Field Guide · Glossary
BAT
Methods and protocolsBehavior Adjustment Training, Grisha Stewart's protocol in which a dog on a long line chooses whether to approach or move away from a trigger, and the distance itself functions as the reward.
How it works
The dog leads. A handler follows on a long line at a distance the dog can cope with, and when the dog chooses to disengage, they are allowed to move away. That removal of pressure is the reinforcement, which makes it a use of negative reinforcement rather than food-based work. The 2016 revision dropped the marking the original version used, in favour of letting the dog make choices with as little handler input as possible. What it depends on is starting far enough away that the dog can genuinely choose.
What it looks like
A dog on a fifteen-foot line watches another dog across a field. They look, sniff the ground, then turn and walk a few steps away. The handler follows without a word, and the pair drift further out. Nothing was cued and nothing was fed.
Commonly confused with
- LAT
- Both work below threshold with a trigger in view. BAT pays with distance and lets the dog choose the movement. LAT marks and pays with food for looking at the trigger and back. One uses relief as the currency, the other uses food.
Related terms
Where this comes up
In the reading list
Gear that helps
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15ft training long line
What makes a decompression walk possible: freedom to sniff and move with a safety net still in your hand. We reach for one constantly in recall and reactive work.
Treat pouch (clip-on)
You can't reward fast enough digging in a pocket. A pouch you open one-handed changes your timing, and this one has a magnetic close plus a built-in clicker.
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