CREATING A POSITIVE MARKER
We all need to know we're doing things right. Don't we?
Some time ago, Connie Cleveland wrote a book called "Dogs Are Problem Solvers, Handlers Should Be." To this day, I keep it on my shelf for reference!
Connie says that dogs learn by trial and error, because they are "situational."
When a behavior is reinforced by something the dog likes, that behavior will continue.
- You give the dog a cookie
- You play with a tug
- You tell him he is a good boy.
When a behavior goes unrewarded, it will disappear.
- He will no longer bother.
- He may offer incorrect behaviors in an attempt to get the reward.
Let's learn to speak our dogs' language!
A POSITIVE MARKER IS A WORD THAT CAN BE USED SO:
- The Dog KNOWS he is correct
- The Dog KNOWS he is getting fed for being correct.
Example: SIT COMMAND --
- Tell the dog sit.
- Dog sits.
- You use a positive marker such as YES (common). *
- You reach for the reward.
- You give the reward.
* Using the Positive Marker is also a release! So he doesn't have to be in position to receive his reward.
Pretty soon, that dog is going to be working to hear you give the positive marker.
TIMING IS EVERYTHING!
Example: HEELING
Heeling is a multi-part activity. The dog should be:
- Focused
- Walking with his wither at the seam of your pants
- Providing correct body position when you go straight.
- Providing correct body position Left Turn
- Providing correct body position Right Turn
- Providing correct body position About Turn
- During Change of Pace
- Sitting straight at your side when you halt.
You're going to practice heeling, but you want to concentrate on the dog's focus: MARK AND PAY when he is in position looking at you during (pick only one at a time) --
- Before you say heel --
- He looks up at you before the start - Mark and Pay (he'll learn it is a good thing to do).
- As you are heeling (and still in motion)
- He looks up at you and in position - MARK AND PAY without asking for the sit. And then break him out.
- When he sits at halt. MAR AND PAY.
WATCH BELOW, where I've ISOLATED JUST THE LEFT TURN trying to teach Justice the importance of being in position:
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
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