Keeping it Positive

There are many training methods that are effective, but as trainers and animal caregivers we should ask ourselves what is in the best interest of the dog? Even if a training style “works” is it still ok?  What are the best practices?

Let’s examine what we know: positive reinforcement training is scientifically proven to be quicker, longer lasting, and more effective in changing undesirable behavior and teaching dogs new behaviors, than is aversive training tactics (for example with electronic shock collars, which unfortunately I see in action almost daily). So even if a “trainer’s” endpoint of interest is just to “train a dog easily” or “quickly” or "correct bad behavior," they will still get there the fastest and have the most reliable results using positive reinforcement methods. 

Conversely, if your endpoint of interest is to have a great relationship with your dog, keeping them happy and mentally healthy, confident, and yes learn the behaviors that are important to you for sport or fun so they can win in life and amongst their peers, then R+ is your ally.

Here is how the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior sums it up:

“Based on current scientific evidence, the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior recommends that only reward-based training methods are used for all dog training, including the treatment of behavior problems. Aversive training methods have a damaging effect on both animal welfare and the human-animal bond. There is no evidence that aversive methods are more effective than reward-based methods in any context. AVSAB therefore advises that aversive methods should not be used in animal training or for the treatment of behavior disorders.”

Here is a list of peer-reviewed scientific publications to back up these ideas and support these statements, as well as the position statement on humane dog training from the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior published this year (2021): 

https://avsab.ftlbcdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/AVSAB-Humane-Dog-Training-Position-Statement-2021.pdf?fbclid=IwAR1_4liRtszoRiV3MKRKsLCWt7kkp1mRt3OkoyQOFKiXrwUp9PXweyZvJYs

A literature review showing science-based evidence that positive reinforcement training is more effective than aversive training:

1. Ziv G. The effects of using aversive training methods in dogs—A review. J Vet Behav Clin Appl Res. 2017;19:50-60.

2. Fernandes J, Olsson IA, de Castro A. Do aversive-based training methods actually compromise dog welfare?: A literature review. Appl Anim Behav Sci. 2017;196:1-12.

3. Makowska I. Review of dog training methods: welfare, learning ability, and current standards. https://spca.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/dog-training- methods-review.pdf. Published 2018. Accessed September 1, 2020.

4. Vieira de Castro, AC, Fuchs D, Munhoz Morello G, Pastur S, de Sousa L, Olsson IAS. Does training method matter? Evidence for the negative impact of aversive-based methods on companion dog welfare. PloS one 2020;15(12): e0225023.

5. Deldalle S, Gaunet F. Effects of 2 training methods on stress-related behaviors of the dog (Canis familiaris) and on the dog–owner relationship. J Vet Behav. 2014;9(2):58-65.

6. Cooper JJ, Cracknell N, Hardiman J, Wright H, Mills D. The welfare consequences and efficacy of training pet dogs with remote electronic training collars in comparison to reward based training. PLoS One. 2014;9.9:e102722.

7. Haverbeke A, Laporte B, Depiereux E, Giffroy J-M, Diederich C. Training methods of military dog handlers and their effects on the team’s performances. Appl Anim Behav Sci. 2008;113(1-3):110-122.

8. Schilder MB, van der Borg JA. Training dogs with help of the shock collar: short and long term behavioural effects. Appl Anim Behav Sci. 2004;85(3- 4):319-334.

9. Arhant C, Bubna-Littitz H, Bartels A, Futschik A, Troxler J. Behaviour of smaller and larger dogs: Effects of training methods, inconsistency of owner behaviour and level of engagement in activities with the dog. Appl Anim Behav Sci. 2010;123(3-4):131-142.

10. Blackwell EJ, Bolster C, Richards G, Loftus BA, Casey RA. The use of electronic collars for training domestic dogs: estimated prevalence, reasons and risk factors for use, and owner perceived success as compared to other training methods. BMC Vet Res. 2012;8(1):93.

11. Casey RA, Loftus B, Bolster C, Richards GJ, Blackwell EJ. Human directed aggression in domestic dogs (Canis familiaris): Occurrence in different contexts and risk factors. Appl Anim Behav Sci 152, 52-63. 2014;152(52-63).

12. Casey RA, Loftus B, Bolster C, Richards GJ, Blackwell EJ. Inter-dog aggression in a UK owner survey: prevalence, co-occurrence in different contexts and risk factors. Vet Rec. 2013;172(5):127.

