BH400 The Social Approach

This is the breakdown of the class, where each week we'll explore a concept from The Social Approach so you can get a feel for it. Each of these weeks is a lot bigger in the full system, but this will give you a chance to see what we want to emphasize in your training! You'll get to try out each and see what your dog likes, and how you can bring sociality to any aspect of what you train.

Week 1: Playing pretend - Jokes and dares

The games this week will teach you how to spark curiosity in your dog, and how to communicate that your dog is invited to play! We'll explore what it means to say that you're kidding, so that you can say both "I'm trying to get away" and "come get me, don't let me get away!" in the same act, which is the nature of a joke!

The Meerkat - Meerkats say "peek-a-boo!" and disappear, and dogs love it!
The Thief - Thieves try to get away with things, but oh no, they get caught!
The Spider - The spider sure hopes he doesn't get seen or chased, and will run away if scared!

Lecture: Pragmatics, or the art of conversation
Lecture: What is The Social Approach?

Week 2: Roundabout - A circular conversation

This week we stand in an ex-pen with our dog on the outside, and we play movement games! This arrangement can open up a ton of options for playing with toys, food, and most of all, you! Movement is a dog's natural language, and this week will reveal a lot about what you do together.

Introduction to circles - let's learn what body language causes movement
Hurry up - in which you load the spring and build enthusiasm
Finding flow - putting this in conversation, and making a full game
Expansion pack - little jokes to tell

Lecture: Proxemics, or the collaborative use of social space
Lecture: How to listen in dog

Week 3: Dots and noodles - walking conversations

Dots are the places that call your dog on your walking adventures, and we want you to join them in their interests! You can get there together, and see your walks a whole new way. Do you know where the dots are on your walks?

The noodle is your leash, and your leash doesn't stop at your hand! If your dog pulls, even occasionally, having a quiet social conversation about it can reduce the conflict that comes up. This week you'll learn how to relax your arm, and talk "feet to feet" with your pullers.

Dot games: Walking together, finding treasure at the end

-Dot to dot
-Dot dot forgot
-Dot dot neener
-Dot dot where?

Noodles: Walking together in a subtle exchange
-Train your eye
-What is a noodle arm?
-Talking feet to feet

Lecture: Movement synchrony

Week 4: Bubbles and bands - using your movement to push and pull

Space bubbles and rubber bands are the theme this week, and that means really understanding the space between you and how it intersects. What happens when the bubbles bump? If you want to be close to your dog, or to invite your dog to be close to you, knowing their natural language and what your own behavior causes will be key. Let's make sure your words and your body say the same thing!

Train your eye - can you see dogs doing this?
Gas and brakes - want more gas? Pull! Want more brakes? Bubble!
Wet dog - you don't want them, but you get them anyway. Bands!
Keepaway - pulling and pushing with flow and speed makes the game work

Lecture: Bubble trouble

Week 5: Search party: the hero

Your walks can fulfill your dog's exploration needs if she gets to direct you to where the dots are, and you can lean into that and place some for her enjoyment! This week we explore different ways of doing that, and we'll discuss the social elements that allow you to share in their world.

The rescue - "I remember where it is!"
The discovery - "Omg, what's this doing here?"
The side quest - "I searched and found it!"

Lecture: What dogs should be like

Week 6: Are you in conversation?

We'll wrap up our journey into The Social Approach with games that connect you and let you appreciate the language you've built together.

Finding each other - Can you put together the elements and tell this new joke?
Grocery surprise - Sharing the spoils of your great grocery hunt, and seeing if there might be a special surprise!
Vigilance for lizards - Joint attention and hunting together, with a new sensitivity

Lecture: Why you want a naughty dog

Teaching Approach

This class has two instructors and you will get the benefit of our combined expertise throughout the class. We (Amy and Josefin) have developed this system together, and are collaborating in teaching it to you throughout the term. We may vary who types the answer to you, but you can rest assured that the answers you get are from the both of us. You may ask us specific questions about technique and timing, but we do hope you'll want to engage with the underlying concepts as well and will welcome discussion around the foundation of this approach.

We will release lectures throughout the week, and there will be assignments with video support for you to follow. Some of those videos have a voiceover, but they also have captions. The videos get you started, and we fine tune in the gold threads. Each week will also have lectures without assignments, for us to expand on certain concepts we want to highlight.

Our feedback to the golds will be detailed and supportive, and broad enough for others to learn from, thus we highly encourage that to get the best from the class that you make time to read at least the feedback on all the gold threads. We have both indoor and outdoor exercises, some leash walking and long line walkng if possible. There will be food used mainly, though toys are welcome and can be included in most instances. Some of the exercises are done on the floor or bed, but for most you will be standing and moving and going on walks.

This class does not have a TA as this is the first time it is offered!

Dog training has come a long way in the past few decades. With kind methods, we can train dogs to an unprecedented level of precision. By setting up for success, splitting criteria, and using well-timed, intentionally placed rewards, we’ve turned the act of telling dogs what to do into a science. The evolution of dog training has made us clear, confident speakers.

So, what about being a great listener?

How we feel about communicating and engaging, depends on how well the other person listens. We all know what it’s like to talk to someone who’s not really listening, just waiting for their turn to speak. Bad listeners shut us down, and the same is true for dogs.

We are drawn to those who make us feel heard. It’s one of the many reasons we love dogs: They’re excellent listeners. Their pricked ears and tilted heads are so powerful, they can conduct therapy and teach kids to read. Words flow easily when we feel safe, appreciated, and free from judgment. It’s about time we return the favor. Listening is not passive, it's an activity, a skill. When done right, it removes friction, dissolves tension and makes problems figure-outable. Shut down dogs come alive, and frantic dogs are soothed as they turn into confident speakers, capable of making themselves understood. Refining your listening skills opens the door to conversations you didn’t realize you needed to have, and interactions you didn't think were possible.