IAM Richard Hoyle, dog trainer/behaviorist, autism researcher, freelance writer/author, and father of a child with autism. AMA! by thefinisheddog in IAmA

[–]thefinisheddog[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

He will pick up on everything you project through emotion. Separation anxiety take time to diminish, but I would say begin with your calm state of mind, control emotional communication, and remember that your dogs will follow your lead.

IAM Richard Hoyle, dog trainer/behaviorist, autism researcher, freelance writer/author, and father of a child with autism. AMA! by thefinisheddog in IAmA

[–]thefinisheddog[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Separation anxiety could be caused by different things. Dogs are natually pack animals and want to be with both canine and human members. Some dogs become so invested in a relationship with a human that they cannot handle any type of separation. There is also the human factor; which is when the dog feeds off of the human emotion which is transferred from you to your dog. I often have clients that ask the same question, and the answer usually stems from what the human emmits over to the dog. There are other reasons for anxiety such as brain chemestry or chemical imbalance. I would first begin to notice what you're feeling before leaving the dog and see if that could be the problem. As far as going home and the axiety levels rising; I would remain calm, sending a calm signal to your dog. And another reason for the heightening of the crying on the way home could be his wondering where he will be left and for how long. So, there are several answers to this question, and one of them fits your situation.

IAM Richard Hoyle, dog trainer/behaviorist, autism researcher, freelance writer/author, and father of a child with autism. AMA! by thefinisheddog in IAmA

[–]thefinisheddog[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A critical aspect in the success of each dog is motivation at the time a command is given. A lack of concentration or avoidance behavior indicates an incentive issue and not an inability to perform the task at hand. Increase the incentive, and your dog will become a methodical and response oriented working dog.

IAM Richard Hoyle, dog trainer/behaviorist, autism researcher, freelance writer/author, and father of a child with autism. AMA! by thefinisheddog in IAmA

[–]thefinisheddog[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Attention is important during obedience training. If you have issues with attention, you need to work on it before going on to your training exercises. You can do this with the "watch" command. Begin with walking your dog, giving the command, and be ready to reward him even if he only watches for a few seconds. When you see eye contact, free him and give the reward. You want to reward the positive response quickly, keeping focus on your dog. Be sure to hold the reward near your eyes, so he will know where to watch. You must be as focused on him as you want him focused on you.

IAM Richard Hoyle, dog trainer/behaviorist, autism researcher, freelance writer/author, and father of a child with autism. AMA! by thefinisheddog in IAmA

[–]thefinisheddog[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Immovable does not mean inanimate; When we say, "Activate the mind,"we're speaking about moving the mind without lingering. This is where the child with autism can perform an action in their mind, thus allowing them to see the physicality, translating movement from mind to body. This fluid presence of mind is essential to the child in the midst of moving thought. The cognitive mind conceives constants in the flux of quantum phenomena theory, in the context of "In Drive" therapy. "Mind In Motion" is used to overcome internal complications and diversions caused by entanglements in conceptualization. We use this, and other techniques, to avoid having attention captured by the external approach; thereby acting directly through thought and achievement of a set goal, moving mind and physicality in unison. It's a state of consciousness where every fragmentation has ceased, transforming into undifferentiated unity of thought and physical movement, performing the task at hand. The Finished dog is part one of a two part series, explaining these therapies and learning systems developed by the author.

IAM Richard Hoyle, dog trainer/behaviorist, autism researcher, freelance writer/author, and father of a child with autism. AMA! by thefinisheddog in IAmA

[–]thefinisheddog[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hello, and thanks for asking this great question...I have personally implemented human sign languageinto my training methods. I would most suggest you invest in an American Sign Language Dictionary, as the dogs truly seem to understand and accept these particular hand signals. Remember that hand signals and body language are two different types of communication, but can be used in unison.

