5.03 Deprivation in Dog Training

What is deprivation, and is there a place for it in dog training?  Is it a good idea to keep you dog confined or isolated to get them more excited about training or working with you?  In this episode the Dunbars discuss the concept of depriving a dog of access to desired behaviors and items as a tool in training.  For some things like food or mental stimulation, there’s a minimum level which the dog needs for physical and mental health.  For many other things, the notion of deprivation can be a relative thing that depends on the dogs’ environment and experience.  Far better than simply depriving a dog of the things they love, why not use the things they love as rewards for the behaviors you want them to perform?  And it’s always good to ask yourself, why do you have a dog in the first place?