Prey animals and fostering harmony

I, for one, do accept the success you've had. I've said it before and I will say it again, noise aversion is a classic environmental punishment, one that has been used by trainers of any brand, including Victoria Stillwell from "It's Me or the Dog." And I'm not criticizing the use of punishment as I have also used it, mostly the negative P variety. But anything that stops a behavior can be positive P, whether it's a clanging water bowl or a crappy imitation of Bill Clinton, or even the tone and timbre of Bobcat Goldwaith. That is, a positive P is not always a finger poke, a leash pop, or a kick or whatever. It is a stimulus in the environment or one that is introduced that reduces the likelihood of a behavior repeating.

And if you are willing to share your experience and the dogs quit chasing the cats and the cats show no long term effects of hearing the clanging water bowls, I believe you.

In my own example, where I have trained "off" with rewards, I can say "off" and Shadow will break off in mid-chase. And the cat is no worse for the wear. In fact, at some later time, she will try to instigate another chase. Is she training me to say "off"?

And I'm not trying to get on your good side, either. It's just my apolitical and annoying way of seeing what I see and stating it as I think it, heck or high water.

ron2

I, for one, do accept the success you've had. I've said it before and I will say it again, noise aversion is a classic environmental punishment, one that has been used by trainers of any brand, including Victoria Stillwell from "It's Me or the Dog." And I'm not criticizing the use of punishment as I have also used it, mostly the negative P variety. But anything that stops a behavior can be positive P, whether it's a clanging water bowl or a crappy imitation of Bill Clinton, or even the tone and timbre of Bobcat Goldwaith. That is, a positive P is not always a finger poke, a leash pop, or a kick or whatever. It is a stimulus in the environment or one that is introduced that reduces the likelihood of a behavior repeating.

And if you are willing to share your experience and the dogs quit chasing the cats and the cats show no long term effects of hearing the clanging water bowls, I believe you.

In my own example, where I have trained "off" with rewards, I can say "off" and Shadow will break off in mid-chase. And the cat is no worse for the wear. In fact, at some later time, she will try to instigate another chase. Is she training me to say "off"?

And I'm not trying to get on your good side, either. It's just my apolitical and annoying way of seeing what I see and stating it as I think it, heck or high water.

Thanks Ron, much appreciated.......

Corvus, the rabbit cage is unlatched, meaning the gate is open all the time....and when I let him run he is in an exercise pen (don't want him chewing wires)....the dogs come up and check him out and that's about it......

I do have to add though, not all dogs have needed the banging of a metal drinking bowl....that goes to the real tough cases....mostly, a verbal does the trick....yes, in the beginning one has to use a verbal quiet often, but then dog gets the picture........these days if there is something of interest, like fresh meat in a grocery bag, by the second "AH" out of "AH, AH"....the nose is already turned away......I can only sing praises when it comes to this method.........