What dogs can benefit from BAT?
“BAT works with dogs who have aggression, reactivity, and fear,” says Grisha. Keeping the dog below the treshhold, which is the point at which the dog “freaks out,” is important. The dog is given a chance to make a choice in a given situation and rewarded for making a “peaceful” choice. “The *main* reward is relief, safety, whatever the dog is barking/lunging etc. for in the first place, Grisha advises. Although food rewards are used in some instances, distance from the object or situation the dog is reacting to is the most important reward, because that is what the dog wants in most cases. Grisha emphasizes that “It’s called BAT because the dog learns to adjust their behavior, but the triggers and consequences can stay the same. BAT does not punish the dog for aggression and reactivity. We want dogs to warn us when they are uncomfortable.” For more information about behavior adjustment training, please visit the transcipt for “Behavior Adjustment Training (BAT) for Aggression, Reacivi
