(The Secret of Dog Training) – Part 2
In the first part of this article, Sally explained how reinforcement works and how to introduce a marker. Go to Part 1
To test to see if your dog understands what the marker means, wait for him to look away and make your sound. If he responds by looking at you or at least flicking his ears towards you then you’re ready to put your marker into action. Only do this one time and then never again use that word or click to get your dog’s attention.
If you are using a clicker, and I always use both a clicker and verbal marker, you make a pact with your dog. If I click I will deliver a treat to you. So if you want to use an alternate reinforcement, use your verbal marker only.
Logan pictured in Part 1 of this article, all grown up with excellent attention reinforced since puppyhood (Photo courtesy of Stephanie Horner)
Once charged, the purpose of your marker changes from marking the food, like it was during charging, to marking the good behavior. Now you will be separating the marker from the reinforcement by 1-3 seconds, or more as your dog gets more experienced. For instance, you ask your dog to sit. As his butt hits the ground you mark that behavior, pause, then deliver a treat. Try to mark the split second his butt touches the ground. Mark and reinforce all good behavior all the time, especially calm, polite behavior.
If your dog does something bad on a regular basis, it has been reinforced in some way! It has been scientifically proven tens of thousands of times, behavior that is reinforced will be repeated. If this is happening, be a detective and figure out how your dog is being reinforced for this bad behavior. Here’s a hint—it’s probably you!
A better way to deal with bad behavior is to say nothing and turn away, or leave the room for 10 seconds and close a door. That physical barrier makes it black and white to your dog. “Not only did that not get me what I wanted, but my giant treat with the thumbs just left the room.”
Puppies are walking blank slates and learn constantly from you and the environment what works and what doesn’t. You must be careful not to let them train you.
What would you do in this scenario? Your puppy is chewing a shoe. Commonly people would advise you to give the pup an appropriate toy in place of the shoe. But if you do you’ve just reinforced the puppy for chewing the shoe! I would run away from the puppy and entice them to follow me, be exciting and fun so the pup wants to follow. As he follows, I’d be sure to mark that good behavior (no reinforcement yet). When he comes to you, he will have left the shoe behind. Ask him to do something like a sit or down, then you can legitimately mark and reinforce with an appropriate chew toy. Then make sure you teach your dog how to “drop it” and “leave it” to avoid similar situations in the future.
Help your puppies grow up to be calm, confident adults by letting them know now when they are doing something right.
Do you clicker train or use other types of positive reinforcement training with your Weim? Please comment below.
About Sally Bushwaller
[...] In the second part of this article, Sally will explain when and how implement the marker to reinforce good behavior. Sally is a Certified Pet Dog Trainer-KA in Chicago and has been training dogs professionally since 2005 when she obtained her certification. She is a professional member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. She has a particular interest in correcting dog’s behavioral issues via positive reinforcement. Sally works for The Anti-Cruelty Society’s School of Dog Obedience and AnimalSense, doing classes and privates. She is also Director of Obedience for the Weimaraner Club of Northern Illinois, editor of Gray Ghost Stories, the newsletter of WCNI, founder of Cards for Weimaraner Rescue, selling high quality photo cards, all the profit of which goes to rescue, and founder of Sally’s Kids, raising money at Christmas to purchase the basic necessities of life for needy kids. [...]