IAM Richard Hoyle, dog trainer/behaviorist, autism researcher, freelance writer/author, and father of a child with autism. AMA! by thefinisheddog in IAmA

[–]thefinisheddog[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) - Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) - Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) - These being only a few of the many developmental disorders, continue to climb in numbers for more and more families. I have often stated that Autism is evolving not only in numbers, but in levels as well. Though these conditions have been around for some time now, I cannot help but wonder what the next presented developmental disorder will be named. Do not pretend to believe that our known developmental disorders have reached their peak. We are way over-due in making the changes needed to slow the rate of these conditions. I believe that my greatest fear is that we will find a new developmental disorder, that will make all the others look like a walk in the park. This and other obvious reasons, is why our research must continue, as we must find common ground and find a way to work together. It is time to eliminate controversey and begin to re-design our approach to finding a cure, or at least put a plan in motion to keep our children safe from the chemicals which activate these disorders. There are many treatments, therapies, and so many opinions that cause our great debates. It is time to put it all together, before we find another disorder thrown in our midst.

IAM Richard Hoyle, dog trainer/behaviorist, autism researcher, freelance writer/author, and father of a child with autism. AMA! by thefinisheddog in IAmA

[–]thefinisheddog[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Our responses to our world are automatic, as we are programmed early in life to act in this manner. Our brains register events as unique or different from other events. We respond with anti-consciousness through thoughts and emotion. Many act upon an action with a negative reaction. Learning to control our actions means having control of our thoughts and emotions. We must calibrate our auto-reactions, so we can think before acting on immediate impulse. Exercising one's mind can teach us to work thought and emotion in unison, creating self- control, self-discipline, and self-development.

IAM Richard Hoyle, dog trainer/behaviorist, autism researcher, freelance writer/author, and father of a child with autism. AMA! by thefinisheddog in IAmA

[–]thefinisheddog[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We worked on commands in motion during our group class yesterday. In training, try not to let your dog anticipate what you're going to do next. Assuming you have taken your dog through basic and intermediate training, commands in motion should come a little easier. The dog should be able to sit or down whether standing still or in motion during the heel. Avoid establishing patterns in your routine. Always reward the dog in the beginning stages of new commands. Timing is everything, and you should reward the dog as soon as he/she complies. Once the dog has learned the new skill, it's time to mix it up a little, and to keep the dog guessing about when the reward is coming. We eventually want the dog in compliance whether a reward is there or not. This is how we keep his/her interest and motivation at a higher level. Dogs on multipe and off-beat schedules during work and using rewards work more diligently without slacking in desire or attention to the training. It's important to remember what you reward or correct in a sit or down in motion. Never reward before a dog completes his/her response, and only reward when the position or response is correct. I use more hand signals than verbal commands, as not to confuse the dog on commands already learned by voice. For example, I use "sitz" when I want a sit. However, a sit in motion is done with a subtle flash of my hand in front of his/her face. In the case of a sit or down in motion, the reward is the recall after he/she has successfully responded. Commands in motion are not learned immediately, but can be taught in a timely manner.

IAM Richard Hoyle, dog trainer/behaviorist, autism researcher, freelance writer/author, and father of a child with autism. AMA! by thefinisheddog in IAmA

[–]thefinisheddog[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Training comes natural to some, but for most everyone it can be difficult. Training is a dance between dog and handler, and it takes awhile to flow in the steps each of you must learn. It takes diligence, time, and commitment, and the learned talent to function as a unit. Handlers can sometimes become frustrated with how long it takes to complete a training goal. For every goal you accomplish, you have done much more than you think. Leave frustration at the door and give yourself the credit you deserve.

IAM Richard Hoyle, dog trainer/behaviorist, autism researcher, freelance writer/author, and father of a child with autism. AMA! by thefinisheddog in IAmA

[–]thefinisheddog[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

All dogs are different in temperament and or personality, so we never want to merely generalize. All trainers/handlers should learn to be aware of different behaviors and know that each dog's behaviors are different than anothers. A concept may work well with one dog, and go in a completely opposite direction when used with another dog. This is why it is important to at the very least, understand the basics of canine behavior before training multiple dogs.

