Mrs. Tamar Cooney

What are you speaking about and why did you choose this subject? 

“I am speaking about methods of dog training, which is something I have enjoyed doing for many years.”

When did you first realize this was the subject that interested you? 

“I started training dogs when I was in high school. Competing in agility, obedience, and tracking is something I do for fun.”

What motivated you to do a TED Talk?

“Oddly enough, for being a teacher, I don’t like talking in front of crowds. But Ms. Grigg asked me to consider doing a TED talk, so I agreed!”

What do you want people to learn or appreciate about your TED Talk?

“I want people to see that there is a science to training dogs. Dogs don’t do things for the same reason a human might do something. We often attribute human-like motivations to what our dogs do, but they really just do what is reinforcing to them. By understanding this, we can use food, toys, and other positive types of reinforcement to train our dogs.”

How did you prepare for the TED Talk?

“I took videos of me training my dog to illustrate the different stages of training. Introducing a new behavior is done in small steps, and then when the dog gets better at the behavior, I challenge them by a method called proofing.”

How nervous are you to speak in front of so many people? 

“Luckily, my subject matter lent itself to a video format, so I don’t have to speak in front of a live audience!”