BAT is great basically - it is a functional award system
eg a dog chases a squirrel - the functional reward is getting near to the squirrel or just the chase
a dog steals a steak - the functional reward is eating the steak
In your dogs case - she barks and lunges at dogs you move away or the dog backs off - the functional reward is getting a greater distance from the dog.
So what you have to do is change her behaviour to get her functional reward. f she is happier with more space between her and dogs. The idea is that when she is calm you give her the functional reward and move away from the dog (before she lunges bark etc) .
Gradually as she gets the idea you can get closer to the dog she will learn to be calm and then you can move away.
It is fantastic and once you get the hang of it works really really well. You can use a clicker to reinforce the calm.
Example below
BAT for Reactivity: Aggression, Frustration, and Fear
Steps below assume that the functional reward is an increased distance to the trigger,
Walks: Stage 1. If waiting for good behavior won?t work yet in the real world ? the trigger is too close and the dog would be too stressed if you wait there, here?s an even easier version. Start off just by clicking the dog for noticing the trigger. This is basically using classical conditioning with a BAT flavor:
- Dog notices trigger
- Click
- Walk/jog away
- Treat with food or a toy
Walks: Stage 2. When you can?t control the trigger intensity (people or other dogs get to close, etc.), bring treats, so you can do the Bonus Reward version of BAT. The order of events is:
- Dog notices trigger
- Wait for alternate behavior (if possible), like looking away from the trigger, calm bravery, ground sniffing, shake-off, etc. Keep leash loose, and breathe!
** If the dog starts breathing faster or looks like they?re going to bark, say her
name and walk her further away, so she can calm down.
- Click
- Walk/jog away
- Treat with food or a toy
Note that you walk away before treating, so the dog notices the functional reward. As time goes on, shift into letting the dog engage more with their environment. Begin to do the set-up version of BAT out in the real world whenever possible, using only functional rewards, not treats.
Set-ups and Stage 3 Walks. Set-ups are ideal. Do them right away. Start with an easy version of the trigger and gradually turn up the heat. That usually means starting really far away from the trigger. Take breaks whenever the dog, you, or the helpers need one.
- Walk toward trigger (or trigger approaches) only until dog just barely begins to pay attention to the trigger. Breathing should be fairly calm.
- Wait for alternate behaviour, often ?disengagement? like looking away.
- Say ?Yes? right as the dog makes a good choice.
- Walk/jog away