LIMA means Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive: use the least invasive, least unpleasant effective option.
Every technique in this manual stays within positive reinforcement and environmental management. We arrange the situation so the right behaviour is easy, then reinforce it so it becomes more likely.
The minimum learning theory you need
What happens immediately before the behaviour.
What the puppy actually does, described without labels.
What follows; a reinforced behaviour becomes more frequent.
ABC example
Why talking to a jumping puppy can create more jumping
The puppy sees you arrive (A), jumps up (B), and you bend down and speak (C). If the puppy values your attention, that attention is reinforcement, so jumping increases. Change the consequence: keep attention unavailable while paws are up, then mark and give attention the moment all four paws are on the floor.
Management before training
At adult arrival, management solves most preventable problems first
Use gates, a quiet home base, marked glass and secure non-slip routes. Do not expect a newly adopted dog to understand an unfamiliar household before each feature has been introduced.
One learnable thing
Behaviour → cue → distraction
First make the behaviour reliable, then attach the cue, then add distraction. Reversing the order turns the cue into background noise.
Bribe
The food appears first and the puppy follows it before deciding what to do.
Reward
The behaviour happens first; the marker identifies it and the food follows as reinforcement.