13. Herron ME, Shofer FS, Reisner IR. Survey of the use and outcome of confrontational and non-confrontational training methods in client-owned dogs showing undesired behaviors. Appl Anim Behav Sci. 2009;117(1- 2):47-54.

14. Hiby EF, Rooney NJ, Bradshaw JWS. Dog training methods: their use, effectiveness and interaction with behaviour and welfare. Anim Welf. 2004;13(1):63-69.

15. Reisner IR, Houpt KA, Shofer FS. National survey of owner-directed aggression in English Springer Spaniels. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2005;227(10):1594-1603.

16. de Castro ACV, Barrett J, de Sousa L, Olsson IAS. Carrots versus sticks: The relationship between training methods and dog-owner attachment. Appl Anim Behav Sci. 2019;219:104831.

17. China L, Mills DS, Cooper JJ. Efficacy of Dog Training With and Without Remote Electronic Collars vs. a Focus on Positive Reinforcement. Front Vet Sci. 2020;7:508.

18. Rooney NJ, Cowan S. Training methods and owner-dog interactions: Links with dog behaviour and learning ability. Appl Anim Behav Sci. 2011;132(3-4):169-177.

19. Masson S, Nigron I, Gaultier E. Questionnaire survey on the use of

different e-collar types in France in everyday life with a view to providing recommendations for possible future regulations. J Vet Behav. 2018;26:48-60.

20. Mormède P, Andanson S, Aupérin B, et al. Exploration of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal function as a tool to evaluate animal welfare. Physiol Behav. 2007;92(3):317-339.

21. Mills DS, Marchant-Forde JN, eds. The Encyclopedia of Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare. CABI; 2010

Play is one of the best primary reinforcements for my group:

Pearls:

• First, do no harm
• Science supports the best practices of positive reinforcement (R+) training methods

Positive Outcomes

Something bad happened.  But it had a good outcome and I want to write about it.  

The first several days Jackie was with us, she was in the living room minding her business when Rosco decided to have a grumpy grandpa moment.  In response to what he perceived as Jackie being too close to one of his plush toys, Rosco jumped on her snarling and snapping.  

In that moment my heart stopped— I had been being so vigilant with the introductions and managing the environment to assure something just like this would not occur.  Sometimes, in spite of all the managing and planning, you just happen to have luck on your side. That and a very good Border collie.  Jackie took the high road, calmly turning aside and loosely walking away, yielding the space and the toy (which she hadn’t even been interested in at that moment) to Rosco.  It allowed me to step in and diffuse Rosco. Jackie could easily have escalated the situation and retaliated, and with her age and size advantage over Rosco it could have been ugly.  

A credit to Jackie’s good nature and my sheer luck, Jackie chose to do the right thing.  It may be that she is still so new in the environment, but I’m hopeful it is an indication of emotional intelligence.  Time will tell but in the meantime I am taking no chances and continuing to manage the situation and work with Rosco to reduce resource-guarding behavior.

Today, several days after the Rosco grumpy episode, Jackie unintentionally met another neighborhood doodle.  (My neighborhood is seemingly full up with doodles.  I’m not sure what that says about me, and I’ll reserve my opinions about doodles to myself for the moment. To be fair my neighborhood also has goats, roosters, and horses so that's encouraging.) We were working on reinforcing voluntary behavior around the water when the very competent-swimming doodle swam across the entire river and right up to our more secluded beach area to say hello.  To his credit he was friendly, though a bit boisterous. I had several moments to prepare for his approach as we watched him swim easily across the river— I admit I was impressed with his swimming prowess.

Of course the doodle was instantly interested in Jackie.  She politely sideways-sniffed him, but he started being over-exuberant so she offered a low growl to let him know enough was enough.  I was able to easily change the subject and by then the doodle’s walker had called him back (many of the neighborhood dogs are out with their dog-nannies, which works in my favor since these career dog-walkers have proven to be dog-savvy and understand canine body language, and the importance of controlling their wards). So it was another good outcome for Jackie, and I’m grateful she stands up for herself but has the good sense not to escalate anything beyond a growl.  Yes of course it is up to me to protect my dog and ensure constructive circumstances, but it is reassuring knowing my dog is actively trying to be helpful.

