
Early into my dog training days, I had someone try to convince me that my dog should work because he wanted to please me and not because of any reward. Spoiler alert- It didn't work. Dogs may like to please, but to really learn a behavior they need to be rewarded. It takes a build up of sucess and good rewards to create a reliable dog. We need to build up a piggy bank for our dogs.
Set your dog up for success
One of the first steps is to set your dog up for success. Your goal is to do things your dog should be capable of doing and reward him for it so he associates positives with that behavior. Never do things you don't think your dog can do. Lets say your dog is just starting to recall in the house and you turn him out with a large group of dogs off leash in a field and call him? What if he does not come back to you and when you finally catch him you yell at him? You are making withdrawals on your dogs reliability piggy bank. You will eventually end up with a dog that will not come to. Why should he? Coming to you is now associated with unpleasantness. Your piggy bank is empty.
Build your dogs reliability piggy bank
Instead think about building your dogs reliability piggy bank. If I work within what my dog is capable of he will be successful and I will keep reinforcing the behavior I want. He will be happy and I will be happy. Little by little I increase what I'm asking until I get to my eventual goal. My dog learns to associate the tasks I'm asking as a positive. I'm making deposits in the reliability piggy bank and eventually I get a reliable dog at that task.
This principle mirrors human experiences with rewards. For instance, employees who receive bonuses or praise are often more motivated to perform well. Dogs are no different. They thrive on positive feedback and are more likely to repeat behaviors when they receive treats, praise, or playtime as rewards. The piggy bank method taps into this instinct, making training a rewarding experience.
Recall example
Recall is my favorite exercise to show this concept. If I ask my dog to recall within his limits he will be successful. If 80% or more of the time he gets a good reward what will happen? The dog will learn that when they come back good things happen. They will start coming back happily and at speed even when they are enjoying their freedoms. In essence each time you set your dog up for success and reward, you are making your deposits into your dog's reliability piggy bank. On the times you need the recall but don't have a reward its not such a big deal. The dog knows that more times then not the reward will be there. You have a hundred dollars in your piggy bank and are only removing a dollar. However, on the other end of the spectrum, If I only call my dog back to yell or punish them, I'm making withdrawals. If I only call the dog to leash him up, you are making withdrawals. It won't take long before the dog won't come. Many positive repetitions really build up your reliability piggy bank.
Structuring the Reward System
To successfully implement the piggy bank method, it's essential to structure your rewards effectively. Here are key steps to follow:
Define Desired Behaviors: Clearly identify the behaviors you want to reinforce. Whether it's “sit,” “stay,” or “come,” having specific goals makes training focused and effective.
Choose Rewards Wisely: Offer a variety of rewards that resonate with your dog — treats, praise, or playtime. For example, if your dog loves a specific treat, using that as a reward can enhance motivation.
Maintain Consistency: Always mark the behavior you want with a yes or a click and then reward your dog. This helps the dog understand what behavior was what earned the reward.
Practice Regularly: Consistency is critical, with short sessions daily proving more effective than infrequent, longer ones. Training for just 10 minutes a day can yield impressive results over time.
Be Patient: Remember that each dog learns at their own pace. Celebrate small wins to maintain motivation for both you and your dog.
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