My topic for today has to do with 'choices'. This concept is the idea that by allowing the dog to make choices, but controlling the access to the reward, we can teach our dogs to understand what behaviors are acceptable, and which ones aren't.
Lyric has an obsession with balls. This is not a behavior that I like. Previously, I've tried to control the dog - telling her to leave it, calling her away - or by managing the behavior - putting all the balls away. These options have not been working, and there are definite reasons why. I hope that this new approach of getting Lyric to choose will help relieve these problems.
The main complaint with controlling the dog is that it is exhausting. I do not want to continually have to tell Lyric no. It also creates a dog who must be told, rather than thinking for themselves. Long term, controlling Lyric just isn't an option. The issue with managing the behavior is that balls will get left out be someone. There will constantly be error. It also does not teach her self control, and I do not want her obsession to grow.
Now to control the access to the reward. Controlling the balls is not about putting them away but controlling her access to them. So, I have decided to create an "off limits" place for balls, that way neither of us are confused on when balls are okay to play with and when they aren't. I have a basket of toys that are out, but not open for playtime. The requirement for Lyric is that when the balls are in that basket, she is not allowed any access to them. In order for her to learn this, I've been setting firm boundaries, and giving no second chances.
It is a reward for them to be down on her level. So long as she doesn't mess with them, they are left down low.
But what if she starts sniffing the basket and touching the toys? I do not want any gray area about what is expected. She is allowed NO access. The basket is put up if she sits and stares at them or touches them. The last thing I want is a dog who sits by the basket day in and day out. It may seem harmless at first until that obsession grows. It all depends on her focus. Is she really paying attention to them, or did she just walk on by with one sniff because it's an object on the floor?
If she grabs the ball, I simply do not allow her to play with it. Instead of commanding her otherwise (remember the goal is to not have to control the dog) I simply grab her collar, preventing any play to take place. She gets board and drops the ball, and I calmly go put it away.
The big thing with this is that it's her choice. She gets to decide what she's going to do. I'm not going to get after her, or tell her 'uh uh' when she starts towards the basket. Even if I could stop her from going to it, I don't want to. It's her job to make the right choice. I simply control the outcome. By not trying to make her decisions right, she's going to learn a lot faster what the rules of the basket are.
The next step is earning a ball. I only want to give her a ball when she has accepted ignoring them. If she engages me in something else, totally ignoring the ball, then I might tell her to "take it!" as a reward. But that is only when she has completely forgotten about the ball.
Day 1 of ball patrol has started...so far so good. I had to take away the ball only twice after setting the basket down the first time. It has been put up a few more times than that. And for the first time in quite a while, she's laying down taking a nap.
No comments:
Post a Comment