SCHEDULED SESSIONS:
October 16, 2022 - 11:30am: Training Evaluation
MARKER AND SECONDARY REINFORCER: The “yes” acts as both a marker and secondary reinforcer. The “yes” marks the precise moment that a dog rehearses a specific behavior that is going to elicit the primary reinforcer, usually tasty treats. The dog now knows that when “yes” is communicated, the behavior they just performed is about to be rewarded. This association of the marker with a primary reinforcer also means it is a secondary reinforcer, which promises the delivery of the reward in the near future. You don’t have to use “yes”, you can choose any word you would like or you can use a clicker as well.
HIGH vs. LOW VALUE REWARDS: I recommend using lower value treats (kibble, packaged dog treats) in less distracting environments, such as inside the house. Save the higher value treats (meatballs, cheese, hotdogs) for outside where there are more distractions.
RATE OF REINFORCEMENT: The rate at which you reward your dog may need to be increased when there are more distractions or when a distraction is particularly stimulating. For example, when you just start practicing settling your dog may require a higher rate of reinforcement that may feel like you are constantly marking and rewarding back to back in order to maintain your dog’s settled position, as compared to later on in the training, which may require a lower rate of reinforcement once your dog is getting the hang of it. You can begin decreasing the rate of reinforcement with each training session and adapt as you notice your dog’s tolerance level.
JACKPOTS/FOOD SCATTERS: Jackpots and food scatters are similar in that they are both unexpected, large, and valuable rewards, and can contain the same amount of treats, but they are different in terms of the purpose they serve. A jackpot is used to provide multiple treats, to possibly increase the value of the reward, whereas a food scatter is intended to provide a break while the dog sniffs and searches for each piece of food.
TRAINING VOCABULARY:
10.16.22 - TRAINING FOR BERKELEY
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MANAGEMENT
I originally said to try walks using a treat pouch to see if you’re able to maintain engagement and attention but I am now recommending no walks where there are cars while we start working on relaxation. This will help prevent Berkeley from practicing the undesirable behavior.
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ENRICHMENT
When you notice Berkeley tends to have spikes in his energy level, do an enrichment activity with him and ultimately incorporate this into a regular routine for him, making any adjustments as needed.
Enrichment activities can include but are not limited to:
Kong and/or lickimat for frozen foods such as a peanut butter/yogurt mix, peanut butter, wet food, etc.
Long chews like bully sticks, soup bones, pig ears.
Contextual shredding: paper bags, cardboard and similar items, just makes sure he’s not eating it, just shredding. Cue with “shred it!”
Food scatter outside in the grass
Snuffle mat (can use a rolled up towel(s) as an alternative)
Easy level puzzle games (muffin tin puzzle is a great DIY)
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TRAINING
SETTLING: with or without a mat/bed, practice settling in a down position. Keep initial sessions short but can do multiple in a day especially if Berkeley seems overstimulated.
SIT/DOWN + STAY: Keep bowls of treats around the house to always have rewards on hand when cueing sits and downs. Once Berkeley is doing this consistently, practice duration with stay. Don’t forget to always reward the desired behavior. Consistency is key!