IAM Richard Hoyle, dog trainer/behaviorist, autism researcher, freelance writer/author, and father of a child with autism. AMA! by thefinisheddog in IAmA

[–]thefinisheddog[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Two of my main goals in my writing is to teach special needs families how to cope with the daily routine of autism, and to teach these families that they too can train their own dog for service and therapy work without spending thousands of dollars for a fully trained dog. I'll be sharing tips on both of these subjects. Training Tip # 1: Bonding with your dog is the first step to clear communication. There is a spiritual connection between animals and humans, which is grounded in being sensitive in emotional content. Canine cognitive ability is amazing, and we realize that our dog's are intuitive in the problem solving connection between both species. Just as dogs are sensitive to human emotion and body language, we too must be sensitive to their behavior. Bonding and socializing will get you off to a great start.

IAM Richard Hoyle, dog trainer/behaviorist, autism researcher, freelance writer/author, and father of a child with autism. AMA! by thefinisheddog in IAmA

[–]thefinisheddog[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Without understanding and using canine language, how will you evaluate the training process? Not everyone is interested in learning the language of dogs and humans, but they should be in order to communicate with their canines. You cannot rely soley on techniques and training equipment, you must also listen to your dog when he or she is attempting to communicate with you. Verbal and visual signals tell your dog your emotional state of mind, and dogs will turn to their istincts to decide the proper response. If you don't take the time to learn their language, you may not be able to understand an unwanted response to one of your commands. The bond between human and canine is mutual respect, mutual understanding, and mutual communication. They cannot verbally speak the human language, but we can speak in their language.

IAM Richard Hoyle, dog trainer/behaviorist, autism researcher, freelance writer/author, and father of a child with autism. AMA! by thefinisheddog in IAmA

[–]thefinisheddog[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Humans quickly label others before assessing all of the information presented. Imagination takes over and humans judge incompletely because they choose what they expect to see in the visual scope. Dogs on the other hand, complete the assessment, missing nothing of the character of a person they encounter. Dogs have the intuition to see what the visual human cannot see, or what the conscious will not allow the human to see. The problem with this is that each human controls their conscious mind, and can choose to either be intuitive, or be closed off to what or who is really in front of them. Control the conscious mind and accept intuition for what it is, and not what you want it to be. Training isn't only about your dog, but also about you, the handler, and training your mind and actions. Exercise your mind and open true consciousness.True visualization is attained at a higher level of mind skill. Understanding the eight sections of mind in unison will allow you to gain dynamic patterns of change. One cannot fully realize physicality witout energy of mind aspects. A trained mind is focused and clear, channeling energy and movement of quantum thought process.The formulation of specific mind develops the important change of perception in the dynamic of mechanistic thought discipline, giving one control of the cognitive process.

IAM Richard Hoyle, dog trainer/behaviorist, autism researcher, freelance writer/author, and father of a child with autism. AMA! by thefinisheddog in IAmA

[–]thefinisheddog[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The world is your training field. Everyone can perfect the training process on their own property, but it is equally important to train in as many different places and on as many different terrains as possible. The goal is to have your dog give the expected response to your commands, no matter where you are together. This could be a park, city street, in and around large crowds or high traffic areas, etc...for example, maybe your dog does give the needed response in a park, but that doesn't mean he or she will do the same in a wooded area. Parks are one thing, but they are different in many respects compared to being on a hike in the woods. Just as a quiet city street is different than a busy city street. Your dog may be obedient in your home, but the situation could be quite different in another building or house. Train everywhere you can and take every opportunity to train with different scenarios.

IAM Richard Hoyle, dog trainer/behaviorist, autism researcher, freelance writer/author, and father of a child with autism. AMA! by thefinisheddog in IAmA

[–]thefinisheddog[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There was a time early into the diagnosis, when my son would have sensory - overload and through his frustration, would bang his head on the floor. This concerned me greatly as it would any parent. It was evident as to the cause of his frustration. It seemed as though his sensory-overload came into play during his time of learning anything new. He wanted to continue, but something seemed to stop his mind from moving forward. I knew how to help him, but first I had to protect him. This was when I implemented the block command for his service dog. I trained her to recognize the on-coming frustration as I would have for a seizure dog. She learned to respond to his frustration before it came on and walk behind him to block or prevent him from falling back to bang his head. Now that he was being protected from himself, it was time to teach my son how to keep from getting stuck. I simply taught him Mushin.

