Read the ABC before blaming the animal
Diagnose a training problem with antecedent, behavior, and consequence before selecting an intervention.
The move: describe the pattern before choosing the fix. ABC means antecedent -> behavior -> consequence. The antecedent is the setup: place, distance, cue, handler motion, competing reinforcer, pain, fatigue, noise, surface, or social pressure. The behavior is what a camera could record. The consequence is what follows: food, distance, access, attention, escape, pause, restraint, or another chance to rehearse. The power of ABC is that it turns frustration into design. "He is ignoring me" becomes "A: handler calls from 40 feet while dog is sniffing. B: dog keeps nose down. C: handler walks over and clips leash." That description…
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