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Donna Hill's

Service Dog Training Institute

Blog

Shaping: The Most Powerful Use of Marker-Based Teaching

Ladder walk for dog training

In its broadest sense, shaping occurs anytime we modify a behavior from one form into another using small steps. Changing a child’s yelling behavior in the house to talking quietly. Shaping your teenager from leaving clothes on the floor to placing it in the laundry basket. Realisitically, you don't...

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Desensitization
and
Counter Conditioning

Desensitization and counter conditioning are often paired together to achieve better results.
For example, a dog that is afraid of bicycles can see them so far away that the dog barely notices them (desensitization). When the dog sees the bicycle, some delicious food can be offered (counter conditioning). Over time the dog can start to see the bicycle closer and closer (desensitization) and still continue to receive food, which will result in a better and more positive response (counter conditioning).