Pearls:

• Always stack the cards in your favor, but sometimes you just need a little luck in spite of everything
• A savvy, well-adjusted emotionally intelligent dog is a godsend
• It's proven very helpful to have a good number of perspicacious dog trainers in the immediate neighborhood; so far interactions with neighborhood dogs have gone very well

The trail on our less-trafficked side of the river leading to a beach we can swim by ourselves for now:

In the morning hours during weekdays, the dog crowd on the river tends to be well versed in good behavior etiquette, which I very much appreciate.  I've been impressed with the level of education most of the neighborhood dogs display:

Swimming Lessons

Some Border collies love water. And I was under the impression that most mammals instinctively know how to swim. However swimming lessons are going slowly with Gunner.  Well before adopting Jackie I started working with Gunner in the pool in gradually increasing depths of water from a few inches to just deep enough to dog paddle.  Rosco is an accomplished swimmer and will happily dive in to retrieve tennis balls. I discovered with Gunner that he dangles his hind legs and only half-heartedly dog paddles with his front legs— certainly not enough to keep himself afloat.  So we’ve been working on that.

Since we’ve made a recent move, we’ve transferred our swimming lessons to a safe beachy area of the Trinity River. In this Texas heat it is a welcome reprieve while out for a stroll. My pre-conceived notion was that herding dogs will hop into water— like ponds or stock tanks— in order to cool off.  My previous herding dogs all did this, and loved to swim as well.

Gunner looks suspiciously at any body of water.  We know that Gunner was picked up by the city dog pound in Galveston as a stray before being boosted from a high kill shelter by All Border Collie Rescue. Does Gunner have fear related to water since Galveston is on the gulf?  I’ll never know but I’ve been very deliberate in introducing Gunner to water and swimming in a fear-free, positive manner.

I’d like to get both Border collies comfortable with swimming, for many reasons including it’s just plain fun, and it’s a great way to cool off and get some exercise. I love this low-impact activity especially for Rosco in his golden years.  

The first few times we approached the beach area on the river, I reinforced Jackie for just walking near the water.  When she was comfortable with that over a couple days I reinforced her for walking along the water’s edge in the sand.  Today for the first time she stepped her front paws into the water so I reinforced that.  It is always her decision and if she wants to retreat she is allowed.  Gunner is at the point where he will get in up to his belly, and if I’m in with him he will dog paddle with his front legs and let his hind legs dangle, but only enough to turn around to go back to the shore.  

It’s going much slower than I expected, and that’s okay because we’re having fun, and getting in some confidence-building education while it is still so hot during the day.

Pearls:

• Some herding dogs are born loving water, some need to be taught to love it
• Give a dog confidence by going slowly and allowing the dog freedom to make their own decisions, and reinforce volunteer behavior incrementally building confidence for the new activity
• A Spaniel out-performing a Border collie?  I’m here to tell ya it happens
• Living on a river has proven to be interesting and fun

On the Trinity River:

A river friend we weren’t so sure about:

Multiples

The Border collies are trying to do a bait and switch. Tonight as I was going to bed Gunner got into Jackie’s crate and Jackie got in Gunner’s, while I was showering and doing my nighttime ritual. Rosco’s bed is directly in the middle of the two Border collies’ beds. 

Not a problem exactly, except that at 4 AM every morning Gunner has to be given a strong heart medication that I prepare in a pill pocket and place in a special container out of reach above his crate (for ease of access in the early next morning) each day at 4 PM when he has to take the same medication on a schedule every twelve hours, on an empty stomach.

I’m not always at my peak performance at 4 AM. And Border collies can start looking alike in the dark, and I don’t want to run the risk of administering a medication to the wrong dog.  

Some musical-chair style shuffling of dogs into various crates and things were easily put to right.  

Ay dios mio y’all all look alike in the dark at four in the morning!

Pearls:

• Of course a good mom would never confuse one baby for the other
• All bets are off in the dark so you better double check, and check again before administering meds
• Also eat a bag of dicks heart disease
• These sleep aid red motion sensor night lights with dusk to dawn motion activated sensors sure come in handy in the middle of the night, and the red light promotes sleep and doesn’t interfere with sleep hormone melatonin production 
  
  
  

Value Reinforcers and Dispensers

In the ongoing saga to find a high value reinforcer for Jackie, I’ve experimented with cutting mild cheddar cheese into small cubes just a bit smaller than a pencil eraser. So far this has proven successful and seems very motivating to Jackie.  

