Clean Run - August 2018 - 18

Another common problem is asking the
dog to do something that he does not
understand, doesn't have the physical
skills for or hasn't been taught adequately.
When a dog "fails" and receives no reward, he may be asked to repeat the task
again and again until he gets it right. The
effort put into a fail by the dog can be
considerably more than one-time success, and without further training, the
dog simply practices-and strengthens-
his mistakes. Sometimes we are slow to
forgive an error made by the dog too if
indeed it was the dog's fault and not handler error. To be successful in agility, excellent handling skills are vital, and if we
are failing to keep our side of the bargain,
our dogs are brutally honest in communicating this through their errors.
Agility is a team sport involving two
players-dog and handler-working in
perfect harmony. It demands many skills
from both, and the best way to teach is
through learning that cements this bond
and communicates precisely what is

haviour?" She explains that once we can
answer this question regarding the outcome or consequence of the behaviour,
we are better placed to understand the
dog's purpose. She states, "Outcomes give
our behaviour function." In agility, if a
dog knocks down a jump and anticipates
punishment, he may run off the course.
The function of the behaviour of running
away is relief and punishment avoidance.

Positive reinforcement builds happy, engaged, and focused learners.

required of the learner. Learner-centric
teaching finds solutions to training
problems through positive reinforcement, not punishment, and holds the
key to building a successful partnership
for many years to come.
The uPsiDe oF PosiTive reinForcemenT
For the sake of our canine friend's health
and well-being, we need a mind shift
that suppresses our desire to use punishment and looks for kinder solutions that
support learning. Positive reinforcement
is closely linked to motivation, producing dopamine activity that makes the
learner want to repeat the behaviour.
When using positive reinforcement,
we listen to what our learner has to tell
us and act accordingly, adapting our
teaching to meet their needs. A skilled
handler will always consider why the
mistake is happening and address it by
assessing the dog's training needs.

Positive reinforcement demands more
of us than punishment. It focuses on
the co-operative relationship between
trainer and learner, and it forces us to
improve our teaching skills. It places the
responsibility for what the dog learns
squarely on our shoulders. Positive reinforcement makes us think outside the
box and become problem preventers
while simultaneously building a meaningful and lasting relationship with mutual respect. The journey, not the trophy,
is the prize. Once you experience the
rich tapestry of learning opportunity
that positive reinforcement offers, life is
never the same again. It becomes infinitely better for your dog. And for you.
From the moment I first trained a retrieve using positive reinforcement
from the comfort of my armchair, I was
smitten. My learner became my teacher,
and we conversed. Our first write-up
in Working Trials Monthly in 1998 said
"keep and enjoy her spirit" -and positive reinforcement did just that. D

reFerences
Cruse, T (2017). Woofs of Wisdom: a collection of dog training and behaviour soundbites.
Laurence, K (2017). Woofs of Wisdom: a collection of dog training and behaviour soundbites. P102. Amazon.co.uk.
LeDoux, J (1998). The Emotional Brain. Orion Books Ltd, London, UK.
Michaels, L MA (2017) (Creator of hierarchyofdogneeds.com). Woofs of Wisdom: a collection of dog training and behaviour soundbites. P153 title
quote "Learning shouldn't hurt." Amazon, UK.
Patel, C (2017). Punishment & Animal Training: A discussion with Chirag Patel. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tFRoHktDE
w&feature=youtu.be
Reber S R, Allen R & Reber E S, (2009 4th edition). Penguin Dictionary of Psychology. Penguin Group, London, UK.
Friedman, S Ph.D. Woofs of Wisdom: a collection of dog training and behaviour soundbites. P114. Amazon, UK.
Skinner, B F (1953). Science and human behaviour. Simon & Schuster Inc, USA.
Tudge, N & Nilson, A (2017). An Open Letter to Pet Industry Representatives Regarding the Use of Shock in Animal Training. Barks from the Guild,
issue no 25, July 2017. Available from: https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/Open-Letter-to-Pet-Industry-Representatives-Regarding-the-Useof-Shock-in-Animal-Training
Kate holds an advanced diploma in Canine Behaviour Management, and she is a member of the Pet Professional Guild. She runs Contemplating Canines, her force-free
behaviour and training business, in East Devon, UK. Her expertise lies in errorless learning and clicker training, and she is the author of Home Alone & Happy and a
regular contributor to magazines. Along with her husband, Kate is guardian to four dogs and enjoys long walks with them on the local beach as often as possible. She
can be contacted through her website: www.contemplatingcanines.com
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Clean Run | August 18

http://Amazon.co.uk http://www.hierarchyofdogneeds.com https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tFRoHktDEw&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tFRoHktDEw&feature=youtu.be https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/Open-Letter-to-Pet-Industry-Representatives-Regarding-the-Use-of-Shock-in-Animal-Training https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/Open-Letter-to-Pet-Industry-Representatives-Regarding-the-Use-of-Shock-in-Animal-Training http://www.contemplatingcanines.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run - August 2018