One of the most important things I learned at the Kathy Sdao seminar this weekend was how to really implement the Premack Principle in our training sessions. I was familiar with this principle before attending the seminar but never really applied it much. The Premack Principle basically states that more likely behaviors can be used to reinforce less likely behaviors. Parents use this a lot. Eat your vegetables and you can have dessert. Clean your room and you can go to the movies. On top of that, the less likely behaviors become MORE likely.
I had used chasing squirrels in the past to work on Ris’ eye contact. She absolutely loves chasing things so I cued her to look at me. If she did, I would let her race after the squirrel (on leash). Unfortunately, I had to stop cuing her before releasing her to chase as the cue became a signal for Risa to look for a squirrel even if there weren’t any around! So I stopped asking for attention before giving her permission to chase. Now she just looks to me as if to say “Now? Can I chase this one?”
The sighthound mix with her nose glued to the ground.
Until this weekend, however, I’d never realized how much I could use the Premack Principle. Risa has a long-standing history of being distracted outdoors when we’re working. Usually by scents on the ground or on the wind. Now I have a new tool in my toolbox to fight her occasional wandering mind. 😉 If she does what I’d like, I will let her do what she’d like. Instead of me fighting for her attention, I become the doorway through which her desires can be fulfilled!
It should have been obvious before that Risa is very driven by scent. Odd for a sighthound mix to be so nose-focused but she is what she is. 😀 Whenever we’re on a walk, her nose is down. She loves sniffing trees or grass where other dogs have peed. Ris also likes to track whatever critter may have passed that way.
On our walks this week, I have been using freedom to sniff as a reward for eye contact and loose leash walking at my side. I usually cue her to walk alongside me when we’re passing people (and dogs). When she’s in a position I like and not pulling on lead, I click and release her to “Go sniff!” We walk to the closest tree or bench and I let her sniff to her heart’s content. I’ve only been doing it for three days so it’s hard to know how successful it will be. But it seems to tire Risa out a bit more actually working on a walk and I think she’s happier getting an opportunity to sniff this much!
Today, she even told me that sniffing is far more rewarding than the awesome treats I had. We had just passed another dog and I clicked her for looking away and released her to go sniff. After she did some sniffing, she looked back at the dog and then turned away. I clicked and offered her a treat but she didn’t want it. Instead, she’d gone back to sniffing. Even sticking the treat right under her nose didn’t interest her in it.
I am hoping in the upcoming weeks to start utilizing my newfound love of the Premack Principle to help solidify some of our freestyle behaviors and her focus on me outside. Spin alongside me. . .*click* and “Go sniff!” Attention. . .*click* and “Go sniff!” I can’t believe how many instances I can apply this seemingly simple idea!