Gunner, and especially Rosco, are very food motivated and will work for store-bought treats, or any ol’ food, even cut up carrots for Rosco! Jackie is definitely food motivated, but seems to have a more discriminating palate. 

Having a variety of treats of differing value has proven successful, so that the reinforcement stays interesting and variable, and any single reinforcer doesn’t lose its value. In order to more conveniently store and separate out the different treats, I use differing training bags.  Currently two of my favorites are this well-used green treat pouch I’ve had for seemingly ever (apologies to small businesses everywhere but I got it at a big-box chain pet store years ago).  It has a waistband/belt clip that I find easy to hang at my side and a drawstring closure with an inner lining that washes easily:

And I just got this blue (it comes in seven additional colors too which I love) Audwud silicone treat pouch; it’s good for using with perishable treats like chicken or cheese because I can put it in the dishwasher and it has a magnetic clasp so I can store the treats sealed in the fridge.  Like my older green pouch it has a plastic waistband clip. I like how it works in action so I got one in bright pink as well:

I read about folks drying cheese treats on the kitchen counter in places other than Texas.  With our humidity it would mean turning on the oven so I’m just using it squishy— it’s been fine using at room temperature without any additional drying on my part:

Pearls:

• A variety of training treats keeps food reinforcement variable and interesting, and prevents any one favorite treat from losing its value
• Using a treat pouch that hangs on the side at my waist works well for me, and I like the silicone one I just discovered
• Cheddar cheese is a new reinforcer for me, but Jackie seems to like it

Teaching an Alien to Make a Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich

The Homo sapiens I live with has recently been talking about processes (a set of steps that leads a team towards its goals).  

Gunner (and Rosco) knows some pretty awesome life skills, and several very entertaining tricks, and those teaching processes I remember and understand how to teach, probably well enough to explain to at least a fellow earthling, and more importantly, repeat with another dog.  The juxtaposition of a new dog into the family against the established dogs has highlighted that Gunner seemingly speaks English, offering behaviors that I want when I want them, apparently without conscience cue on my part.  Which is pretty cool, but, how did I get there?  

Of course the answer is patience, and time.  Repeating and practicing a skill without mistake strengthens and improves the skill, and we know mental practice can create a blueprint in your head that becomes a guide to performing a skill.  Take care though, if you’re visualizing a skill incorrectly, your performance will be diminished.  

When I drill down into the processes of animal training however, I have to ask what is the process that generates the kind of relationship with an animal that produces flawless communication between animal and handler? In agility jargon, these processes are know as foundation skills.  Teaching a dog to touch a target with its nose or paw for example, or teaching a dog to wrap tightly around a jump standard before teaching the dog to jump.

Jackie already knows several helpful behaviors including “wait” before going through a door, “kennel up” to go in her crate, and the “shwshh” noise to send her running. The past day or two I’ve been working with Jackie to establish “sit,” "down," and "wait."

In dressage, with each new horse the training seems to get easier and faster, when in actuality the trainer (by trainer I mean me, the rider) has become more efficient, and thereby more effective.  So with Jackie’s clean slate I am experimenting with capturing (waiting for the behavior to happen, then rewarding when it does) basic behaviors more often than luring (putting a cookie on her nose and using it to guide her into the desired position such as sitting).  

The thing about training horses is that when I or my coach are with my horses for a couple-few hours daily, I am focused on their training and it is easy for nothing to get by as slack.  Then I go away from them.  With dogs on the other hand, I am almost constantly with them, and I know training is taking place at all times.  But dogs live in my house so any moment I am not on top of the training game can have the potential to be slack. 

I’ve captured enough sit behavior to begin putting it on a combined verbal and hand signal. After previously having two completely deaf dogs, I’ve developed the habit of teaching a hand signal as well as a verbal signal, and teach using the signals either together or independently, as the situation requires. This has proven to be a good practice with Rosco since he is now going toward age-related deafness; he already knows our sign language of all his basic obedience and house manners. 

(I started teaching my own version of sign language to Prissy after she went deaf, and I even put a hand signal that means “release oxytocin” or, if you were speaking to a person it would mean “I love you.” If Pavlov can put secreting saliva on a cue, I can put secreting oxytocin on a cue.)

