Very often, training that uses positive reinforcement is seen as a very one-dimensional practice. The animal does something you like, you give it a treat. Some also believe that this training method does nothing to stop unwanted behavior, but this myth deserves its own blog post.
Although we frequently use food as a form of reinforcement when working with our clients and their companions, it is only one of a wide variety of tools we can use to shape our behavior. In fact, we use multiple reinforcers with every animal we train. Expect them to do things We what you want them to do, especially things that aren’t inherently reinforcing or desirable for them, just because we say it, it’s kind of like your boss expecting you to work for nothing other than his approval. Giving up your paycheck is an apt analogy. Even humans do things to reinforce themselves, and not all reinforcements are created equal.
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Each animal has its own value system and learning this system helps us understand what is most reinforcing for them and gives us the ability to match or adjust our level of reinforcement depending on the difficulty of the task we are on. are working.
Let’s discuss some of the common categories of reinforcement:
Food is first on our list simply because it tends to be the easiest to start with. We sometimes hear people tell us that their pet is not “food motivated”. Even though some are more enthusiastic about food resources than others, food is necessary for survival. So often all it takes is a little digging to figure out what obstacles might make food a less desirable option. I want to emphasize that even though food is necessary for survival, we don’t think animals should be forced to work for every morsel. Using portions of your pet’s meal for training (if he enjoys it enough) is certainly a reasonable thing to do, but access to food only through work can lead to frustration in some dogs and this can create bigger problems.
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While some pets will happily focus on their daily food, many of them will place their plain kibble quite low on the totem pole of their value system. It’s understandable because it’s not particularly appealing and it’s something they access (as they should) every day. Dogs that are fed free, meaning their food is available at all times, are also more likely to be less impressed with that food when it is offered as payment for a job well done.
Some customers are concerned about incorporating treats as a training medium due to their pet’s weight. This is an understandable concern and one that I greatly respect. As someone who has worked in the veterinary field, I don’t want to make your pet physically unhealthy on their journey to behavioral health. The first thing to understand is that when we use treats, we want them to be small. Really little. This helps tremendously in moderating and ensuring that we get the most out of what we have. If a lot of training is done through short, frequent sessions and the calorie content is a concern, then we can make appropriate, temporary adjustments to the animal’s food intake to ensure that we are not creating of problem.
It is very likely that we need to practice with treats that your companion finds sufficiently valuable. These can be regular store-bought workout treats, frozen vegetables, chicken, cheese, hot dogs, or anything else that they place moderate to high on their list. This brings me to the next point: the animal decides what gets reinforced. Just because you think they should I really like something, that doesn’t mean they will. I prefer cake pie and ice cream cake, but I bet there are people who wouldn’t choose that order. I once had a dog in class who refused everything we offered, even bacon…but he worked like a pro for the cheerios. My current dog likes lettuce more than I think he should, but he decides what he likes (as long as it’s reasonable and safe for him). Not all cats will like tuna, despite what pop culture says. In addition, the difficulty of the situation may mean that you will have to increase the bet. So if you don’t know what they prefer, experiment. If you’re not sure if something is safe for your pet, your veterinarian is the perfect person to talk to before trying.
This also ties into my next point: since the animal decides what gets stronger, that means that for some of them, food won’t be the most valuable thing we can use. For some it’s toys, and yes, for some it’s even praise and affection. Although I will say that as humans we often overestimate the value our kind words have on our pets. That’s not to say the accolades shouldn’t happen…they should. I want my clients to use it in conjunction with whatever else they use, even if it’s not our primary reinforcer. I’ve met a few who were able to learn from praise alone, but chances are it’s not enough for most.
A dog that lives for a good fetch game is a prime example of a dog that might be better trained by tossing a tennis ball rather than being given a treat. I have many clients who use both at different times, depending on which is more appropriate for the situation.
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Food, toys, games, praise: these are all potential options for training with your pet, but there is a whole world of reinforcement that is sadly underutilized. When we want our animals to do something, we must first help them understand what it is and how to do it, and we are surrounded by opportunities in everyday life that set us up for success. If my dog wants to go for a run in the yard and chase after the squirrels and I want my dog to not rush out the door like a Tasmanian devil, there is a perfect opportunity to compromise so that we both get what we want. My goal is to help him learn to wait at the door, so what does he get for doing it? Access to the outside! Waiting at the door is what I get and in exchange he gets exactly what he wants: to go for a run outside. We often watch the trade. What is the animal trying to access? Is it to go feel this particularly exciting place a few meters away? For some dogs, sniffing can be a nice reward for a loose leash!
Along the same lines, using what your pet wants to deter unwanted behavior can also work wonders. Many cats like to hang out in places that put them up high so they can observe the terrain. If your cat continues to climb on the counter but you don’t want him to, providing another high spot in the same space (such as a cat tree or shelf) can help meet his needs and direct it to a more appropriate location. place of relaxation.
Finding your pet’s motivation is all about looking at what he finds desirable and helping him shape his behavior around what you seek by allowing him access to his reinforcements through an exchange of what you want. It can be a lot of fun and educational when you start thinking outside the box! Have fun playing with your companion’s value system and don’t forget to pay him for the work you ask him to do.