I just got back from an intensive three-day Kynology workshop that clarified and deepened so much of what I've felt intuitively about dog training for years. I'd been wanting to get out to California for quite a while, where Kynology symposiums have been held twice so far, and when I saw that there was going to be a Kynology workshop in Pennsylvania, I just HAD to go! So, even though dog agility instructor extraordinaire Tamas Traj from Hungary was at the property in Ohio teaching, I was in Pennsylvania with Dude, Savi, and Vida for three days.
Slide #1 of an information packed three days
What is Kynology?
For those wondering, “Kynology” refers to the scientific study of canine behavior and learning – think “cynology” but with a focus on practical training applications. The workshop was led by Dr. Stewart Hilliard, a PhD in comparative psychology who has been breeding and training military working dogs for decades (including overseeing the training program at the Lackland AFB in TX), and Forrest Micke, a fellow Oregonian known for his nuanced approach to dog training across multiple disciplines.
Dr. Stewart Hilliard, me, & Forrest Micke
Pavlov Is Always There
The most powerful reminder of the weekend was a phrase I actually heard over a decade ago from Bob Bailey when I attended all of his famous chicken camps: “Pavlov is always sitting on your shoulder.”
That simple phrase captures so much about what makes training complex – and fascinating. Everything we do with our dogs ripples through layers of learning that go beyond what we typically discuss. Classical conditioning isn't just something that happens during specific training exercises – it's happening all the time, influencing how our dogs respond to cues, environments, and even to us as handlers.
The most powerful reminder of the weekend?
“Pavlov is always sitting on your shoulder.”
Redefining Welfare
One of the most thought-provoking concepts explored during the workshop was how we define welfare in dog training. The traditional view often equates welfare with the absence of stress or pressure. But the Kynology approach suggests something different and, I think, more meaningful:
True welfare isn't the absence of all pressure – it's a dog's ability to predict and control outcomes.
This simple shift in perspective changes everything about how we approach training. A dog who understands how to control outcomes – who has agency within clear boundaries – is a dog who can navigate the world with confidence, even when challenges arise.
The Problem With “Errorless” Learning
Another area where theory and practice collided in interesting ways was around the concept of errorless learning. While it sounds appealing in theory, the workshop presented compelling evidence that avoiding all errors might actually interfere with deeper understanding.
Learning comes from prediction errors – from the gap between what was expected and what actually happened. Without those moments of contrast, learning can be shallow and brittle.
This doesn't mean we should deliberately set our dogs up to fail. But it does suggest that thoughtfully allowing and working through mistakes might build more resilient, adaptable performance in the long run.
The Difference Between Challenge and Confusion
Perhaps the most important distinction the workshop emphasized was between productive challenge and harmful confusion. These are not the same thing, though they're often treated as if they are in modern training discussions.
Clarity with challenge builds confidence. Confusion erodes it. Our job as trainers isn't to eliminate all difficulty – it's to ensure that while the task might be challenging, the path to success is always clear.
Putting It Into Practice
All three dogs got to participate in different aspects of the workshop. Dude and Savi both worked in bitework sessions with Forrest (who's also a decoy – the guy in the bite suit), while Vida and I closed out Sunday with a demonstration of the ringside behavior procedure I've been documenting in The Vida Vlog at The Agility Challenge website.
Seeing the principles in action – not just with my dogs but with the various working dogs that attended – brought the theoretical concepts to life in ways that deepened my understanding.
Moving Forward
I'll be unpacking these ideas over the coming weeks, but for now, I'm letting it all marinate. The workshop has given me a new lens through which to view not just my training techniques, but the fundamental philosophy that underlies them.
If you're interested in learning more about these concepts, I'll be sharing additional insights in future posts. And for those who want to dive deeper, I'm working on bringing Dr. Hilliard and Forrest Micke to Ohio for a workshop. Let me know if you'd be interested!
For those who aren't Agility Challenge members but are curious about the ringside behavior work I mentioned, you can check out parts of The Vida Vlog for free at theagilitychallenge.com/free-training.
More Soon,
