Dog Food Academy  Academy 

Our Training Model

Executive Summary

At Dog Food Academy, we utilize three fundamental ideologies, in regard to canine behavior modification:

  • Biopsychosocial Model
  • Scientific Method
  • LIMA Principle
While each concept is taught in their respective modules, in this section we will explore how these concepts are put into practice.
 

1. Observational Framework: The Biopsychosocial Model

  • Overview – Understanding the complex relationships between our biology, psychology, and sociology, pushes us to capture a whole-life picture; to think critically about all facets of the animal’s life; and illuminates multiple routes to success.
  • Our Intake Assessments – Because our intake assessments are derived from the Biopsychosocial Model, they include questions that are rarely asked by pet professionals. This provides us with key insights that others may overlook.

2. Experimentational Framework: The Scientific Method

  • Overview – The scientific method provides us with a well-researched set of procedures that integrates beautifully into dog training.
  • Our Assumptions – We do not operate on the premise that we can truly “know” what animals are thinking or feeling. Instead, we understand that there are only assumptions about the animal’s cognition – and those assumptions could be accurate, inaccurate or a mixture of both.
  • Our Education – We favor clear, well-researched evidence; the data will always take precedent. However there are many instances where the data is ambiguous or nonexistent; in these spaces, we are free to experiment – in search of the answer.
  • Our Training – We are are not constrained to single model of dog training such as “R+”, “Balanced”, or “Scientific” training. We are free to use what is appropriate to the individual and we understand that each animal is different – there is no body of research for one dog.

3. Ethical Framework: The LIMA Principle

  • Overview and Ethics – It is important to understand that behavior modification can lead to intense negative outcomes, if the trainer is under-educated or unethical. The Least Invasive Minimally Averse (LIMA) Principle allows us to define ethics as it pertains to our procedural technique. While averse techniques may be available to us, we can rest assured that there is a lengthy process before we cross into that territory.

The marriage of these three concepts is what makes us unique. This mixture of training philosophies ensures that the animal is treated as an individual, in a consistent and controlled manner, and with the utmost of ethics in mind.

With this outlook, we believe that we can truly advance the industry towards a better and healthier place.

Editorial Note: at the time of writing (December 23rd, 2023) we believe we are the only establishment to take the biopsychosocial model and apply it to dog training, in addition, we are the only establishment to have paired it with the Scientific Method and LIMA.

Intake

Before any client training can take place, we must first seek a deep understanding of the client, their pet, and their dynamic relationship with the world around them. 

This is our intake phase, where clients are asked to fill out the three assessments on Dog Food Academy. Following the Biopsychosocial Model, the assessments cover these key areas:

1. Biology or “Body” – The physical traits of the animal, such as:

  • Genetics
  • Neurochemistry
  • Physicality
  • Metabolism
  • Digestion
  • Exercise
  • Injury
  • Physical history

2. Psychology or “Mind” – Mental traits, such as:

  • Personality
  • Neuroscience
  • Mentation
  • Behavior
  • Trauma
  • Psychological history

3. Sociology or “Environment” – Relationships between the animal and the world, such as:

  • Animal-human, animal-animal, or animal-stimuli relationships
  • Owner and associates’ psychology, cognitive ability, and fiscal ability.
  • Environment or climate of household and surrounding geography
  • History thereof
Once we have collected this data, we ask follow-up questions, to gain as much insight as possible. For example:
 

1. Anxiety

  • What is the animal’s natural personality, and can the owner discern it?
  • Does the owner understand the negative reinforcers in their environment?
  • Does the owner invite and maintain play?
  • Is there any verifiable history of abuse, or is it simply assumed?
  • Does the owner have the emotional capacity for patience and assertiveness?
2. Aggression
  • Does the sociological environment invite frustration, rage, or annoyance?
  • Are the animal’s psychological needs maintained, ignored, or subverted?
  • Is the animal integrated into the environment properly?
  • Can the owner identify between fear-aggression and predatory-aggression? 
  • What are the positive reinforcers in the environment?
3. Hyperactivity
  • What is the lifestyle of the owner and the animal?
  • Can the owner discern neuroticism verses boredom?
  • Are there biological promoters that contribute to the animal’s behavior?
  • Does the owner have the physical and mental capacity to modify this behavior?