Now that “sit” is reliable, prompt, and repeatable, I started today capturing for what will become “down.” I stand next to Jackie, and wait until she lies down then give her marker word “yes!” and then a cookie. As soon as Jackie came into the household I began capturing good potty habits, making eye contact with me while walking, and coming to me.  

A solid, reliable-in-the-face-of-distractions recall is a must-have behavior.  Gunner’s recall has been tested in the face of some very reinforcing distractions and he still comes.  For me one of the biggest distractions can be the independent mind of a Border collie.  He’ll recall promptly when the stakes are high and there’s another animal or something I know to be potentially dangerous, but Gunner can be a bit sluggish in his recall if he is just casual-around-the-house.  

Can dogs distinguish when “the stakes are high” versus “it’s just a casual day at home?” I would say no, they cannot, yet I admit to allowing this training style because Gunner is such a velcro dog it allows me to cheat. I make every reasonable effort to always reinforce the behaviors I want, and to be intentional at all times with my dogs’ training. I may come to regret the occasional slack in training later at an agility trial, for example.  I don’t want a dog robot, so I don’t train that way, but I do value good training and realize the training is always ongoing.  

Time will tell what happens when I want to cross over to show-ring agility. Primary reinforcers should be used judiciously, there is a definitive difference between using food in their meal for enrichment and reinforcing desired behavior, versus you only get food and what you need to stay alive if-and-while you work for it.  There is a difference between using play or running as a reinforcer, versus your life is a sterile kennel unless you are working for the privilege of doing something enriching like running agility. That style of training may be efficacious, but it’s wrong. 

(The reason I know robot-dog is a training style is what my friend refers to as “the Border collie dark web.” There are many good trainers, but there have been the odd dreadful “trainers” unfortunately.)

Video clip of Gunner displaying the classic play bow behavior, and Jackie not exactly sure if she wants to engage.  At the end of the clip I use the “shwsh” sound to get Jackie to jump up and run.

Pearls:

• One is always learning, even when it is a skill previously learned, it’s either getting better or not
• Capturing (waiting for a behavior to happen, then rewarding when it does) seems to be producing desired results more rapidly than luring (holding a treat to the dog’s nose then moving it around to get them to move the way you want) has in the past
• A side benefit to capturing vs luring is that I get to spend a lot of time staring into Jackie’s eyes and vice versa, which seems like a good thing to me (benefits of teaching eye contact include giving Jackie a break from looking at something stressful in her environment [she can look at me instead of the stressor], and letting my dog know everything is safe by looking in my face and seeing I am calm)
• Luring is used when it is reasonable and beneficial to do so, and for certain situations like getting a dog onto a new substrate or platform for example; this time around I’m experimenting by beginning with capturing instead of beginning with luring
• Prompt, repeatable, strong behaviors on cue are desirable, but Robot-dog is not; my priority remains having a great relationship with a companion dog

Bespoke collars, and other Matters Of Importance

Of course I want to order a custom collar and identification tag for Jackie.  Rosco’s and Gunner’s collars made by Salena Herring from Dogs By the Bay (headquartered in New Braunfels, Texas) are both beautiful and practical since they are safety breakaway collars:

and I’m deciding on which purple-motif one to order for Jackie. Rosco has this “kill count” identification tag from Dog Tag Art in his favorite color Robin’s egg blue:

But don’t worry, Rosco’s never actually caught a squirrel, rabbit, bird or cat, though he takes his job at critter patrol seriously.  Gunner’s id tag pictured above is silicone from Qalo. 

In assembling the necessities before adopting Jackie, I rummaged out of the closet Prissy’s purple collar and purple martingale slip lead.  These leads from Mendoza Pet are my go-to for training and walking, and all my dogs own at least two each—Rosco has three of them— you tend to collect great gear the older you get around here:

Prissy has bequeathed both her color purple and her gear to Jackie.  Following the purple theme, and wanting Jackie to have her own special collar and tag, I am drawn to this Asian cherry blossom ID tag from Dog Tag Art that follows the purple motif:

I think it will look attractive with this collar from Dogs by the Bay that has purple wisteria and honeysuckle on it:

Prior to adopting Jackie, and while still working with the awesome volunteers at Border Collie Save on the decisions about which dogs to consider, I preemptively ordered this simple id tag with the word “REWARD” engraved with our address and phone number, since I didn’t yet know the dog’s name we would eventually adopt.  I attached the tag to Prissy’s (now Jackie’s) purple collar:

Now that we’ve adopted Jackie, I’ll order her own proper id tag with her name.  Since she is microchipped I’ve previously entered our updated information into Jackie’s appropriate microchip database. 

