Clean Run Magazine - September 2007 - 67

The instructional format is customized to the student’s skill level and former experience at training. The dogs might demonstrate the importance of increasing the value (desirability) of the reward or reducing distractions or both, to increase the chance of success. During this process, we’ll see the value of keeping the rate of reinforcement high while acquiring a behavior. The more success, the more rewards and rewards drive behavior. The law about this is called the Law of Effect. To paraphrase: “If a behavior is followed by a satisfying state of affairs, the behavior will strengthen.” We’ll practice the timing of reinforcement to come exactly as the behavior occurs, not after. We will learn the meaning of Bob Bailey’s phrase, “You’re late!” We’ll move quickly to a a variable reward schedule (one, two, or three behaviors before reinforcement with a treat), which teaches the animal to play the lottery, rather than prolonging continuous schedule of reinforcement (one behavior performance equals one treat). It will reassure you that you can successfully train your dog without dispensing food all the time. The slang term twofers, means asking the dog to perform two correct behaviors to get his payoff. We’ll practice a differential schedule of reinforcement by waiting for, marking, and rewarding only the “best” paw-on-paper target behavior. What is the meaning of “best”? Criteria selection again: • • • Intensity (more strength of contact) or Duration (keep paw there longer) or Frequency (faster is better) Work on only one clearly defined criterion at a time. Other criteria can be relaxed, lowered, or temporarily ignored during this time. When moving to a variable schedule of reinforcement, you might see an extinction burst. The dog may become a bit more active when his usual payoff is not given. This makes the dog work harder. The slang, surf the extinction burst, means that this is a good time to watch the dog’s increased behavior. He might offer something that will be helpful to the goal. Reward it. From the beginning we put the dog on limited hold three, a variation of differential As you practice learning operant and classical conditioning terminology for reward-based training and how to apply it, create some doggy art for your home or our Legacy website! reinforcement, which means the cookie sheet is presented for 3 seconds and then is taken away, regardless of what the dog does. The appearance and disappearance of the tray acts as a salient cue, one that is easily distinguished by the dog. If the dog doesn’t respond by limited hold three, the dog has lost his opportunity for reinforcement. cue that an appropriate behavior will be rewarded if performed within 3 seconds. We will strive for stimulus control, which means we won’t reward the behavior if it is not preceded by the cue. When the behavior is reliable, we can then attach a verbal cue if desired. When the cookie tray comes into view, it acts as a temporary D Terry Ryan, the president of Legacy Canine Behavior & Training, has been a pet dog class instructor since 1968. Terry specializes in motivational exercises, often presented as games. The author of Coaching People to Train Their Dogs and a busy international seminar presenter, she often conducts workshops using chickens as training models. Visit her website to learn more: www.legacycanine.com. September 07 | Clean Run 67

http://www.legacycanine.com

Clean Run Magazine - September 2007

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run Magazine - September 2007