We dig deeper than most professionals. Many veterinarians simply don’t have the time, and many trainers lack the expertise. 

Through education and patience, we’re here to teach everyone how to be their dog’s superhero.

Research

Moving into the research phase of our process, we prioritize evidence-first, well-documented, data – there are many solutions, tried and true, to common behavioral issues. We’re not here to simply put forward our opinion, we’re here to respect all of the educators and researchers that have come before us. We stand on the shoulders of giants, after all.

Acquiring this knowledge is no small feat, and requires immense study of the industry. The Dog Food Academy staff have spent decades studying animals and, for most, it has been a life-long endeavor.

Some educational material that we find foundational:

  • Applied Dog Behavior and Training – This three volume series of textbooks is the largest collection of evidence-based, canine-focused practices that exists on the market.
  • Small Animal Clinical Nutrition – A 1,300 page textbook, and a wealth of knowledge regarding the biology of small animals.
  • Affective Neuroscience – The first of it’s kind, this textbook gives us definitive, empirical evidence regarding the development of emotion.

While this is only a small sample of our professional acumen, a full list of our educational material can be found in the Recommended Reading section.

Ethics

Before putting pen to paper and writing a training plan, we have a responsibility to ensure that our methods are ethical, and promote the well-being of all parties involved. This is where the LIMA Principle comes into play.

  • Term: LIMA – Least Intrusive, Minimally Averse

While the LIMA Principle is loosely defined (although the CCDPT has done a great job expanding upon the principle), the ideology is as follows:

  1. Gather and evaluate the intervention techniques that are relevant to the situation.
  2. Rank techniques in order of severity with regard to aversion and intrusiveness.
  3. Techniques are used sequentially, beginning with the least invasive and minimally averse.
  4. After each application, the trainer considers the validity of their hypothesis and its observations.
  5. Only continue until the first signs of behavior modification – then remain at that level of technique.

By utilizing the LIMA Principle, we produce a framework of graded intensity, where animals are neither under-stimulated nor over-stimulated. For example:

1. Under-Stimulated Animals

  • May not recognize, perceive, or understand the stimuli.
  • Continue, or evolve, the unwanted behavior, which can be detrimental to the animal or those around it.

2. Over-Stimulated Animals 

  • Undergo destructive learning, where the stimuli creates additional unwanted behaviors.
  • May suppress behaviors, leading to inconsistency, untrustworthiness, or sudden  aggression.

In addition to LIMA, we understand that learning is an iterative process, which requires frequent rehearsal, practice, and exposure. The goal is to integrate these behaviors in such a way that creates peace, harmony, and wellbeing.

Design

Next, it’s time to enter the design phase of our training curriculum. Keeping in mind the lessons of the Biopsychosocial Model and LIMA, we must prepare a hypothesis to test. For example:

1. Barking Hypotheses

  • The animal is fearful and displays distance-increasing signals.
  • The animal is enticed and is frustrated.
  • The animal is excited and presents distance-decreasing signals.
  • The animal is confused or disoriented, and thus performs self-preservation behaviors.

2. Biting Hypotheses

  • The animal is dominant and is conducting dominance-competence hierarchical behavior.
  • The animal is playful and is exhibiting engagement behaviors
  • The animal is fearful and displaying self-preservation behaviors.
Once our hypothesis is formed, it must be paired with the appropriate, evidence-based techniques, such as: 
 
  • Classical Conditioning
  • Counter-Conditioning
  • Graded Exposure Therapy
  • Marker or Target-Based Training
  • Operant Conditioning
  • Positive or Negative Reinforcement
  • Play Therapy
However we don’t forget about technique that create biopsychosocial harmony, such as:
  • Building a relationship with their current vet, retailer, groomer, or other trainer.
  • Partnering with a professional to aid in nutritional well-being.
  • Changing or creating an environment that promotes peace and calm.
  • Recommending cognitive or behavioral therapy for the owner (human training).