Gunner has an agility slip lead custom made by Brie Frances of Snuffles and Tugs in his Gunner orange color:

And once we are further along in Jackie’s education, an agility slip lead of purple fleece with purple webbing and pink embroidery detail will be on point, with the fleece strands braided into the leash in purple, pink, and one lime green strand braided in for a pop.

Pearls:

• Prissy’s body may be gone, but all the love is still very much alive
• Jackie has taken over the purple mantle from Prissy, and wears it well

Milestone

Today marks an entire week that Jackie has been with us!  It has gone amazingly well, which is a credit to both Jackie’s good natural temperament and the great job her foster family did with her.  We still have a road to travel in front of us, but I am very optimistic about Jackie’s future!

She met and has continued to interact with both Rosco our elder statesman with patience and gentility, and with our velcro dog Gunner with equal patience and willingness to play. Her already solid house training has transferred to her new environment; she has been 100% mistake free in the house.  

Jackie was already good on leash and she is still just beginning to understand being reinforced to look up at me while out for a walk and for coming to me.  We haven’t yet begun formal education for a recall (other than reinforcing every time she comes to me on her own) and neither have we started to learn heeling.  Positive reinforcement for walking on a loose leash is going well.

We’ve purposefully avoided interacting yet with any other dogs or people outside our immediate family. Each day we try to go a bit longer on our walks, slowly building confidence in the new and wider environment. Yesterday we were unexpectedly joined by a friendly and calm doodle while out for a walk on the river trails.  I didn’t have time to “manage” the meeting as the other dog was off leash and approached us before we even realized, but both the doodle, Brady, and his retiree mom and dad were gentle and friendly, so it was a fortuitous introduction to some fellow citizens in the neighborhood. I’m grateful because I don’t want to risk Jackie getting scared or overwhelmed by anything in her greater environment, so it was a good interaction with a calm, friendly dog that added to her confidence while exploring the great outdoors.

For me the biggest challenge has been keeping her interest in her daily meals of kibble, which she has been slow to eat.  She certainly isn’t the voracious eater that Rosco is, and isn’t even as interested in kibble as is Gunner.  She’s eating well, albeit slowly, which is healthier than bolting her food anyway. We will gradually work to build her physical condition and fitness over time.

Each night we gather in the living room and Jackie is on the big lounger dog bed in front of the sofa where she loves to get pets and belly rubs.  Just last night for the first time she climbed up to me while sitting on the sofa and lay with me on the chaise lounge with Gunner and Rosco for a good cuddle puppy pile.  And she joined us for the first time upstairs and curled up in Chris’ lap for our entire movie.  Jackie is a love and we’re happy she’s feeling more at home each day and night.

Jackie in the glow of our Saturday night movie, sharing a lap with Gunner on the sofa with Rosco in the nest bed at our feet:

Gunner vigilant while Jackie rests:

Pearls:

• A successful first week!  Milestones include mistake-free potty habits, beginning the early stages of bonding with her new family, learning the schedule and dynamics of her new home
• Walking on a loose leash is going well
• Finicky eater? Certainly not the chow hound her brothers are
• Novel environments on the river trails are continuing to be positive and confidence-building 
• Jackie is slowly getting used to having more access around the house, including our first time upstairs in the home theatre to join us for movie night

Learning

There is always something new to discover.  In bringing Jackie into our home with Gunner, who is already fairly well advanced in his general obedience, it is interesting to observe the dynamic that having the presence of another Border collie in the same household has had for Gunner.  

Gunner’s recall is very good. His attention to me has always been on point as well.  Maybe I am just noticing it in contrast to Jackie, who has not yet had enough time for us to have a deeply bonded relationship, nor even begin her “formal” education, but Gunner’s attention to me has sharpened even more.  His focus on me and promptness was already very good, and I didn’t realize it could be even sharper.  But sharpened it has, just from the (competitive?) presence of Jackie.  

I am being very deliberate about making sure Rosco and especially the more sensitive Gunner have above and beyond adequate Mom time, and that they feel valued— because they are valued. Even with this idea in place, Gunner has displayed a sharpened recall, longer duration for behaviors that require patience and control on the dog’s part, and his heel is phenomenal — even though we haven’t practiced “show ring” heeling in years due to our focus on trick training, urban citizen training, and agility.  It has been interesting and informative for me to watch Gunner’s obedience skills deepen and sharpen in these last several days since we adopted Jackie into our home.

