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More than a summary

Don't Shoot the Dog!

Karen Pryor

The New Art of Teaching and Training

15 min 1 languages Read or listen
Short summary

What's it about?

Karen Pryor, a behavioral biologist and marine mammal trainer, despite the playful title of her book, it's not just about dogs, it’s about how to shape behavior in any living being, from pets and children to coworkers and even ourselves.

First published in the 1980s, Don’t Shoot the Dog! became a landmark book in popularizing positive reinforcement beyond the scientific community. It influenced clicker training for pets worldwide and reshaped how educators, parents, and leaders think about behavior

In this KitUP, you’ll Learn

- How to stop reinforcing bad habits (often unintentionally).

- Ways to use praise, acknowledgment, and small rewards to shape lasting change.

- Why punishment backfires and often makes behavior worse.

- Practical strategies for everyday life: from training pets and teaching children to managing teams and even motivating yourself.

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