We’d love to hear from those of you who are using BAT. Please post your comments here! There are also some expert reviews of the book (Patricia McConnell, Leslie McDevitt, Teoti Anderson, and Virginia Broitman) on the BAT book page.
Note: This is not a discussion or a place for questions, but rather feedback from trainers, behaviorists, and regular folks who have used BAT. For a lively discussion, please join the functionalrewards Yahoo group.
The first dog I used BAT with was a 5-year-old Therapy Dog who had been allowed to develop some fear-related lunging and barking at other dogs over the previous year or two without his owner realizing what was happening. With BAT and some control techniques for the owner, he is on his way to going back to his work because he has learned to consistently turn his head away or sniff the ground when he wants another dog to give him space, and his owner has learned to be observant of her dog’s body language. BAT worked just beautifully in this case for both owner and dog. I’ve used it in several other cases and gained lots of progress, but nothing like this one. I think our success was partially because the dog’s behavior was fairly new and the result of a couple of isolated events, not developing steadily through his life, and BAT really helped us change the behavior at its core.
BAt is part of just about everything we do at friends for life dog training. We use it in our puppy classes, as well as or adult dog manners classes. I love the BAT approach so much hat I became a CBATI and cannot imagine life with out it. So many methods rarely teach or give the ability for the dog to make choices where as BAT is all about giving the opportunity for choices. BAT is also a very simple approach that is easy for clients to do for the most part. BAT also teaches clients to be able to read their dogs more effectively and to recognize their dog triggers to different things in the environment. Since the inception of BAT literally thousands of dogs and other animals have been helped. As BAT continues to evolve and grow it will reach many more people with reactive and fearful dogs. With the Instructor training program spreading all over the world we will be able to reach many more trainers and pet parents and continue to spread the message of this very positive and successful method. Thanks you Grisha for changing so many lives with BAT
Dennis Fehling CPDT KA CBATI
I attended a 2 day seminar recently. I was a bit skeptical that I could apply B.A.T in the limited and not always secure environment at the PetSmart in which I train. However, I recently finished a private training session with a client whose boston terrier was fearful of strange people & dogs. (not aggressively- just reactive and/or retreating depending on the situation). The owner did 4 weeks of private training (1 hour) per week.
The 1st week was a “get to know me” session for the dog. It took the majority of the hour with some counter conditioning (and yummy chicken) for the dog to approach me. The following week, it only took her 10 minutes. By week 4 she approached without needing food and even followed me around the class a bit. In all, I really only had 3 weeks to employ what B.A.T techniques I was able in the store setting. In just those 3 weeks the dog showed improvement in the store and her owner reported she saw a difference in the dog at home as well using the combination of B.A.T and the other tools I gave her for home use.
I could tell at their last session she was happy with what we were doing and the progress her dog made and that she would continue working with the dog. Thank you for what you do and for sharing your knowledge with the rest of us.
I have been using BAT with reactive dog clients for a couple of years now, and am always pleasantly surprised by the results. Clients tend to be ecstatic, and remarks such as “I’ve never seen him this calm near a dog before,” are common. They are relieved to be able to stop the behaviour that was making walks such a nightmare for them, and with so little drama. I think this email from the owner of a 7-year-old German Shepherd Dog sums it up nicely:
“I was so downhearted before I contacted you as all I could foresee was a future with an anti-social dog that the neighbourhood feared. But after the training sessions with you (and a lot of hard work at home) I can’t wait to take Guy out & as a consequence he is fitter, slimmer & more content than I’ve ever seen him in our 3 years together. In fact I think I’m fitter, slimmer & more content as well!”
Beverley Courtney
Good for Dogs!
Worcestershire