The Power of Positivity by Susan Howard
What would you say if I told you that I have a “magic wand” that can turn your unruly dog into a well behaved member of the family? That’s right, bring on your worst barkers, pullers, diggers, jumpers and I will show you how a three-inch piece of plastic can change your life. But first (you know the drill, there is always a “but” after the teaser) you need to acquire a working knowledge of the principles of reinforcement training.
Remember the awe you felt the first time you watched a whale or porpoise show at a theme park? How did that itty bitty bikini’d blond get that great big 8000 pounds of blubber to shoot straight up into the air with a simple flick of her arm? She did it with the awesome Power of Positivity. The technical term is operant conditioning, which simply means to respond to either positive or negative reinforcement.
It is a common misconception in dog training that negative reinforcement is the use of force, such as a knee in the chest or the snap of a choke collar. Negative reinforcement is actually the withholding of something the subject desires until a specific behavior is achieved. To correctly apply the principles of reinforcement training it is important that this distinction be made.
So, a magic wand? Well, not really, but a small device that makes a distinct sound (usually a clicker, sometimes a whistle) can mean the difference between a well trained pet who is a welcome member of your family and an unruly one who gets relegated to the basement or backyard. Very simply, the sound is used to mark the exact moment a desired behavior occurs, such as a Sit. The sound is then followed by a reward, usually food, but praise, petting or play can also be used. For example, when this sound "marker" is heard the second your dog sits, and is then followed by a favorite treat, your dog begins to understand exactly which behavior earned him that reward and the likelihood of him repeating that behavior is increased.
Reinforcement training uses both positive and negative reinforcement. Obviously the Sit exercise is an example of positive reinforcement. Negative reinforcement often requires a bit more creativity on the part of the trainer. For example, your dog is a door bolter. You must break down that behavior to determine what the positive reinforcer is so that you can withhold it until the desired behavior is achieved (not bolting through the door). In this case, walking through the door is the positive reinforcer, so shutting it in his face each time he moves toward it is the application of negative reinforcement. Eventually, your dog will sit calmly until released and allowed to walk through the door with you, thereby achieving his “reward”.
With the correct combination of positive and negative reinforcement (the “yin” and “yang” of training) acceptable behaviors are rewarded and unacceptable ones are eliminated. Boundaries and leadership are established and peace and harmony will reign in your once chaotic home.
For a more in depth description of reinforcement training I highly recommend Don't Shoot the Dog: the New Art of Teaching and Training, by Karen Pryor.
Susan Howard is the owner of Ruff Diamond Dogs and has been applying the principles of positive reinforcement in dog obedience training for over twenty years. She is a former canine disc world finalist, has shown and titled numerous dogs in AKC obedience trials and is a member in good standing of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers.
Remember the awe you felt the first time you watched a whale or porpoise show at a theme park? How did that itty bitty bikini’d blond get that great big 8000 pounds of blubber to shoot straight up into the air with a simple flick of her arm? She did it with the awesome Power of Positivity. The technical term is operant conditioning, which simply means to respond to either positive or negative reinforcement.
It is a common misconception in dog training that negative reinforcement is the use of force, such as a knee in the chest or the snap of a choke collar. Negative reinforcement is actually the withholding of something the subject desires until a specific behavior is achieved. To correctly apply the principles of reinforcement training it is important that this distinction be made.
So, a magic wand? Well, not really, but a small device that makes a distinct sound (usually a clicker, sometimes a whistle) can mean the difference between a well trained pet who is a welcome member of your family and an unruly one who gets relegated to the basement or backyard. Very simply, the sound is used to mark the exact moment a desired behavior occurs, such as a Sit. The sound is then followed by a reward, usually food, but praise, petting or play can also be used. For example, when this sound "marker" is heard the second your dog sits, and is then followed by a favorite treat, your dog begins to understand exactly which behavior earned him that reward and the likelihood of him repeating that behavior is increased.
Reinforcement training uses both positive and negative reinforcement. Obviously the Sit exercise is an example of positive reinforcement. Negative reinforcement often requires a bit more creativity on the part of the trainer. For example, your dog is a door bolter. You must break down that behavior to determine what the positive reinforcer is so that you can withhold it until the desired behavior is achieved (not bolting through the door). In this case, walking through the door is the positive reinforcer, so shutting it in his face each time he moves toward it is the application of negative reinforcement. Eventually, your dog will sit calmly until released and allowed to walk through the door with you, thereby achieving his “reward”.
With the correct combination of positive and negative reinforcement (the “yin” and “yang” of training) acceptable behaviors are rewarded and unacceptable ones are eliminated. Boundaries and leadership are established and peace and harmony will reign in your once chaotic home.
For a more in depth description of reinforcement training I highly recommend Don't Shoot the Dog: the New Art of Teaching and Training, by Karen Pryor.
Susan Howard is the owner of Ruff Diamond Dogs and has been applying the principles of positive reinforcement in dog obedience training for over twenty years. She is a former canine disc world finalist, has shown and titled numerous dogs in AKC obedience trials and is a member in good standing of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers.
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Ruff Diamond Dogs LLC
Woodstock, Georgia
Trainer@ruffdiamonddogs.com
(678) 743-7833 or (404) 512-4796
Woodstock, Georgia
Trainer@ruffdiamonddogs.com
(678) 743-7833 or (404) 512-4796
