There is so much about learning that happens without the intention to actually learn it.  Reinforcing behaviors in different ways results in learning or teaching. It is interesting to note that the way in which we reinforce behaviors in our dog can be classified with different timings and different schedules.

1. If you don’t always give him a reward for a response it is called a Variable Ratio (VR) Response. A gambler's experience must be very similar. Whenever he wins, for him it feels so rewarding that he will keep playing hoping for the same response. There is a similarity here to when your dog practically asks to take a walk. He never actually knows when the walk will happen, but he is always ready for it, right?

2. Then there are Fixed Ration (FR) Responses. This will be particularly effective when you are wanting your dog to remember a succession of tricks. Without a doubt he knows that the behavior of moving his butt downward when you make the sound of "sit", that will get him something he wants, the treat. Eventually he learns that he only gets a treat when he sits, stands up, turns around and lies down again. With this technique a dog can remember a series of tricks. The reward system remains however only after a fixed amount of correct behaviors.

3. Then there is Fixed-Interval (FI) Schedules that give reinforcement of the first response within a certain time frame. A human example is more easily understood. It would be like being barred from a contest because you had been in that contest recently within the last 60 days. After dinner, at the end of the day, wi th lots of people sitting around a big table, that is the time to beg and it will work. Otherwise he won't even ask for food. He has learned that there is a timing to when and where that miscellaneous treat may happen.

4. Now if the dog gets scraps sometimes now and again, these are called Variable Interval (VI) Schedules. At different times you reward his "begging" behavior. This can encourage more begging behaviors. Despite it appearing as though the dog is always begging, his expectation of a reward has probably lessened. Hence, when you tell him to “go away”, he responds without reluctance, and walks away without a look back. He has learned now in this case that rewards are varied.

If you consider these different schedules and realize how you participate in all of them, then changing your behavior will get the result that you want. If your dog is always begging, you probably taught him that. If your dog easily responds to “go away” or “no” when begging, then you taught him that. The best teacher is awareness. Allowing yourself the intention to always learn from experiences will rapidly encourage your dog parenting skills. Enjoy the journey!

By

Dr. Marika Zoll

DrDogTalk.com