Elevated Canine Podcast Episode 31 | Michael Ellis
Feb 14, 2025
Michael Ellis, an internationally renowned dog trainer and teacher of trainers, shares his expertise accrued over four decades. He discusses his early love for Malinois, pioneering reward-based methods in protection sports, and the importance of balancing motivation and self-regulation in dogs. Ellis emphasizes the role of genetics in behavior, the effectiveness of Pavlovian conditioning, and the contrast between different reinforcement schedules. He also touches on the significance of preparing dogs for real-world stress in protection work and shares insights on breeding for working traits.
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Pavlovian Conditioning Often Wins
- Pavlovian (classical) conditioning often overrides operant choices and drives dogs' arousal responses.
- Michael Ellis warns conditioned high-arousal contexts make dogs unable to perform behaviors they physically know.
Select And Manage 'Internal' Dogs
- Screen for 'internal' dogs that contain energy but explode when required for control and longevity.
- If genetics indicate high externalization, manage it with training and early intermittent reward schedules.
Introduce Intermittent Reinforcement Early
- Introduce intermittent reinforcement early rather than keeping continuous rewards too long.
- This prevents big frustration spikes and helps dogs manage arousal when rewards are reduced.