I’ve held a leadership role for over 20, of my 30 working, years. In dog training it’s imperative to praise each and every time (when they’re learning), but with people I rarely did. I just felt you were supposed to do what you were supposed to do, and do it right & good (which is why I don’t take compliments well). Of course on exceptional days there was big praise for the crew, though. I rarely had problems with my crews, or turnover (unless getting more prominent position somewhere else), I think because although I rarely gave a pat on the back I was always encouraging & supportive, and always in the trenches with them – pushing them to be better, and pulling them when they needed me to.
In training today they say to reward good behaviors, ignore the bad. Supposedly, by ignoring the bad, it goes away (remember like when you were a kid it could get worse before it gets better). It seems like it depends on how learned (how long they’ve been doing it) the behavior is, the environment it’s happening in, and how dangerous/destructive the behavior is. The goal now is getting the dog to WANT to do what you ask, whereas in the past it was moreso “because I told you to”. I like it because I rebelled when I heard that, and acted worse. I’ve seen the same in dogs. They want our attention even if it’s “bad” attention (they do learn to understand our tones, but it’s attention either way and that’s their goal).
Training is like being in the trenches with you’re dog. A lot of people are looking for “board & train” which I try to see if they’d rather do private lessons for the above stated reason (although it’s less money in my pocket).
There are consequences for everything, good or bad, this is how we learn. Rewards teach us what to do while failures and consequences teach us what not to do. Obviously, the more/better rewards the more that behavior will happen. How traumatic a failure or how strong a consequence will lessen the happening of that behavior. Human & dog alike- we’re all just animals after all.
With consequences be sure it matches the energy of the dog, too little the dog won’t learn, too harsh you could cause the dog not to want to perform for or get nervous of you. Dogs like children will fail, they learn from the consequences.
When I was in treatment a counselor always said we learn through instruction, observation and experience. Learn as much as you can from the first two because through experience you have consequences – it’s the harder/more stressful way to learn.
Plant the seed – discussion/dialogue (instruction); water (work) it – watch others for what to & not to do (observation); “just do it”/”get ir done” – don’t be afraid to make mistakes (consequences).
While you’re training your dog you will screw up, so will she. It may be as simple as finding the right motivator for the situation (food, equipment, praise & tones – verbal), or as big as a mistimed/inappropriate reward/consequence. Stay patient and persistent, you’re both learning. Build on successes, remember the goal but focus on the steps, you’ll make a good relationship … together.
