Any puppy or dog landing in a new environment will interact with humans and environmental stimuli…..as a dog does. Simple example: give an untrained dog free roam in your home and invite many undesirable outcomes. Our forward thinking and proactive measures set up to mitigate the risks of dogs making avoidable mistakes and learning habits we do not want to stick. Positive reinforcement training programs make learning easy and fun for dogs and their guardians. No behavior happens in a vacuum. It is a symptom of a conditioned emotional response and part of a larger repertoire. Here are ways to incorporate the concept of setting up for success.
- Anticipate likely outcomes. If we have seen the movie before and do not like the ending, we can rewrite it. This applies to daily routines where we know how our dog is likely to respond. Shopping the counter during meal prep, jumping on your kids’ friends, barking at an oncoming dog while leash walking. Why wait until the marbles spill? Have a plan and put it into action. We can train in alternative behaviors when we intervene at an optimal time with proven tools and techniques.
- Set up to facilitate your dog’s learning. Shaping is a powerful way to install skills. Because behaviors are your dog’s choice, proactively marking (good boy!) and reinforcing them, sets up for consistent repeats. Shaping is the least stressful way to train for dogs and guardians. It’s an effective way to foster and maintain cooperation. Setting up for success means paying attention to your dog’s behaviors and exercising generosity when she offers ones you like. For example: lying quietly while you talk to someone in your kitchen. As opposed to – barking at or jumping on that person.
- Learn to “see” what your dog is communicating to you. Dogs often seek to engage us. Tell us what is on their minds and how they are feeling. When we understand the nature of our dogs’ signals, we are enabled to be increasingly proactive and adept at setting up for training and life success.