Prerequisite Classes

Week two – Lecture 2 - Alternative Behaviors Introduction

In this lecture, we will begin the creation of trained skills that we can use as alternative or incompatible behaviors for use in our behavior modification plan.

When we train skills with positive reinforcement, that behavior carries with it the conditioned emotional response created with the cued behavior. These skills require the dog to ‘think’ which engages the pre-frontal cortex part of the brain which is opposite the limbic system where the emotional state of arousal is triggered from. The more behaviors we teach with R+ the more thoughtful and the less emotional and aroused the dog will be. We can use these skills to ask the dog to do something ‘good’ to prevent or interrupt the behaviors we don’t want.

Hand Target

There are several different ways to teach this skill. Choose what works best based on your dog’s learning style, previous history and your training preference.

Some dogs find touching the palm of your hand aversive, so using the front of your hand or even just a few fingers less threatening. You can start with a lure where you hold the food in your hand until the dog touches it, then mark and release the food.

Feed in hand

From there, you can transition to food not in your target hand, but to continue feeding at the target hand.

Feed at Source

For a dog that might be too mouthy touching your hand, or is only touching your hand because they are thinking there is food there, you can work through the process with a target stick or other inanimate object.

Chin Rest

This is a behavior that we can use in a variety of contexts. Because it is a calming behavior (duration), it can be used to reduce arousal as well as part of a start button process.

Feeding at Source:

Eye Contact

Having a dog that looks to you as a default behavior, or even on cue is a way to interrupt inappropriate behavior and to gain your dogs attention so you can ask for another behavior. It can also help you gauge the dogs emotional state.

You can use a kissy noise to get the behavior, or simply capture it when they offer it. Add in a high rate of reinforcement if necessary;

Using Marker Cues to create a loop for Eye Contact

Sit

Just like with eye contact, a dog that is in the right frame of mind and can ‘offer’ a sit. Having this skill in your toolbox as an alternative or even an incompatible behavior is helpful. You can certainly use luring to get the behavior or capture it. Add in multiple markers to help with fluency and generalization

Settle

This skill is probably one of the most valuable ones when working with dog/other pet conflicts, impulse control around guests, or a myriad of other situations.

The primary goal of this exercise is to facilitate your dog learning to be calmer, less reactive, or even just less annoying! Whether they remain on leash or off leash depends on your problems and goals. The level of disengagement from you is, again, up to you and your goals.
If you have previously trained a “go to” mat using a clicker and shaped or even lured the dog to get on the mat, marked it (clicker) and then tossed a treat off the mat or let the dog get off the mat to get the reinforcement, then you may want to choose a different mat or context in which to train this behavior. We do NOT want this to be an ‘active’ behavior or to start off as an ‘operant’ behavior! That will put them into the wrong emotional/arousal state.

Conditioning the Mat

We can provide a variety of cues for your dog to ‘settle’, based on your goals and usage. In one situation the mat itself may be the cue, (in the crate, in the car, at the vet) another cue may be that you are disengaged from the dog and relaxed, (at your computer, lounging on the sofa) you may want to ‘park’ your dog on leash, (out for a walk and you meet someone you want to talk to, at class waiting your turn) or you may need to be able to cue it verbally or with a hand gesture (when working on reactivity or around distractions). There may be a bit of a divergence as the process continues depending on your goals. But it all starts the same.

Remove your dog from the room and place your mat close to a chair or couch where you will be sitting. Scatter about 10 – 15 yummy treats on the mat. You can also use their daily kibble for this process of your dog is a good eater!

Seed the mat -

Put your dog on the leash and bring it into the room to the mat. As your dog discovers the treats, sit down. Keep the dog on leash by holding it or attaching it to the foot of the chair/couch. You can have a bait bag of back up food but hold a handful in your hand. Drop a few more treats on the mat as your dog continues to sniff and look for them on the mat. Continue to drop one treat every one or two seconds around the front paws on the mat. It is important to drop the treats on the mat and not give them directly to the dog. We want the dog to associate the food with the mat with focus down, not on you. Do this for a few minutes, then release the dog with your release word (“All done”, “Free dog”, “Ok”) and stand up and remove the dog from the area.

Bring your dog to the mat -

Different dog -

Repeat this process; seed the mat, bring the dog on a leash towards it, sit in the chair, and continue to drop treats on the mat. Once the dog recognizes the mat as a good place to be and moves to it readily when you approach it, begin to move it to different locations within the house. This is called generalization. It is important that your dog be able to learn to ‘settle’ in a variety of places at the beginning of the process as it will help as we progress.

Dog moves to mat easily -

If the dog lifts its head to nuzzle your hand for treats or looks at you for attention, you MUST ignore it. Look at the mat and don’t make direct eye contact. Get the dog to the point that they recognize the mat as a good place to be and you can put it into several different locations in the house and they will go to it willingly looking for food. Remember to generalize it with and without food on the mat.

Name Game (Name Modifier Cue)

We want to first teach each dog separately that when you say their name, that they are going to get the reinforcement. Reinforcement can be food or petting, depending on what your dog finds most valuable.

Start with each dog individually. Say their name and deliver the food or give them a pet. Make sure that you say the name BEFORE you give the reward. Their name will become a cue to look your direction or turn away from something (the other dog perhaps) to get a treat.