Tag: clicker training in houston katy TX

Changing Your Dog’s Behavior

Michael Baugh CPDT-KA, CDBC

Changing behavior is all about verbs, actions.  We can observe behavior in real space and time because it is physical and often includes movement.  We describe behavior with verbs.  He sits.  She runs.  They eat.  Remembering that helps us steer away from the labels we put on dogs, like dominant, dumb and stubborn.  Those are adjectives, and the only real way to change them is to stop using them.  Actions, on the other hand, we can change.

I didn’t invent the science of behavior change (I wish I had).  In fact, there isn’t a dog trainer anywhere else for that matter who can make such a claim.  The truth is, the core concepts of animal training (including the human animal) are more than a century old.   And they are among the most tested and verified bits of knowledge in the field of psychology.  That’s a good thing really.  We dog trainers don’t have to reinvent the process.  Be careful of those who claim to.  I wrote about the science of dog training in the March 2011 issue of Houston PetTalk.  While we are always refining the way we apply the science of behavior change in dogs, the fundamentals remain the same.

Ah science.  There seems to be a collective yawn when the topic comes up.  Maybe our concept of science reminds us of boring afternoons in the classroom.  That’s not what I’m talking about here.  Using behavior science in dog training is cool, very cool.  In fact, every trick you have ever taught your dog is an example of applied behavior science.  Dolphin shows are excellent examples of it.  Behavior science is actually happening all around us.  Dog trainers use it all the time in some form or other, even if they don’t fully understand it.

Photo Courtesy: Robyn Arouty

Here’s how it breaks down.  A behavior is repeated (and becomes habit) when there’s a history of favorable consequences following the action.  How about an example?  Put on a sweater – enjoy warmth and avoid being cold.  Nice!  Here’s a doggie example.  Knock over the garbage can – enjoy snacking on the spilled food scraps.  The actions of putting on a sweater and raiding garbage cans will increase over time because of the consequences.  Changes in the environment set these learned behaviors into action.  Let’s look at the human example again.  The temperature drops when the sun goes down – put on a sweater – avoid the cold.  The temperature drop didn’t cause the action of putting on a sweater, but it did set the stage.  Perhaps the sight of a garbage can and the absence of people set the stage for the action of knocking the can over.  In both examples, it’s the consequence which keeps these actions going time and time again.

You’re on your way to understanding how to change behavior (your dogs’ actions).  Cues from the environment (we are part of our dogs’ environment, by the way) and consequences in the environment influence our dogs’ actions.  That’s very good news for those of us who live with dogs.  Why?  Because we can change their environment.  We can remove garbage cans as a potential trigger of destructive behavior.  We can also provide food-delivery toys like Kongs and Bob-a-Lots for better behavior when the dog is left alone.  Now we have the tools we need to change behavior.  We actually had them all along.

Think of anything your dog does that you’d like to change.  Remember to use verbs.  Then think of what happens right before the action, and right after.  Those are the trigger and the consequence.  Can you change either of those, or maybe both of them?   When a visitor comes to the house (trigger), and your dog jumps on her (action), does she pet him (consequence)?  How many of those environmental pieces can you influence?  Better yet, could you teach your dog that when the visitor comes (trigger), he sits politely (action), and she gives him a snack and some petting (consequence)?  I bet you could.

The best part is we’re focusing on our dog’s actions and things in the world around him we can control.  We’re not worried at all about labels.  Those are adjectives and they are not of use in changing behavior.  We’re all about verbs (like sit, and come, and look at me).  And we’re not just looking at our dog’s actions either.  The best way to change an animal’s behavior is to make a few little changes to the environment, and this often means changing our own behavior.

Now we’re talking about a wonderful noun:  Relationship.

Michael Baugh teaches dog training online and in Sedona AZ

 

A Culture of Learning

Stella. Courtesy Robyn Arouty Photography

Michael Baugh, CPDT-KA, CDBC

Folks ask all the time, “How often should I train my dog?”  I’d like to be able to say every day, all day; your dog is always learning.  But people want structure so instead I recommend short sessions (clicker training) several times a day totaling 30 to 40 minutes a day.  They are both the right answer.  Still, I like the first one better.

Weave training into your everyday life.  Make your relationship with your dog a culture of learning.  That’s the best way.  Now, I’m not really talking about making your dog wait for you to pass through a doorway first.  It’s not about requiring him to sit and stay before you put his food bowl down.  It’s not even about demanding he sit nicely instead of jumping on your guests.  Don’t get me wrong.  Those are all very nice manners to teach your dog.  But, I’m talking about a different culture of learning, one that has nothing to do with making, requiring or demanding.

It’s about noticing.  Here’s a little bit of dog-trainer-geek science.  A behavior with a favorable outcome (for the dog) is more likely to be repeated.  It’s called Thorndike’s Law of Effect.  Scientists don’t hand out that word lightly: Law.  Thorndike’s law of effect is just that, a law.  It’s been proven, tested and re-tested.  That gives you a lot of power when it comes to training.  There are lots of favorable outcomes you control: food, playtime, petting, warm smiles and praise.  That means you can get a lot of good behavior on the “repeat cycle” of your dog’s repertoire just by leveraging those favorable outcomes.  It’s how clicker training works.  Your dog does something cool.  You click and treat.  The dog does that cool thing more.

Okay, what does that have to do with noticing, specifically noticing your dog?  Life doesn’t happen in 10 minute clicker training sessions.  But our dogs are always learning from us and from the environment.  Thorndike’s law of effect is always at play.  That means it’s up to us to always be aware of what our dogs are doing, watching for good behavior that we can reinforce (favorable outcome), noticing.  That’s the culture of learning I’m talking about.  Notice when your dog does something right and be ready to let him know that’s what you like.  Now you’re teaching your dog every day, all day.

This may seem difficult, but read on.  We humans seem to be pre-programmed to notice when things go wrong not when things go right.  While I was writing this my dog, Stella, came over to check in with me.  I love that behavior but I ignored it.  Later she started barking out the window and she earned my full attention.  That’s the way people are, but it’s backwards training.  Stella learned that checking in with me got her nothing (no favorable outcome) but barking got my attention (favorable outcome).  I ended up on the wrong side of the law, Thorndike’s Law.

Notice.  Your dog does great things every day.  Never miss a chance to pet him when he sits nicely and gazes at your adoringly.  Smile and rub his belly when he curls up at your feet.  Throw a party when he comes when called.  Then throw the ball and play for a little while.  It’s worth it.  And it’s a good way to live.  Notice what’s right with your dog and be glad.  Then notice the people in your life – even the ones you don’t know – and the world around you.

There’s a lot of good going on.  Click and treat.