striking Balance of method and temperament and not applying Key: Striking Balance of method and temperament and not applying the same cookie cutter approach to every dog. the same cookie cutter approach to every dog.

Some Key IssuesSome Key Issues Hardness vs. Hardness vs.

Softness: Tough Softness: Tough dogs can be dogs can be handler soft.handler soft.

Pack Sociability: Pack Sociability: Dominant vs. Dominant vs. Submissive.Submissive.

All dogs seek to All dogs seek to resolve conflict.resolve conflict.

Crossover Effects: Safety Crossover Effects: Safety Seeking BehaviorSeeking Behavior

Middle pack dogs and handler soft dogsMiddle pack dogs and handler soft dogs Resolve Conflict by seeking safety: Dogs that Resolve Conflict by seeking safety: Dogs that

are too worried about the handler – the dog are too worried about the handler – the dog worries about positional obedience or worries about positional obedience or potential punishments when he is potential punishments when he is “supposed” to be working independently.“supposed” to be working independently.

Example: Elon and the building search. Example: Elon and the building search. Example: Detection dog walks around the car Example: Detection dog walks around the car

in obedience instead of actively searching.in obedience instead of actively searching. Example: Dog over anticipates control Example: Dog over anticipates control

commands during controlled aggression. commands during controlled aggression.

Crossover Effects: Reactive Crossover Effects: Reactive ResponsesResponses

Dominant DogsDominant Dogs Resolves Conflict by Resolves Conflict by

attacking the source of attacking the source of the conflict, the the conflict, the handler.handler.

Reactivity becomes a Reactivity becomes a learned response that is learned response that is context driven.context driven.

Handlers are taught to Handlers are taught to punish the reactivity, punish the reactivity, creating a cycle of creating a cycle of conflict.conflict.

Resolving Conflict over Resolving Conflict over ObedienceObedience

Choose a model of training that fits the Choose a model of training that fits the temperament of the dog.temperament of the dog.

The pure compulsion method has The pure compulsion method has drawbacks for high drive, reactive, drawbacks for high drive, reactive, dominant dogs as well as for softer dogs.dominant dogs as well as for softer dogs.

Hard dogs do not learn from compulsion Hard dogs do not learn from compulsion as easily as softer dogs.as easily as softer dogs.

Balance compulsion with reward for the Balance compulsion with reward for the dog you are working with. dog you are working with.

Misapplication of Force: Misapplication of Force: Aggression ControlAggression Control

Methods for controlling Methods for controlling aggressionaggression

Out & Guard (sit, lie Out & Guard (sit, lie down, bark)down, bark)

Redirect Redirect Corollary: Out & Corollary: Out &

Return to coverReturn to cover ““Call-off” aka: Recall, Call-off” aka: Recall,

Stopped Attack – dog Stopped Attack – dog can return or lay can return or lay down and watch down and watch suspect.suspect.

Last Two articles in Last Two articles in K9 Cop Magazine!K9 Cop Magazine!

Training the Out & GuardTraining the Out & Guard Inherently conflict ridden: Inherently conflict ridden:

dogs are taught to bite dogs are taught to bite without control first, then without control first, then we teach them to release we teach them to release in a high state of drive.in a high state of drive.

Prerequisite: Dog must be Prerequisite: Dog must be able to channel his drives able to channel his drives (prey & defense) (prey & defense) seamlessly before training seamlessly before training the out. This gets short the out. This gets short shrift in most police dog shrift in most police dog training.training.

Out: Setting up for Out: Setting up for successsuccess

Plan for what can go wrong: Plan for what can go wrong: Back-tie & 2 Lines. Eliminates Back-tie & 2 Lines. Eliminates redirected aggression and redirected aggression and eliminates dirty grips eliminates dirty grips

Correction & Reward must Correction & Reward must balance – otherwise the dog balance – otherwise the dog views exercise as a net loss views exercise as a net loss every time, and if you selected a every time, and if you selected a strongly driven, possessive dog, strongly driven, possessive dog, you are working against his you are working against his natural instincts instead of with natural instincts instead of with them.them.

Force the out & balance with Re-Force the out & balance with Re-bite: Correction comes into grip bite: Correction comes into grip when the dog channels into prey, when the dog channels into prey, release is immediately rewarded release is immediately rewarded with another bite. This resolves with another bite. This resolves the conflict.the conflict.

Successively approximate the Successively approximate the guard behavior once you achieve guard behavior once you achieve the idea of “release generates the idea of “release generates the reward.”the reward.”Pick a command that will mean Pick a command that will mean “release and stay” – “OUT”“release and stay” – “OUT”

Forcing the out: TechniquesForcing the out: Techniques Positive punishmentPositive punishment: :

Correct the dog for biting Correct the dog for biting after the out command is after the out command is given.given.

Negative Negative reinforcementreinforcement: Constant : Constant pressure is applied, and pressure is applied, and once the dog releases, once the dog releases, release the pressure release the pressure (reinforcing consequence), (reinforcing consequence), and immediately reward and immediately reward with another grip (positive with another grip (positive reinforcement).reinforcement).

Out and guard is the first Out and guard is the first release technique we teach, release technique we teach,

and then progress to and then progress to out/return via redirects.out/return via redirects.

Out/Guard VideosOut/Guard Videos

Out Training ProgressionOut Training Progression Vary the out from sleeves, to Vary the out from sleeves, to

suit, to hidden sleeves.suit, to hidden sleeves. Move from 2 lines on the Move from 2 lines on the

back-tie to 2 lines in the back-tie to 2 lines in the field.field.

Vary the environmental Vary the environmental context: Field, buildings, context: Field, buildings, woods, tight spaces, decoy woods, tight spaces, decoy position.position.

Move from 2 lines to one line Move from 2 lines to one line on correction collar, handler on correction collar, handler initiating the corrections. initiating the corrections.

Incorporate e-collar (helpful Incorporate e-collar (helpful for distance work later in for distance work later in recalls).recalls).

Redirected bites: Set up for Redirected bites: Set up for successsuccess

Redirects are the Redirects are the foundation for the out foundation for the out and return and the call and return and the call off.off.

Prerequisites: Dog must Prerequisites: Dog must have a good motivational have a good motivational recall, and understand recall, and understand being forced to out for a being forced to out for a reward, and find heel.reward, and find heel.

Equipment: Long line on Equipment: Long line on flat collar, and a short flat collar, and a short line on correction collar.line on correction collar.

Re-directed bites: Re-directed bites: TechniqueTechnique

Start purely motivationallyStart purely motivationally Maintain proper line handling to Maintain proper line handling to

set the grip when the dog is in set the grip when the dog is in the grip (tight line), and loose line the grip (tight line), and loose line when you are ready for the dog to when you are ready for the dog to come back.come back.

Pick a command that means Pick a command that means come back to me – I use the dog’s come back to me – I use the dog’s name. Do not use the same word name. Do not use the same word that is to mean release and stay!that is to mean release and stay!

Once dog is on decoy #1, that Once dog is on decoy #1, that decoy picks up the correction line decoy picks up the correction line to be ready. to be ready.

signal (non-verbal) for the decoy signal (non-verbal) for the decoy to stop the fight, call the dog’s to stop the fight, call the dog’s name, and immediately, decoy name, and immediately, decoy #2 agitates to draw the dog back.#2 agitates to draw the dog back.

Redirects are built in stages, Redirects are built in stages, layering skills on top of each layering skills on top of each

other.other.

Redirect VideosRedirect Videos

Question & AnswerQuestion & Answer