Does your Dog Discriminate? You Betcha!
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In this episode of Off Leash And Unfiltered, Kati Peppe—owner of Diamond K9 Dog Training in Biddeford, Maine—unpacks why a dog can look rock-solid with you and “forget everything” around other people or in new places. She breaks down how dogs form associations (order of operations, cues, and markers), why generalization takes reps across contexts, and how discrimination makes dogs notice when rules don’t apply—like when a softhearted relative is in the room. A candid “cat-food caper” from Kati’s home shows why consequences must be meaningful—especially when you’re not there—to make behavior changes stick.
Heads up: the mic wasn’t plugged in for this one—but the lesson absolutely is.
- Clear teaching sequence: cue → help the behavior → mark → reward.
- Timing matters: don’t stack steps; let each one predict the next.
- Generalization takes deliberate reps in different places and with distractions.
- Stopping behavior is simpler: “no” → consequence (that the dog wants to avoid).
- Dogs discriminate quickly when accountability disappears—plan for that.
Minute-by-Minute Breakdown
- 01:04 – Audio note (mic mishap) and why “punishing mistakes” makes them memorable.
- 02:00 – Who we are: Diamond K9 (Biddeford, ME) and the purpose of the podcast.
- 02:57 – Corrections and punishment are healthy and necessary for functional behavior.
- 05:53 – Pavlov, predictors, and order of operations for teaching cues.
- 07:52 – Teaching “sit”: say the cue first, then help the behavior—no food in view.
- 09:08 – Markers (“yes”/clicker) predict food; how to stretch delay without losing clarity.
- 11:53 – Slow down the sequence so A → B → C is unmistakable to the dog.
- 13:06 – Generalization: the same cue must work in new rooms, with people, at the park.
- 15:48 – Eliminating behaviors: “no” → meaningful consequence (e-collar, leash pop, bonk).
- 17:40 – Timing tip: don’t overlap “no” and the correction—show prediction, not chaos.
- 19:43 – Discrimination explained: dogs spot “no consequences with Mom/Grandma.” Gary Wilkes’ door-stop example.
- 24:06 – Kati’s cat-food story: training for when you’re present and when you’re not.
- 24:56 – Why the “bowl must be hot”: consequences must be memorable to stick in your absence.
- 26:35 – Proofing & periodic tests; eight-hour success—except when Mom babysits.
- 29:30 – If you feel judged correcting your dog, manage instead (crate/avoid the setup).
- 32:30 – Takeaway: dogs follow patterns, not malice—be consistent and clear.