Premier Purchased by Radio Fence

 I'll be watching the results closely, but I for one support the merger if it results in new innovative products for +R training and perhaps change from within.  Heck some of the Radio Systems, Corp. people are going to a CHICKEN CAMP this weekend!  That sounds pretty open minded to me...

Here's the link to Premier's letter to customers

Stupid question--what's a chicken camp?

LOL sorry forgot that the chicken camp term is really only known in a small circle.  Chicken Camp is a clicker training camp using chickens instead of a more typical pet species.  Chickens have much less ability to read human body language and their behaviors are often very fast so working with a chicken will really help improve timing and other clicker training skills.

stardog85

Here's the link to Premier's letter to customers

"In the coming years we can expect to see new and exciting positive training electronic products that have never before been available – products that we believe will offer compelling alternatives to currently available aversives."

I wonder what this could be?

janobonano

stardog85

Here's the link to Premier's letter to customers

 

"In the coming years we can expect to see new and exciting positive training electronic products that have never before been available – products that we believe will offer compelling alternatives to currently available aversives."

I wonder what this could be?

Manners minder is already here... perhaps a collar that dispenses salmon brownies that pop into Fido's mouth???  Dunno, but e-collars are like TV ratings - they don't get dumped unless there's more public demand for something else.  I wonder if Radio Fence might be trying to ride ahead of the wave and hedge their bets in case the tide turns away from shock collars...corporations are so rarely altruistic.

From the Premier Facebook discussion, here's an idea of some of the categories of products under development with RSC:

1) Higher tech tone products. These include products that will store and download data to track training progress; products that offer a variety of tones that can be used for mulitple cues; products that can combine tone with the delivery of reward; products that offer tone options both for reward, and also conditioned response to help interupt problem behaviors without an aversive stimulus. We envision both hand-held as well as remote collar tone options.

2) "Auto-shaping" postive reward products. For example, right now for "nusance" or excessive barking in the owner's absence, the only thing available are aversives... shock, and spray (which some people are ok with, but others are not). There is nothing that currently works with positive reward for quiet behavior. There are many things these "auto" product could do ("auto" meaning it doesn't rely on the timing or lack of timing of the owner), and this category is truly exciting for us!!!... See More

3) Expansion of the spray product line. Although this is technically an aversive, there are many situations in which some ability to interrupt an undesired behavior is part of a comprehensive behavior modification protocol. We can see many possible applications. However, one of the main things we'd like to see built into a line like this is a greater emphasis on teaching and reinforcing a desired, alternative behavior - rather than just trying to stop what you don't want. This can be done with a combination of tone and reward.

4) Vibration products - we've had so many requests over the years for vibration - both for deaf dogs, but also as a long-distance communication tool.

5) Feedback and diagnostic products... if we have a dog with what we think are "separation issues," and we want to begin a behavior modification process (with or without drugs), wouldn't it be great to have a scientifically meausrable base-line for activity levels and vocalizations? Then we'd be able to quantitatively assess the efficacy of the protocol, rather than just rely on anecdotal observation of the owner.

6) Cat related products (I've got three kitties myself, and want some of these NOW!) . Zone control for cats... right now there are motion sensor spray product (like Ssscat or Sk'Daddle) that will help definie off limit areas. But EVERYONE in the house trips them - every cat, every dog, all the people. We envision a way in which certain areas could be "off limits" to specific cats in the house hold, but allow others to have access. This would aid tremendously in working with feline aggression issues, as well has inappropriate house soiling (the #1 reason cats go to shelters and are euthanized).

7) Environmental enrichment, mental stimulation, weight loss - We're working with one current behaviorist on a product that would AUTOMATICALLY teach a dog to play a game that requires them to figure out exactly when to touch a specific target, and to get a reward - and when the target and reward delivery are spaced a distance apart, and when there is a time limit, it will require the dog to hustle to get there. Benefits: mental (learn the game), physical (good exercise, help combat obesiety), overall behavioral wellness... a tired dog is a good dog with a happy owner. :)

I'm always intrigued at new technology, but I hate, hate, hate, providing profit for the manufacture of any more shock collars.  Guess we'll see what happens. 

stardog85

LOL sorry forgot that the chicken camp term is really only known in a small circle.  Chicken Camp is a clicker training camp using chickens instead of a more typical pet species.  Chickens have much less ability to read human body language and their behaviors are often very fast so working with a chicken will really help improve timing and other clicker training skills.

OMG--that sounds fascinating!  I would love to clicker train chickens! 

stardog85

From the Premier Facebook discussion, here's an idea of some of the categories of products under development with RSC:

2) "Auto-shaping" postive reward products. For example, right now for "nusance" or excessive barking in the owner's absence, the only thing available are aversives... shock, and spray (which some people are ok with, but others are not). There is nothing that currently works with positive reward for quiet behavior. There are many things these "auto" product could do ("auto" meaning it doesn't rely on the timing or lack of timing of the owner), and this category is truly exciting for us!!!... See More


5) Feedback and diagnostic products... if we have a dog with what we think are "separation issues," and we want to begin a behavior modification process (with or without drugs), wouldn't it be great to have a scientifically meausrable base-line for activity levels and vocalizations? Then we'd be able to quantitatively assess the efficacy of the protocol, rather than just rely on anecdotal observation of the owner.


7) Environmental enrichment, mental stimulation, weight loss - We're working with one current behaviorist on a product that would AUTOMATICALLY teach a dog to play a game that requires them to figure out exactly when to touch a specific target, and to get a reward - and when the target and reward delivery are spaced a distance apart, and when there is a time limit, it will require the dog to hustle to get there. Benefits: mental (learn the game), physical (good exercise, help combat obesiety), overall behavioral wellness... a tired dog is a good dog with a happy owner. :)

 

These are extremely interesting to me, and I'd love to see them. If we could have a product that could get accurate baseline data about a dog who barks when his owners are away, the things you could do once you had accurate data. Imagine if you could set up the recorder for the baseline, an animal behavior person looks at the data, and you get a plan that's more likely to work. If this device could run a DRO that resets upon occurrence of barking, that's just way too exciting for me!