Today's Life Solutions / Pets / Woofology
How to Use Reinforcement During Training
Barb Bocci
January 8, 2002
You can quickly teach your pup to perform the behaviors you want by using reinforcement. If you select the behaviors you want and consistently reinforce them at the moment they occur, they will become stronger.
Reinforcement will also influence how often these wanted behaviors will occur, how strong they will become, and how long they will last, or what we commonly refer to as “frequency, intensity and duration”. So, if you want your pup to chew on her own toys, you must make a mental note to reinforce that behavior when you see it happening. If you want your dog to “go potty” in a certain spot in the yard, you will need to praise him as he is eliminating. If you want your pup to sit for greetings then reward her with your attention each time she sits and waits for your affection. (Conversely, immediately turn your attention away or walk off every time she makes the wrong choice and jumps on you.)
Since your pup does not think like a human, it is your job to teach on a level your dog will understand. In order for a dog to learn human rules, the reinforcement you use (the signal that your dog is “right”) must be meaningful and immediate.
If the result (the consequence) of your dog’s behavior is significant, teachings will become meaningful. In other words, if a behavior brings positive results at the moment your dog is engaged in it, that behavior will be repeated; if the behavior results in negative things happening that activity will be avoided in the future. For example, if your pup is hungry, offering him food for a correct response will probably be very meaningful. At other times meaningful reinforcement may take the form of play if your pup is full of energy, or an ear scratch if she loves attention.
Reinforcement must also occur at the exact time a dog engages in the behavior you want. If your pup is reinforced as she performs a desired behavior (within 1 second), the behavior will strengthen. For example, behaviors like “sit, wait, chew your toy, go potty in the back yard, etc. need to be reinforced immediately if you want them to occur again.
Keep in mind that inappropriate behaviors that are inherently rewarding such as housesoiling, chewing, digging, or jumping will be repeated if your pup is given the opportunity to do them. Even though these behaviors are annoying, keep in mind that your pup, if unattended, has actually been allowed to learn how fun and effective (for your dog) inappropriate behaviors can be. In other words, your dog is being inadvertently rewarded whenever he has the chance to chew shoes or raid the garbage because he finds these activities entertaining or satisfying in some way.
Therefore, preventing unwanted behaviors from occurring is a key factor when teaching your pup the rules of your home. Although you might be upset with inappropriate behaviors, remember that the likelihood that punishment will carry any significance is unlikely if your pup has already soiled the carpet, walked away from a delightful chew on your shoe or is back to sleep after a midnight raid on the trash.
Placing the Behavior on Cue
The second task is to place each behavior on “cue”. Therefore you will need to teach your pup the significance of a hand or verbal cue to go along with each wanted behavior. Once you’ve done this you will have set up a communication system which will clearly indicate which behaviors you want your dog to offer at any given time.
When you have accomplished these two jobs you have developed “true stimulus control” or more simply put - you will have a dog that does “good stuff” whenever you want!
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