By Pat Robards – Hills Howler Edition: July 2020
I thought I might mention where I find it important to give my dog her reward as it is very, very important. Well, I consider it is. Of course it depends on the level of training you wish to attain and accuracy. However, where you treat can be very important in learning.
The trainer feeds wherever it benefits the training (which means the trainer). For example, if Cindy is heeling, I’ll ask for a hand touch, give my marker word – briefly pausing when I reward her for her position which is nice and neat and close.
I give her the goodies in the same position I marked, nice and neat and close. I am conditioning that area as a pleasant place to be.
I’ll pause for a second as I mentioned so Cindy can taste and savour the treat. Learning usually does not end with the click/bridge or marker word interestingly enough… although a few have written that it does – but dogs don’t read very well! Something happens after you reward; learning ends after the consumption of the treat or a play with the tug/toy.
I never feed – especially a “green” dog – out of the position I am trying to reinforce. Working on a sit, the dog receives the goodies sitting. Same as heeling, my dog gets her goodies in heel position – down in the down position and so on. I’ve found “feeding for the position” one is trying to strengthen, strengthens the behaviour.
First published on Hills Howler July 2009. Republished with permission.
