Behavior Adjustment Training (BAT) is a dog training approach developed by dog trainer Grisha Stewart. BAT is designed to help dogs with behavior problems, particularly those related to reactivity, fear, and aggression. The primary goal of BAT is to empower dogs by giving them more control over their environment and reducing their stress or fear triggers.
Here's an overview of the key principles of BAT training:
• Empowerment. BAT training focuses on allowing the dog to make choices and decisions, giving them a sense of control. This approach helps the dog feel less threatened or overwhelmed in certain situations.
• Distance. BAT uses distance as a key component to manage a dog's reaction to a trigger (e.g. another dog). By creating a safe distance between the dog and the trigger, the dog has the opportunity to observe and assess the situation without becoming overly aroused or anxious.
• Desensitization. BAT encourages gradual exposure to the trigger while maintaining a safe distance. This helps the dog become more comfortable and less reactive over time.
• Functional Rewards. In BAT, the dog is rewarded with the opportunity to move away from the trigger when they display appropriate, calm behavior. This "reward" reinforces desired behaviors and helps the dog feel more in control.
• Observation. Observing the dog's body language and communication signals is crucial in BAT training. By understanding the dog's emotional state and recognizing early signs of discomfort, the pet parent can make informed decisions about when to move closer or farther away from the trigger.
• Human Skills. Successful BAT training requires the pet parent (or trainer) to be skilled in reading the dog's body language and making appropriate decisions about when to move or when to reward the dog.
• Positive Reinforcement. BAT is a positive reinforcement-based training method, meaning that desirable behaviors are rewarded, and undesirable behaviors are ignored rather than punished.
1. Understand your dog's body language. Develop a solid understanding of your dog's body language. If you're unsure about assessing their feelings and body language accurately, seek guidance from an in-person trainer. You can find a trainer in your area through this directory.
2. Identify your dog’s triggers. Document your dog's triggers and choose one trigger to begin with. Triggers are people, places, or things that cause reactivity or anxiety in your dog. Focus on one trigger at a time, especially if your dog has multiple triggers.
3. Be sure you can control your dog’s exposure to their triggers. Plan how to expose your dog to their trigger in a controlled environment. For example, if your dog is anxious around other dogs, visit a park where there are opportunities to observe other dogs from a distance.
4. Determine the distance at which your dog remains calm. Start by creating a safe distance from the trigger where your dog feels relaxed. For instance, if your dog is calm at 40 feet from another dog but reactive at 30 feet, maintain the 40-foot distance.
5. Reward calm behavior. Reward your dog for staying calm when exposed to the trigger. For example, if your dog looks at their trigger, like another dog, and remains calm, give them a treat and create additional distance from the trigger. This combination of treats and space serves as positive reinforcement for your dog.
6. Respect your dog’s choices. Never force your dog to approach what scares them. Allow them to make gradual choices to get closer. Each time your dog decides to turn away or make a non-reactive choice, reward them. This reinforces positive decisions and teaches your dog that they can choose to walk away instead of reacting in the future.
7. Gradual desensitization. Gradually decrease the distance from the trigger while monitoring your dog's comfort level. Ensure the environment remains positive and low-stress.
8. Stop if your dog has a negative reaction. If your dog has a negative reaction during the session, stop for the day. This indicates that they got too close to the trigger. Resume the training on another day when your dog is calm and relaxed.
More on BAT
• Overview of BAT on Grisha Stewart’s website
Products we love
• Lamb lung dog treats. Dogs love these and they're perfect because they're very small.
• Treat pouch. A pouch is a great place to hold your treats during a training session
