Dog Community

What the heck is the 3rd Way?

Amy

Posted : 4/3/2007 9:33:57 AM

I know it is positive, does not use compulsion, and is non-violent. BUT is it based on dominance? Pack mentality? Does it shun lure/reward, and instead rely on capturing, shaping? There is a conference coming up- I can't decide if I want to go because I can't find the right info. I did look at their website. I'm still a little confused.

I got this from their site "THE THIRD WAY uses food to reward a dog#%92s choice to do something right and simply interferes with a dog#%92s choice to do something wrong. By utilizing THE THIRD WAY#%92S exclusive teaching and proofing processes and without force or punishment, owners teach dogs how to ignore food and obey cues. As a result, they are very reliable in the face of strong distractions and are not dependent upon food to be accurate and willing performers. Dogs learn what owners want. Owners are happy, and best of all, dogs are happy, too!

By giving your dog good guidance, using proper management, and educating him by giving him choices about his behavior and then feedback about these choices, you are using the most effective way possible for teaching your dog how to live in harmony with you. You are using THE THIRD WAY!"

This doesn't sound like anything groundbreaking or new, so I'm confused about the name and the hype. Will any of you can help clarify?

Chuffy

Posted : 4/3/2007 9:38:39 AM

Heard of the technique described - loads of pet owners and trainers use it, more or less - but never heard it called that before. I am curious as you are now.

rwbeagles

Posted : 4/3/2007 9:40:38 AM

Thought you might get more responses in Training [

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Amy

Posted : 4/3/2007 11:23:14 AM

thanks, I should have known!

Haleigh

Posted : 4/6/2007 10:19:11 PM

I'm a third way trainer, and my moms friends with the founder, chris bach. Actually, I'm getting a private lesson from her in september.

Chris does not believe in dominance or pack mentality AT ALL. She rather believes that you are the dogs teacher.

She doesn't shun lure/reward at all. That's the basis of the third way. we also do advocate free shaping and capturing.

I have to go to bed, More in the morning

Debbie R

Posted : 4/7/2007 5:19:40 AM

OT Gina who's that baby in your avatar? OMG! what a face, how did you keep from kissing it all day?

spiritdogs

Posted : 4/7/2007 5:41:37 AM

Google on Chris Bach and you will find info on the Third Way. She is a long time competition obedience trainer and invented this system of training. One of our members is about to go to a seminar, so you should hear lots on the forum from that experience.

Amy

Posted : 4/9/2007 4:42:12 PM

Thanks for the info so far, I have searched the Chris bach website, but I'm still not clear. Here's what I get at this point: A third way trainer is: A 100% R+ trainer who uses a combo of lure/reward/capturing/shaping/targeting while rejecting the dominance theory and managing the dog's options until the dog learns the "right" behavior. There is prevention of the opportunity to practice unwanted behavior, but no force or complusion to perform a desired one.

Is that right?
If so, I belive there are many 3rd way trainers out there. Many of them call themselves "true clicker trainers."

So, I still have the original question. How is the 3rd way groundbreaking or exclusive?

snownose

Posted : 4/9/2007 5:03:38 PM

I got this from her website, doesn't look like she likes the reward in form of food program.

Amy

Posted : 4/10/2007 2:04:28 PM

I saw that on their site about the 2nd way, but this is also on the 3rd way website..

"THE THIRD WAY uses food to reward a dog#%92s choice to do something right and simply interferes with a dog#%92s choice to do something wrong. "

Mic Foster

Posted : 4/10/2007 4:05:26 PM

So my understanding is that the "3rd way" is actually the "2nd way" done right.

snownose

Posted : 4/10/2007 4:24:21 PM

So my understanding is that the "3rd way" is actually the "2nd way" done right.

Good grief, how does one know if the second way is done wrong, and the third way has to be implemented, and at what point is the third way the right way??????????[&:]

Angelique

Posted : 4/10/2007 6:32:32 PM

Sounds like positive reinforcement based (without going to the "positive only" extreme), knowing when to draw the line with the treats, and using a social dynamic and communication of boundaries and limits through "teaching" - without getting hung up on the "positive punishment" definitions or the taboo of mentioning the dreaded "D" word. [

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She sounds interesting, balanced, and politically correct. I wonder how her philosophies and handling methods compare to Suzanne Clothier?

TinaK

Posted : 4/10/2007 6:56:29 PM

ORIGINAL: snownose

So my understanding is that the "3rd way" is actually the "2nd way" done right.

Good grief, how does one know if the second way is done wrong, and the third way has to be implemented, and at what point is the third way the right way??????????[&:]

... Or... The 2nd way came from the 1st way done wrong. The 3rd is to overcome the disadvantages of the 1st and 2nd way(s). [8|]My head is spinning now. [sm=rofl.gif] But, I like the attempts at balancing things out. [

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Amy

Posted : 4/10/2007 9:24:16 PM

ORIGINAL: belgmal_girl

Chris does not believe in dominance or pack mentality AT ALL.

Interesting. She must talk about the dominance theory as she rejects it fully, and she must be very involved with the proper application of R+ to the aviodance of the other 3 quadrants... ( I think).

I do think that perhaps it is just "the second way done right?" Which is sort of what I was thinking before- so the hype is just that. I think. It shouldn't be this hard to understand a training philosophy!