How Rewards Make a Difference

Within the past year, one of the goals that we've been working on with Finnegan is "Finding what reward makes the desired behavior increase in probability, whether that's the reward you'd prefer to offer or not."

I learned about the tremendous value of rewards when it comes to Finn. It has allowed me to be more creative with my interaction with him. For instance, I can use a game of tug as a reward one day and a game of fetch on another. It's been enjoyable coming up with stuff to do as PLAY and the list of ways has become limitless. I see that this approach to learning is in his eagerness to work and most of all, it is in his smile and his tail! I noticed that I have a dog that looks fulfilled and does not have the need to walk just to burn off energy anymore. I observed too that voice has been a great reward as well. Finn knows when I am pleased when I switch to an upbeat calmer tone voice...he lowers his head, wagging his tail in circles and gives affection when he hears this.

Rewards are not just using food anymore, although a great piece of Swiss cheese or beef liver every now and then is a major plus. Interaction is the key and making it all about FUN.

Comments

Lodo Grdzak said…
You can substitute all kinds of things for food once you establish the association. For example, if you blow a whistle each time you reward the dog with food, the dog will eventually associate the whistle itself as a reward. Or at least as something positive. That way you can keep rewarding the dog's behavior (via the whistle) without making him/her weigh 200 pounds. Not only that, but the dog will work harder if it only gets the actual food reward every 3rd or 4th time, as opposed to everytime. But maybe you already know that. Cute dog--love those Goldens!
May 17, 2009 at 12:43 PM
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