10/10/2017
Most dog behavior is either to get something they want or to avoid something they don't want. Use those reinforcers to get what you want from your dog. A long line is essential equipment for training your dog at the park!
Many dog owners become frustrated with how their dog focuses on distractions rather than their humans. Rather than thinking of the things that your dog wants to get to as distractions try thinking of them as potential REINFORCERS.
For example, let’s say that you have trouble getting your dog to come when called around birds, because your dog loves to chase them. Most owners would say that their dog is distracted by birds, and try to train their dog to ignore the birds. If you understand reinforcers, however, you can USE THE BIRDS TO TRAIN A RECALL.
To do this, you would find a place that your dog can safely chase birds (like a big park far away from any roads) and attach your dog to a long training line. Start far enough away from the birds that your dog is under threshold and able to concentrate and follow the cues that they know. Call them to come, and when they do mark the behaviour with your marker signal of choice (e.g. the spoken marker "yes") and then release your dog to chase the birds as their reward for coming to you. Once they’ve finished chasing the birds reel them in with the long line and begin the exercise again. Gradually you can get closer and closer to the birds.
What "distractions" have you used as reinforcers when training your dogs? Share them in the comments to help your fellow dog geeks with ideas!
Learn more about what a "reinforcer" is here: https://www.beacondogtraining.com.au/short-article-what-is-a-reinforcer
Learn more about marker signals here: https://www.beacondogtraining.com.au/short-article-what-is-a-clicker-for
Happy training Dog Geeks!