By formulating and testing our hypothesis, we are not committing the approach to “right or wrong”. Instead, we evaluate whether a particular choice was “helpful or harmful”.

Experiment

The Experimentation Phase is where clients, and other pet professionals, are taught how to train their animal. While it may seem like a great idea for the Academy to take the reins and train the dog, the responsibility ultimately lies with the owner – it’s their job to train the dog, it’s our job to train them.

Let’s be clear: our goal is to teach owners, and pet professionals, how to be the best trainer that they can be. The only way to ensure that the animal continues to thrive and flourish, is to educate and empower the owner. 

Though we all learn differently, there are key areas to our success:

1. Mentorship

  • We are guides that can articulate the solution.
  • When needed we can keep it simple, or dive deep.
  • We are patient, kind, and truly care.

2. Encouragement

  • Everyone deserves, and is worthy of, genuine praise and appreciation.
  • Everyone learns at their own pace, and in their own way.

3. Culture

  • You’re allowed to make mistakes
  • You’re allowed to ask questions
  • You’re allowed to struggle
  • You’re allowed to succeed

Review

We do not operate on the premise that we can truly “know” what animals are thinking or feeling. We understand these hypotheses are only assumptions about the animal’s cognition, based upon our ability to assess the animal’s outward behavior, and relate that behavior to our own cognitions.

Even with the vast knowledge available to us, there is no study that captures all the unique and complex traits of the individual dogs we work with. There is still much room for interpretation, exploration, and learning.

This is the Review Phase, where we determine whether our efforts were helpful or harmful.

  • Was there progress towards the target behavior?
  • Did our experimentation confirm or deny our hypothesis?
  • Are we moving towards a place of health and well-being, or simply compliance?

In most cases, we are able to make a positive difference after just one session. Getting the solution correct can be life changing, and we strive for that outcome every single time.

That being said, we embrace failure, and the steps required to recover from it. Remember, this is an iterative process – it’s okay to fail, that’s how we refine the system.

Iterate

During this journey, we have been careful to stay on a well-worn path. Each phase of our process follows the Scientific Method:

  • Observe
  • Research
  • Design
  • Experiment
  • Review

Now we arrive at the Iterative Phase, where make the necessary changes to continue our pursuit of success. 

1. Intake

  • Did we collect enough data?
  • Were we able to perceive key behaviors?
  • Were we able to identify pertinent factors?

2.Research

  • Was the research relevant to our problem?
  • Did we assess the validity of the source?

3. Design

  • Did we make accurate assumptions?
  • Was the research adequately incorporated into the plan?
  • Did we capture the major variables?

4. Experiment

  • Were we able to perform well?
  • Did we discover road-blocks that weren’t in the plan?

5. Review

  • Did we capture enough data?
  • Are we viewing the data in an unbiased mindset?
  • Did we prove or disprove our hypothesis?

By utilizing the Scientific Method, we encourage an environment where the pursuit of success reigns supreme. If an experiment proves unsuccessful, we can simply go back to the drawing board and try again – that’s just part of the journey.

It’s about embracing both the failures and the successes along the way; it’s about fostering learning, understanding, and growth, above all else.

Inspire

While we are educated individuals, we do not proclaim to know everything about dogs – there is still much to learn! As time continues, training philosophies will continue to evolve and refine. As such, we will update our own model to reflect the highest standard of care possible. 

Our aim is to increase the quality of life of healthy animals. By sharing our knowledge, we hope to educate and empower our clientele, our pet professionals, and the industry as a whole.

After reading this article, we hope you have a better understanding of us, our mindset, and our processes. Hopefully this inspires you, or those around you, to be the best pet parent that you can be. 

Now, go and play with your dog!