Let’s start off the week with a question…….
…..and an extremely important lesson you won’t read anywhere else.
This came in over the weekend:
“My 70lbs. Lab loves to go for rides. Especially to the beach. My problem is getting him into the back of my vehicle. I think it is my fault because I have always lifted him but now that he is 70lbs. he is getting too heavy for me. I was told by friends and advice I read on the internet to teach her to jump in by offering some treats. One person said to use “addictive treats” but I have tried everything and he just sits there and waits for me to heave him into the car.”
There is a great lesson here. If you remember correctly when we are training a dog we have four behavior quadrants to work with:
1. Positive reinforcement
2. Negative reinforcement
3. Positive punishment
4. Negative punishment
We can immediately rule out number 3 and 4. Those quadrants are used to stop or reduce behaviors. Numbers 1 and 2 are used to get behaviors to occur. From the question above, our friend has tried using positive reinforcement but has not been able to get the behavior to happen.
That leaves us with…..
……negative reinforcement.
People get very confused about negative reinforcement. Negative reinforcement is used to get a behavior to occur. I’ve helped quite a few people train their dogs to jump into their cars or trucks using negative reinforcement.
And most of the time positive reinforcement does not cut it.
Negative reinforcement gets a bad wrap but it is quite helpful and most of the important lessons you’ve learned in your life are the result of negative reinforcement. Remember, negative reinforcement is used to GET A BEHAVIOR TO HAPPEN.
Ever get a sunburn? Do you put sunscreen on to avoid getting broiled? That is negative reinforcement. Do you use oven mitts when you grab the Thanksgiving turkey out of the stove? Negative reinforcement. Do you put on your seatbelt to get the annoying sound in your car to stop?
Negative reinforcement can keep you healthy, happy, even save your life.
Obviously, there are different degrees of negative reinforcement but you get the point.
Onward.
So how would you use negative reinforcement? Actually, I use a combination of positive and negative reinforcement.
Let’s say we want the dog to jump into the passenger’s side. I put a leash on the dog and hand the leash to the owner who is on the other side of the car. The driver’s side and passenger’s side doors are open.
The leash is passed through the car. So the dog is sitting in front of the passenger’s side. The leash is handed to the owner on the driver’s side. The owner is instructed to say “Jump” or “Up” and then apply gentle, steady pressure into the leash.
I stay with the dog to help him make the decision to jump into the car. The owner keeps the tension into the leash, I help guide the dog and once he jumps into the car seat we let the pressure off the leash and SWITCH to positive reinforcement and reward with a treat.
And it is amazing how fast they do it without the leash once you get them to do it a few times.
And you know what? One of the best and easiest ways to train your dog is when you have a clear understanding of how to use the different types of reinforcement.
And that’s where I can help. The Dog Training Inner Circle is where to go for more help training your dog. Best part is you can get started for just $1.00!
Here’s where to go NEXT:
Best,
Eric