Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to use food? Won't this result in a dog that only works for food? I want my dog to work for me.
Dogs, like all animals and even humans, learn by experiencing the consequences (good or bad) of their behaviour and they are learning all the time, whether or not we are actively training them. The reality is that the consequences of behaviour are what drives it. Dogs will either work to get a reinforcer, or to avoid punishment. They will never work "just to please us". Sometimes though they appear to be doing this because the reinforcer is coupled with what we want them to do and it just so happens that the dog is naturally driven to enjoy this particular type of activity.
Reinforcement of a behaviour increases the chance of it happening again. When training, it is important that the reinforcement you use is actually highly desired by your dog, rather than using what you think your dog should like. Food, along with other basic biological needs, is generally considered to be highly valued by all species. We call these basic needs primary reinforcers.
Food is extremely convenient in class but it isn't the only reinforcer you can use. Some dogs are highly motivated by toys, such as chasing a ball or playing tug. Others love tearing up paper or tissues. We also recommend that you use what we call life rewards - such as going for a walk, or being allowed onto the guardian's lap for a cuddle - incorporated into your everyday activities. This will result in a win for you, with a dog that complies with your wishes and a win for the dog, who gets to enjoy all the things he values in life.
Observe your dog carefully and experiment with different items. Make a list of all the objects, activities and different types of food that he enjoys. Take a special note of the most highly valued reinforcers and use these whenever you have a real training challenge. By combining the behaviours you desire of your dog with the reinforcers that he likes, you will find a stress-free and peaceful way to have a well-behaved dog.
Some people (misguidedly) look upon food as a bribe. Food is a basic biological need. Even we humans go to work to put food on our tables. Food and other reinforcers are simply the dog's wages for a job well done. How many humans, even those who enjoy their job, would continue going to work if at the end of the week all they received from the boss is a slap on the back and a "Well done!"?
Once a behaviour is learned, there is no need to reinforce every time. In fact, behaviour is actually strengthened when reinforced only intermittently. Think carefully about this when you're trying to stop an unwanted behaviour performed by your dog and you will understand why the problem persists! This is a scientifically proven principle that is used to attract people to gambling and the reason why some people become addicted.
Kathy Sdao, a former marine mammal trainer for the US Navy, tells of her time training dolphins with positive reinforcement. Once trained, the dolphins would work for four hours before they were reinforced. Their reinforcement was one frozen-then-thawed fish. The whole time they were working they were swimming past fresh, live fish, but resisted the temptation to eat them and chose to keep on working! Such is the power of positive training.