“Introduction to Bridge and Target Training”
“Exxxxxxxxcellent manual!!, May 16, 2006
Reviewer: Ryanna –
This is an excellent manual for the beginning trainer. It is probably one of the only manuals that actually tells you how to train… step by step. It doesn’t send you to other resources; this IS the resource! I am a new trainer and this book enabled me to get a good grasp on how to start a training plan, what to expect with animals, and how to work my way around many distractions I may encounter. This is the only training manual you will ever need (except of course the other volumes to come). ”
“How to design your own training program , May 28, 2006
Julie Alexander (Washington state) –
Kayce Cover’s manual is not a how to teach your dog to sit type book. It’s about the full spectrum of life long interactions with an animal. From global life plans addressing changes from infancy to aging animals, vet care, management, day to day events such as being quiet while waiting for food, to perhaps rare events like being shipped on an airline, this book helps you create a plan for the things your animal is likely to encounter, what the animal will need to learn about during its lifetime with you, and how you can teach this. It leads you to the ability to create 2-way communication; the animal has a chance to say “I’m not able to do this yet” and there is a way to play a version of 20 questions so you can ask your animal do you want a drink of water, some food, a chance to play and more. The trainer can efficiently give the animal feedback about how its performance is improving. And if it errs, you can let it know immediately without upsetting the animal. Like the game of hot and cold, as the animal gets closer to the correct response, there is feedback to help it understand exactly what is wanted and if it starts to drift off, gets immediate feedback about where it goofed and when it is again doing it right. This reduces confusion, which improves communication and trust.
Kayce has taken operant conditioning beyond its limits to operant communication. Animals are proving they can understand concepts such as color, states of emotion like calm, reliably identify various objects such as a cell phone or variety of flower, monkeys can be taught to use a video tape player and feed quadraplegics and more.
If you only get one book on training animals, make it this one. ”
Want to add a review? Click on comment, below.