What is Zen Logic? The title Zen Logic has two meanings. First, Zen Logic is a training approach based on the concept that giving up what you want can lead to an even better outcome than directly going after it. This class is built on the concept of helping our dogs understand that delaying gratification can be in their best interests. Second, it is an approach to training that makes sense to my Border Collie, Zen! For each exercise I asked myself if this is something that Zen would easily understand. If the answer was “yes” then it became part of the class!
The central principle that underlies this class is that we can teach our dogs to control their impulses without force, coercion, and frustration. Our goal is to introduce and instill a moment of thoughtfulness into common reactions. This gives us a chance to show our dogs how to make good decisions when faced with temptations. All class exercises are based on a win win concept so that both you and your dog get what you want.
Teaching Approach
Lectures and class exercises will be released once a week. These will consist of information about learning & training approaches as well as written descriptions of the class exercises. Numerous videos each week demonstrate a variety of steps in the training process.
Gold students will work at their dog's current skill level, and the instructors will give feedback to encourage progress. Progress with teams will vary due to a number of factors related to training history and the execution of class techniques. Every team will be supported at their current level.
This class will have a Teacher's Assistant (TA) available in the Facebook study group to help the Bronze and Silver students! Directions for joining will be in the classroom after you register.
Deborah Jones, Ph.D. (she/her) is a psychologist who specializes in learning theory and social behavior. She taught a variety of psychology courses at Kent State University for the past 20 years. Deb has been training dogs for performance events for the past 25 years and was an early...(Click here for full bio and to view Deb's upcoming courses)
Judy Keller (she/her) has owned and trained Shelties for more than 20 years. She has been most successful with Morgan, her once in a lifetime dog. Judy and Morgan represented the United States three times in world agility competition, and were on the gold medal winning mini dog team in 1998. (Click here for full bio and to view Judy's upcoming courses)
Lecture 1: Should I stay or should I go? Clear communication with marker cues
Our first step in helping our dogs develop self-control is going to be the opposite of what you might think. Rather than focusing on wait or stay, we are going to teach them a cue that means they can take what they want. Once they clearly understand the “go ahead and take it” cue we will then be able to work on extending the amount of time that they wait to hear it.
In fact, we are going to introduce 2 specific verbal marker cues that tell our dogs they are going to get what they want. One is going to mean that I’m taking the treat to the dog (calm marker) and the other is going to mean that my dog has position to move and get the treat (active marker).
Our first goal in this class is going to be to instill and strengthen the responses to these markers. We want our dogs to wait to hear the marker before taking what they want, and to understand the difference between the two.
Why do we start with this instead of with a cue that tells our dogs NOT to take something? That’s the key difference in our approach and a more traditional one that relies on denying something the dog wants. If we use a cue or physical restraint to tell our dogs to wait or stay then we have become the person who is metaphorically, and possibly sometimes even literally, standing between our dogs and the things they want. We have become a roadblock and a nuisance. Instead, I want to be the person who delivers access to all the awesome things my dog wants. This is an important difference in the dynamic of the relationship I want to have with my dog. If my dog sees me as the gateway to all things important and desirable then they will develop a very positive emotional response to me, and to this type of work. If my dog sees me as an impediment to getting what he wants then I’m simply an obstacle to find a way around.
Beginning this process by granting access and permission also helps us avoid a major pitfall of most impulse control training, frustration. We are always working to minimize the amount of frustration both dog and trainer experience in the process! While minor frustration might be difficult to avoid, and it’s not fatal, it’s still a good plan to minimize it as much as possible. There’s no gain to associating unpleasant emotions with this process.
As we progress in this type of training there will be specific situations in which a cue that means “don’t take that” will be introduced. However, this type of cue will only be used in very clearly defined situations and will be taught in a positive manner. We don’t want to rely on telling our dogs to leave things alone as our major approach. Instead, we want to help our dogs learn that when they encounter temptations the best choice is to look to us for further information about whether that thing is available to them or not.
Week 1 Exercises:
Calm and active release marker cues video (1):
It’s fine to use any two distinct verbal cues for this. Our goal is for the calm marker to mean that the dog just needs to wait and the food will come to him; while the active release marker means that the dog has permission to move in order to get the treat.