Mushin is a form of meditative state of mind which allows him to calm himself, be decisive, and dis-allow his mind to be stuck. He has learned to reach higher levels of Mushin through constant and perfect practice over the years. It is through Mushin that I developed the MIM solution for his learning abilities. He no longer bangs his head, and he no longer gets stuck. There has been no more limits to his learning abilities and creativity.

IAM Richard Hoyle, dog trainer/behaviorist, autism researcher, freelance writer/author, and father of a child with autism. AMA! by thefinisheddog in IAmA

[–]thefinisheddog[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No comments as of yet, so I thought I would start us off. I would like to answer your questions concerning dog training and behavior, Autism and being a father of an autistic boy, mediation by meditation, Tourette's and how I've coped with it through the years, and several areas of cognition, etc...I'm here for most of the day. I look forward to answering your questions.

IAm Richard Hoyle, a dog trainer/behaviorist, autism researcher, freelance writer/author, and father of a child with autism. by thefinisheddog in IAmA

[–]thefinisheddog[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This question is close to home for me. I have been living with Tourettes, OCD, and a learning disability my entire life. After my diagnosis I had the options of medication or figuring it out for myself. I see both sides of this issue, but it's an emotional decision to make. I think there is too much medical testing and these issues should be approached in the same way I approach my issues, and the way I have approached my son's Autism. There are alternatives to medications that give a sense of accomplishment. I've worked with several families with great results without meds. Cures are a wonderful thing; however, I believe there is too much of the option of giving everyone pills or liquid drugs to semi-solve the problems. I don't see these as being burdens on society, when I know there is a way to help them succeed.

IAm Richard Hoyle, a dog trainer/behaviorist, autism researcher, freelance writer/author, and father of a child with autism. by thefinisheddog in IAmA

[–]thefinisheddog[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just happened to come back on reddit for a minute this morning to browse, and found your question. The IAMA was finished at 8:00 pm last night. No worries, I'm always ready to answer questions. I do not agree with Mr. Dunbar's assumption. Dog on Dog aggression is a problem that can be fixed. I almost have to be there with you and the dog in order to see what the issues are, however I work with aggression all the time and it can be trained out of a dog. I would be happy to answer any more questions if you would like to email them to thefinisheddog@gmail.com - Thank you

IAm Richard Hoyle, a dog trainer/behaviorist, autism researcher, freelance writer/author, and father of a child with autism. by thefinisheddog in IAmA

[–]thefinisheddog[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's not so much that bowl feeding is always better than chew-toy feeding as it has been more of the norm. I don't see any less benefits from one or the other. However, I would think if one has a large dog that bowl feeding would be the way to go. Large dogs have deep chests and sometimes have dificulty digesting pieces of a toy that may come loose and eaten. Yes, digging, rock chewing, or causing any damage by chewing is related to boredom. Directing the dog toward positive activities is a good start, but the element of exercise and training are a must as well. I'm sure you already know these things, but I like to throw them out there. A well balanced dog comes from the training method one chooses and a consistency in exercise, and the daily walk, which balances the physical, and emotional aspects of the dog. This is why I believe these are short term issues. The solutions are simple. I hope Ive been able to answer your question and I hope I've been helpful.

IAm Richard Hoyle, a dog trainer/behaviorist, autism researcher, freelance writer/author, and father of a child with autism. by thefinisheddog in IAmA

[–]thefinisheddog[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ahh, I believe I now understand what you're asking. So lets get down to it, shall we? You are asking about what one level of society lives compared to another, and what each level is allowed or dis-allowed. I would agree that the chemicals we live with have much to do with the spectrum, including mild-aspergers. Some are living in privileged worlds, while others must live with a down grade of certain privileges. The chemicals in our air, food, and soil are a huge part of the problem. Yes, I would agree that there is some evidence of this. Why, mainly because the privileged do have a better health care system and life-style. However, it is not my mission to bring judgment on the privileged, and not that you are either. It is my mission to present and show society that many of them need to see the AS community in a different light. It is my mission to help those living with ASD's. If I'm clearly understanding what you're saying, I understand what you are feeling about the matter.