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Fri 16 Jan, 2009 09:56 am
From Shih Tzu For Dummies
Being a good dog trainer requires not only vigilant awareness of
rewarding the positive, but a vigilant awareness of not accidentally
rewarding the negative. Rewarding bad behavior without intending
to is easy! For example, say you've been really busy all day, doing
whatever it is you do, and you've ignored the dog. To amuse himself
he may look out the window and start barking at things wandering
into his line of sight. That yip-yip-yipping is driving you crazy, and
finally you explode and yell at him: "Bad dog! Stop barking! Shhh!"
Guess what? You just gave your Shih Tzu the attention he's been
craving all day. Sure, it wasn't a treat or praise or even necessarily
pleasant attention, but to a dog, negative attention is better than
no attention. Plus, your dog probably thinks you're just barking
right along with him, so in a way, he may feel even more justified
in making all that noise.
Wise advice. And not just for dog owners.
Often, on those occasions when i don't just yell at them, i will ask: "Who are we talkin' to?" That usually gets me a blank look, and, of course, you could say they've gotten the attention they craved. I don't think there is anything wrong with the dogs getting a little attention, though.
@Setanta,
Quote:I don't think there is anything wrong with the dogs getting a little attention, though.
Absolutely.
That's why it's important to look for and reward good behavior with attention
and praise.
@George,
Hi, George.
Just wanted you to know that your last line hit home!
@George,
That sounds like behaviour mod, George. Do you know about instinctual drift?
@Letty,
Quote:That sounds like behaviour mod, George. Do you know about instinctual drift?
Well, it is behavior mod of a sort, I guess. But I'd prefer to call it trying to
influence behavior.
I don't know what instinctual drift is.
@George,
So what's the correct response? Smack him on the nose?
@Ticomaya,
Not if he's on the internet.
@George,
A virtual smack, I meant.
@George,
Anyway, that's the theory.
Practice is harder.
@George,
Fine and dandy - if you really want to attract flies, that is.
Funny tags. As if this had anything to do with pets. Unless they're those little plastic pets with the big standy-up puffy hair.
@ehBeth,
"Dog Training" and "Attention Seeking" are my tags. The rest, I dunno. Oh,
wait, "those little plastic pets with the big standy-up puffy hair" -- trolls? Ha,
I like that.
@roger,
Quote:Fine and dandy - if you really want to attract flies, that is.
There are days when flies would be welcome company, my man.
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwww.
They're cute. In a warped sort of way.
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