(A word about Rosco: Cocker spaniels have rich inner lives, I’m not arguing that at all. We adopted little buddy Rosco 12 years ago from a breed rescue [thank you Cocker Spaniel Rescue of East Texas!] as an adult dog, so he is at least 13 years old.  He is well educated using R+ and has an excellent foundation in obedience.  His daily needs have always been different than those of the Border collies in my life, and certainly now in his geriatric years his enrichment needs are a different intensity than those of Gunner’s and Jackie’s.  Rest assured reader that even though Rosco may not be the current focus of this blog, he has much enrichment, learning opportunities, and love in his life.)

What are the training lessons here?  I’m actually not sure yet, and I wanted to document what I’m observing in real time, in order to reflect later as well as ponder just now.  Is training in a multi-dog household superior to training a “singleton?”  If so what are the dynamics? And even though I currently view it as a positive outcome of interest, what is Gunner’s perception of the current situation?  Is his “increase” in sharpness due to jealousy?  competition? something else?  Is it good for Gunner or stressful for him?  A little of both? I want to learn more…

Dogs dogs dogs

Pearls:

• Dynamics change in a multi-dog household, the more I observe the more I learn; Gunner seems to have found a whole new gear in the presence of Jackie
• Rosco is a baller
• As I observe what is happening with my own multi-dog household, I am curious to learn more about other experiences when training multiple sport dogs in the same household

Patience is a Virtue

Yesterday I wrote about reinforcers, their value, and letting the learner choose what is higher in value to the learner.  Today while on our stroll, and occasionally other times, Jackie would literally spit out the food reinforcer I popped into her mouth and it hits the ground with a failing thud to my ears.  I’ve experimented with boiled chicken and even beef, hot dogs and lamb (lamb loaf is my favorite for ease of use, ease of storage, ease of prep. I can cut the loaf into individual large medallions the size of a human chocolate chip cookie to store in the fridge, then take out a couple large medallions to put in my bait pouch to easily pinch off a teeny tiny to a bigger bite-ful, and it is simple to jackpot several small bites in a row). However— value of a reinforcer is assigned by the learner, not the teacher, though I am working to build value into “boring” treats.

Jackie isn’t getting the memo on the treats.  Anyhow that was my knee jerk thought.  In reality the point is that I need to slow my expectations, and follow the good advice to be patient.  Jackie is still very much in the honey moon stage of the relationship, everything is still new: sights, smells, and sounds are all different and coming fast and furious at her.  The preexisting dogs take for granted things like the sound of the river dam roaring loudly on the day after a heavy rain when the day before it was a calm gurgle, or to ignore the third yard down past the first turn after the trail gait when the two doodles pop up out of their bushes and bark and lunge furiously up and down their wrought iron fenceline as we stroll by, or that the men building a neighbor’s pool house are not menacing and can be safely ignored as they shout to one another over the noise of their construction equipment.  Jackie is still learning all this and more.  

It can be difficult to pay attention to a piece of chicken or steak when novel (and is it threatening? Jackie does not have a frame of reference yet) stimuli happen in her environment. She is doing a superb job at taking her cues from her family members, since I maintain a calm demeanor and do not push her to any threshold where she is scared or feels in danger.  Gunner and Rosco are also teaching her by example what is to be ignored and what is worth paying attention— it’s Mom, she’s worth paying attention— which years of experience (and positive reinforcement of all kinds) have taught Rosco and Gunner. 

So I’m giving myself a break on my exuberance to get out in front of Jackie’s education, but also a reminder of the mantra patience, patience, patience.  We will get there.  Jackie is doing a great job.  I want to as well— and it can be done with patience as my guide. 

“You don’t really suppose, do you, that all your adventures and escapes were managed by mere luck, just for your sole benefit? You are a very fine person, Mr. Baggins, and I am very fond of you; but you are only quite a little fellow in a wide world after all!”

Jackie, discovering that it’s a wide world after all, adventures can be fun, and there are more folks in this world who love her.

Pearls:

• Patience
• Patience
• Patience
• You don’t have to be a wizard to educate a dog, you just have to be patient