During the learning process your dog is likely to make errors, we all do! Don’t worry about it at all. Don’t even let your dog know that an error occurred. Instead, set up the next repetition so that it’s easy enough for your dog to be successful.
*Please note that we are using food to build this foundation. Once we have established a reliable response to the two different markers you may decide to repeat the same basic process with toys. When you move to using toys there are going to be a few differences. For example, rather than handing the toy to your dog you are likely going to give your dog permission to take the toy from your hands, which will involve some movement. So you’ll want a more specific marker for that behavior. You’ll also likely want to differentiate between taking a stationary toy you are holding and taking a toy from the floor or that has been tossed.
Two bowls no waiting (2):
The purpose of this exercise is to establish a rhythm and location for reinforcement to be available. There should be minimal waiting involved between the treat being available and a cue to get it.
Use your active release marker and drop a treat in the bowl. Alternate back and forth between the two bowls. Be certain that you mark first, then drop the treat.
Two bowls waiting (3):
This is the first time we will purposely introduce a short delay into the reinforcement process. We do this by changing the order of events. Now you place the treat in the bowl first, then give your active release marker. This sequence requires your dog to learn that the treat in the bowl is NOT permission to take it; the verbal marker is. Alternate back and forth between the bowls like you did in the last exercise.
If your dog has a tendency to grab the treat place it carefully and give the marker before you move your hand away. Over a handful of repetitions you want to get to the point where you can place the treat, remove your hand, then give the release marker.
Go to station (4):
The approach to this exercise is based on reinforcing our dogs for what we want them to do (spend time on the station) and ignoring what we don’t want (everything else). The scientific terms for this is ‘differential reinforcement’. I’ll talk more about this concept later in the class session.
In order to establish a strong station behavior use a high rate of reinforcement along with your clam marker for being on the mat, and then about every 8-10 reinforcers do an active release with a treat toss. As you continue your sessions slow down your rate of reinforcement.
Our goal is for our dogs to rest calmly and comfortably on the mat until given another cue. For this stage of the process don’t use a cue to tell your dog to get on the mat or stay there. Let your reinforcement do the talking!
A sampling of what prior students have said about this course...
I've taken over 100 Fenzi classes and this was one of the best. Everyone should work through these skills with every dog! I cannot recommend this class enough and Deb and Judy are committed and supportive instructors.
Thank you for this very beneficial class. I live with an impulsive boy who is easily distracted and does not have strong self control. He is a work in progress and this will be a huge help.
This is a fantastic course for breaking down the skills of "stillness" and self control that my dog was so lacking. Even though she is 8 years old (and so you'd think "set in her ways"), she still benefited tremendously from this class, and we'll continue to work on the exercises in the coming months. I'm already seeing ways to carry the exercises over in preparing her for the stationary portions of exercises in Open and Utility obedience classes, and remarkably I'm also already seeing my wild girl exercise some self control in the house (unasked!). As a great side note, the class also helped me improve my rudimentary shaping skills that I hope to keep developing in Deb's next class. I would recommend this as a foundation course for any dog trainer, no matter how beginner or experienced. Thank you, Deb!
I took this class at bronze with my puppy and my 6 year old dog. They both loved the exercises! I loved the method that Deb used to teach impulse control. We will continue to work on these exercises.
Deb, this class has been hugely helpful for me and my dogs. It will also help me with student dogs, as so much of your work has done for years. Thank you.
I love Deb!! Her ability to clearly and concisely break down the behavior has helped me so much in understanding my role in training my dog. I would take any class she offered, on any subject, in a heartbeat!
Thank you so much for this class. It was well-paced, allowing those that advanced a little quicker to move through exercises or variations and those that moved a bit slower to break down the exercises a bit more. I often find myself training frantically, moving fast and treating fast and barely giving my dog a chance to catch up. This class made me slow down when training with my dog which in turn helped calm him down as well. I can see my dog making conscious decisions as opposed to acting impulsively, which is so cool! Thank you!
I have taken many of Dr. Jones’s classes, several at gold. I love the way she breaks things down for us, just like dogs:) She is thorough and easy to communicate with. I always learn from her! And I have loved the classes and caliber of instruction across the board at FDSA since 2013. Char Turner
Registration
Next session starts: April 1, 2025Registration starts: March 22, 2025Registration ends: April 15, 2025
Instructor: Deborah Jones
Instructor: Judy Keller
