Operant Conditioning for Training Dog

While I was in Florida I had an opportunity to watch a K9 demonstration where I was amazed at how much focus and, yes, control, this trainer had with his dog.

I had an opportunity to talk with the trainer (his dog was a rescue dog) about training styles (when these dogs are working, it is really the ultimate game for them, they are not mean animals). He told me two things: 1) the more he learns, the more he realizes how much he doesn't know and 2) he wished he had learned long ago about Operant Conditioning and dog training.

Here's a great starting place if you want to learn more about this type of training/behavior modification: http://shibashake.com/dog/operant-conditioning-and-dog-training.