Good article Eric. While I thought I always used persuasion ,there is one instance I can think of where I now realize I am using coercion! I shall now alter my approach to this situation. Thank you
The other thing that happens...especially when folks think they are being "balanced" but may not have a really good grip on mechanics or the necessary thought involved in training a living thing....is we confuse the heck out of the dog and they may end up not knowing what will and won't get punished. I see this more often than I'd like in my foster work.....dogs who won't offer ANY behaviour unless they are absolutely clear it won't be the "wrong" behaviour.
And...a hair off the topic,.....the confusion about what is and isn't a reinforcer (or a punisher for that matter). The idea that praise and petting are reinforcers that dogs will inherently work for makes me nuts. They CAN be reinforcers, but they are conditioned reinforcers....and so many dogs see that tone of voice as an indication that they won't get punished....or that tone of voice has been associated with a primary reinforcer (food, for instance) so it tells the dog they did the right thing.
Good article Eric. While I thought I always used persuasion ,there is one instance I can think of where I now realize I am using coercion! I shall now alter my approach to this situation. Thank you
The other thing that happens...especially when folks think they are being "balanced" but may not have a really good grip on mechanics or the necessary thought involved in training a living thing....is we confuse the heck out of the dog and they may end up not knowing what will and won't get punished. I see this more often than I'd like in my foster work.....dogs who won't offer ANY behaviour unless they are absolutely clear it won't be the "wrong" behaviour.
And...a hair off the topic,.....the confusion about what is and isn't a reinforcer (or a punisher for that matter). The idea that praise and petting are reinforcers that dogs will inherently work for makes me nuts. They CAN be reinforcers, but they are conditioned reinforcers....and so many dogs see that tone of voice as an indication that they won't get punished....or that tone of voice has been associated with a primary reinforcer (food, for instance) so it tells the dog they did the right thing.
Nice article, Eric!