PLAY!

How often do you "break it off" and play?

I cannot in good conscience talk about Bungee's homework list without talking about play and how much of it she actually does during our training sessions! In Bungee's mind, work is play and play is work and that's the way we like it.

And so, as I share our giant homework list of fun stuff with you, I must emphasize the importance of rewarding dogs frequently while they work, especially when shaping and introducing new things.

I also cannot stress how important it is to keep training sessions short, giving the dogs regular and frequent play breaks during, and rest breaks (for the brain & body!) in between.

Bungee, like all my dogs, begins and ends every training session with a game of tug. Even when using food, we break off work frequently for a tug game. At one time these breaks were often called "relationship building", and that they are. Now you will hear them called "stress breaks", "play breaks", "break it off and play time", whatever you call them just do them!

"What is reinforced is repeated" Bob Bailey

The reason we reward the dog is communication.

What is rewarded is reinforced, what is reinforced is repeated, simple as that!

If you want more of a specific behavior, if you like what they do, REWARD! That is how you tell your dog you like it - plain and simple.

Rewarding the dog is telling her "that was right!", "do that again", "do it just like that". It is your #1 tool of communication and in positive training, it is everything.

RR
During work I maintain a very high "rate of reinforcement" (RR), particularly with new skills. I am rewarding every piece of correct work I can isolate and reward.

As skills advance, the ratio changes where time between rewards may increase. But this happens little by little as skills grow. Working through an entire performance without a reward is a long time away! Even then she will be frequently rewarded before & after.

Meanwhile, there is a HUGE exchange of information between her and I that must be communicated before I can expect highly reliable behaviors. That exchange only happens by making good use of rewards.

Remember: Rewards are a hotline (communication) to our dogs!

Types of Rewards: Our foundation work is built on the dog learning to accept and enjoy any reward I might ever need to use. Bungee learned early on to retrieve, to tug, to let go of a tug, to accept food rewards, and to have self-control in the presence of food or toys on the ground until released to go and get them. (Self-control skills need regular maintenance just as "food vs. toy" issues may also need regular maintenance with some dogs)

Accepting any reward I choose to give is a fundamental building block of our training success. These early lessons precede other training and make all the difference.

Time
In shaping, one minute is a long time! On the field, 2 or 3 minutes of steady work is a long time! To keep track of time I use a little, digital, kitchen alarm timer that keeps track of seconds and minutes.

In handling, the value of good rewarding continues to hold true. I am constantly stopping to reward for quick responses, smooth moves, correct moves, rewarding for position, again and again and again.

On the agility field I am breaking every skill down, isolating and rewarding behaviors constantly. This is how I give Bungee the information she needs and deserves. We all need to know when we are correct, dogs too!

This type of teaching creates fabulous results and dynamic behaviors. By breaking things down and generous use of rewards, you can build terrific performances.

Or you can be stingy, withhold rewards, not wanting to take the time or trouble, and wonder why you have slow, unmotivated dogs with mediocre behaviors, easily distracted while they work, or dogs with high drive and plenty of speed, but a very high error rate and lots of confusion as to whether they are right or wrong. At an extreme end you can even see dogs spinning frantically, barking at their handlers, trying to bite at them as they run their moves and more - all signs of frustration. These dogs are begging "please tell me what you want me to do!" Just pleading to know, "when am I right?!!!" All problems that don't need to exist, if the owners just understood the power of communication from good rewards.

In conclusion
"One must take the time to constantly reinforce - reward, reward, reward." Susan Garrett ~ Definitely one of the most important lessons I have ever learned.

Rewarding often, isolating things you like, breaking work down into small quick sessions, making smooth transitions between rest & training, these are the real secrets to achieving great success in purely positive training.

When you are training, PLEASE remember to play often with your dogs too!