Intro to BAT DVD by Grisha Stewart

This DVD is not available for order through our site, but please visit the Functional Rewards site info on buying DVDs by Grisha Stewart.

BAT is an excellent way to help dogs overcome fears, decrease aggression, and improve social skills. This is a 1.5 hour DVD of the seminar by Grisha Stewart, "BAT for Fear & Aggression" at Marin County Humane Society in Novato, CA on January 23, 2010. You'll get a good start on learning what BAT is, how it's done, and how you can combine it with other methods.

Click here to see current Grisha's current seminar schedule.

I've actually gotten goosebumps at the end of a BAT session. Behavior Adjustment Training, or BAT, uses environmental consequences to reward socially acceptable choices. In a nutshell, BAT gives the dogs a chance to learn to control their environment through peaceful means. It’s very empowering to the dog, in a good way. It's low-stress, and it feels like *real* dog whispering.

BAT uses functional and bonus rewards, combined with clicker training and systematic desensitization to help dogs make better choices in an error-free way.

The things that you find obnoxious or scary (barking & lunging, for example) serve a purpose for the dog. Imagine you hated your high-stress job but loved the pay. It leaves you exhausted and panting, but you enjoy the reward at the end of it. Given the chance to earn your same great paycheck by doing something easier that you liked more, wouldn’t you do it?

The key to BAT working quickly is low stress, never leaving the dog in the ‘deep end of the pool’ or punishing them for incorrect choices.

Related: "Organic Socialization" BAT DVD, which has is a longer DVD made for the home-viewer, rather than a seminar. Includes live demos with dog-aggressive and human-reactive dogs.