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With a dog I had 10 years ago I decided to go to classes for the first time. This was after a few dogs, all well trained and really very good dogs.
As part of that I studied the 4 quadrants of training/learning and went back to the Skinner rat box and some other things. In the end, I titled the dog in AKC obedience. I went to various R+ trainers and found out everyone interprets how to effectively use the quadrants to get a dog trained. I tried it all.. and just about ruined the dog in the process (mostly from ignorance on how to effecitvely use R+ and the non P+ quadrants and partly due to a lack of Pack Drive in this particular dog).
Eventually I purchased another dog.. sired by a world class winner in the show ring (conformation) and this was my first IPO dog. Pretty dog, but not really cut out for IPO. Then end result is that I learned from her. Lessons that cannot be replaced.. she was difficult to engage as she was nervy and lacking in drive. She is a dog that worries and stresses over every little thing and a stern look or clearing your throat filled her with apologies. She was a good dog because she never ran out of TRY and I will always appreciate her for giving me all she had. It wasn't enough for an IPO 1, but giving me her best and all she had was simply fine.
In comes dog #3 all working lines and sired by a world team dog and out of a solid and titles female line. I have her now. This dog doesn't much care if I clear my throat.. in fact, her idea of fun is to see how far she can push the boundaries. This is the dog that taught me that yes, indeed, positive punishment has its place and that you need to balance that with perfect timing and the dog's behavior. You also need to balance every correction with a Positive Reinforcement that is is three times greater than the correction. This is the dog that taught me about E-Collars.
Now, in this sport there are trainers who will tell you that you teach the dog "how to" do a thing, like Sit in response to a sitz command. Next you get them to "want to" do that behavior. Some dogs this is where it ends. You never have to go to the next phase, which is "have to" do the behavior. How to and want to is taught best using R+. The dog responds and attitude shows happiness (dogs exhibiting stress lose points in my chosen sport!).
"Have to" introduces the P+ quadrant, which is the smallest quadrant in dog training because it is used rarely. P+ cannot be used before the dog TOTALLY understands "how to" and "want to" and the task being requested. Most dog owners do not realize their dog does not have the behavior down pat. Most dog owners have not proofed behaviors in "how to" and "want to." THIS very fact removes use of P+ from their dog training tool box. P+ MUST be countered with a positive reinforcement (R+) three times greater than the P+. MOST dog owners do not emphasize enough the dog "getting it right!"
When training a TASK, the only time P+ is effective is when the dog totally completely KNOWS the task being asked AND clearly has elected to NOT respond. Again, most dog owners are not good enough at reading dogs to know when this is happening and are not good enough at timing to clearly convey a P+ and have it effective.
If P+ is the option that is right for the dog and right for the situation, it must be effective. Nagging teaches the dog to ignore the handler (like repeating a command cue with out a response from the dog). Nagging teaches the dog you are not fair. The correction should be meaningful and be given ONCE at exactly the right time. Timing is HUGE.
P+ should NEVER be used out of anger or frustration. NEVER. P+ is a tool that needs the right handler, the right dog, the right situation, careful management, perfect timing and be used infrequently. If you must use P+ more than once or twice for the same behavior, you are doing it wrong. STOP. Go back and retrain using R+.
Willy Nilly pounding on a dog that does not understand suffices to do one thing: Destroy your relationship with the dog. The dogs sees you as unfair and unclear. Dogs thrive on black and white. Nagging and pounding on the dog are grey and simply confuse the dog who is often trying but does not understand.
P+ Correctly used to fairly establish boundaries can actually clarify the relationship with the dog and, in some dogs (usually solid, confident dogs) be absolutely necessary.
As part of that I studied the 4 quadrants of training/learning and went back to the Skinner rat box and some other things. In the end, I titled the dog in AKC obedience. I went to various R+ trainers and found out everyone interprets how to effectively use the quadrants to get a dog trained. I tried it all.. and just about ruined the dog in the process (mostly from ignorance on how to effecitvely use R+ and the non P+ quadrants and partly due to a lack of Pack Drive in this particular dog).
Eventually I purchased another dog.. sired by a world class winner in the show ring (conformation) and this was my first IPO dog. Pretty dog, but not really cut out for IPO. Then end result is that I learned from her. Lessons that cannot be replaced.. she was difficult to engage as she was nervy and lacking in drive. She is a dog that worries and stresses over every little thing and a stern look or clearing your throat filled her with apologies. She was a good dog because she never ran out of TRY and I will always appreciate her for giving me all she had. It wasn't enough for an IPO 1, but giving me her best and all she had was simply fine.
In comes dog #3 all working lines and sired by a world team dog and out of a solid and titles female line. I have her now. This dog doesn't much care if I clear my throat.. in fact, her idea of fun is to see how far she can push the boundaries. This is the dog that taught me that yes, indeed, positive punishment has its place and that you need to balance that with perfect timing and the dog's behavior. You also need to balance every correction with a Positive Reinforcement that is is three times greater than the correction. This is the dog that taught me about E-Collars.
Now, in this sport there are trainers who will tell you that you teach the dog "how to" do a thing, like Sit in response to a sitz command. Next you get them to "want to" do that behavior. Some dogs this is where it ends. You never have to go to the next phase, which is "have to" do the behavior. How to and want to is taught best using R+. The dog responds and attitude shows happiness (dogs exhibiting stress lose points in my chosen sport!).
"Have to" introduces the P+ quadrant, which is the smallest quadrant in dog training because it is used rarely. P+ cannot be used before the dog TOTALLY understands "how to" and "want to" and the task being requested. Most dog owners do not realize their dog does not have the behavior down pat. Most dog owners have not proofed behaviors in "how to" and "want to." THIS very fact removes use of P+ from their dog training tool box. P+ MUST be countered with a positive reinforcement (R+) three times greater than the P+. MOST dog owners do not emphasize enough the dog "getting it right!"
When training a TASK, the only time P+ is effective is when the dog totally completely KNOWS the task being asked AND clearly has elected to NOT respond. Again, most dog owners are not good enough at reading dogs to know when this is happening and are not good enough at timing to clearly convey a P+ and have it effective.
If P+ is the option that is right for the dog and right for the situation, it must be effective. Nagging teaches the dog to ignore the handler (like repeating a command cue with out a response from the dog). Nagging teaches the dog you are not fair. The correction should be meaningful and be given ONCE at exactly the right time. Timing is HUGE.
P+ should NEVER be used out of anger or frustration. NEVER. P+ is a tool that needs the right handler, the right dog, the right situation, careful management, perfect timing and be used infrequently. If you must use P+ more than once or twice for the same behavior, you are doing it wrong. STOP. Go back and retrain using R+.
Willy Nilly pounding on a dog that does not understand suffices to do one thing: Destroy your relationship with the dog. The dogs sees you as unfair and unclear. Dogs thrive on black and white. Nagging and pounding on the dog are grey and simply confuse the dog who is often trying but does not understand.
P+ Correctly used to fairly establish boundaries can actually clarify the relationship with the dog and, in some dogs (usually solid, confident dogs) be absolutely necessary.