Dog Training part III

Communicating

with the dog

Fundamentally, dog training is about communication.

From the human perspective the handler is

communicating to the dog what behaviors are

correct, desired, or preferred in what

circumstances. From the canine perspective the

handler must communicate what behaviors will

give the dog the most satisfaction to his natural

instincts and emotions. Without that inner

satisfaction a dog will not work well.

A successful handler must also understand the

communication that the dog sends to the handler.

The dog can signal that he is unsure, confused,

nervous, happy, excited, and so on. The emotional

state of the dog is an important consideration in

directing the training, as a dog that is stressed or

distracted will not learn efficiently.

According to Learning Theory there are a four

important messages that the handler can send the

dog:

Reward or release marker

Correct behavior. You have earned a reward. For

example, "Free" followed by a reward.

Bridge

Correct behavior. Continue and you will earn a

reward. For example, "Good".

No reward marker

Incorrect behavior. Try something else. For example,

"Uh-uh" or "Try again".

Punishment marker

Incorrect behavior. You have earned punishment. For

example, "No".

Using consistent signals or words for these

messages enables the dog to understand them

more quickly. If the handler sometimes says

"good" as a reward marker and sometimes as a

bridge, it is difficult for the dog to know when he has

earned a reward.Rewards can be treats, play, praise,

or anything that the dog finds rewarding. Failure to

reward after the reward marker diminishes the value

of the reward marker and makes training more

difficult.

These four messages do not have to be

communicated with words, and nonverbal signals

are often used. In particular, mechanical clickers are

frequently used for the reward marker. Hand signals

and body language also play an important part in

learning for dogs.

Dogs usually do not generalize commands easily;

that is, a dog who has learned a command in a

particular location and situation may not

immediately recognize the command to other

situations. A dog who knows how to "down" in the

living room may suffer genuine confusion if asked to

"down" at the park or in the car. The command will

need to be retaught in each new situation. This

is sometimes called "crosscontextualization,"

meaning the dog has to apply what's been learned to

many different contexts.

Next: Dog Training part IV - Reward and punishment

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