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"GOOD"
When a dog has a very rewarding
experience (or a pleasant one that is repeated until it becomes
very rewarding) it stores the sights, sounds, scents, tastes and
textures of the environment in its long-term memory by making an environmental photo.
If its senses detect a similar "photo" in the future, it will recognise the Event as being rewarding and
will repeat the behaviour in order to get another reward eg -
- attention from humans or dogs *
- the opportunity to rest and relax *
- the companionship of its "pack" *
(* see Life Rewards)
- the scents, tastes and textures of small but interesting treats
- play with a toy
- further work that it enjoys doing with the handler
- Dogs also get a strong sense of achievement (ie. fulfilling
their working instincts) for doing
behaviours correctly and see this as a reward in itself, once they
have completely mastered and understood what is expected of
them.
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This is why the use of motivators
works so well when training a dog (or other animal) to learn a new
behaviour - the dog stores the environmental photo in its long-term
memory and it then feels compelled to repeat the behaviour it was
taught in order to get its motivator again.
However, this does NOT mean that the motivator
must always be used to keep the desired behaviour. Once the dog
has a thorough understanding of what is expected and associates a
command with its behaviour, the motivator can be given at random to
make the dog keener to work to see what it is going to be given
this time. There are different types and values of motivators that can be used to keep the
dog eager and willing to do the behaviour.
Below is an example of the benefits of long-term
memory if the dog assesses the Event as rewarding -
- The very first time a dog goes to a new training
venue
If the dog is allowed the time and opportunity to thoroughly
explore the new environment on its very first visit (without the
distraction of other dogs being present), its
stress levels will fall enough for it to relax - it may even
become a little bored after a while. Therefore, when the training
eventually begins and it is given something to do for a reward it
will perceive the training experience as being rewarding and
unstressful. After the short training session the dog is allowed to
walk calmly back to its car, without being
distracted, so that it can latently
learn about the Event that has just occurred.
Its brain will assess the whole experience and make an
environmental photo of the sights, sounds, scents, tastes and the
feel of the floor surfaces so that it can recognise the situation
as being a very safe, calm and rewarding place to come and work
with its handler.
On subsequent visits the dog will enter the same training area and
very quickly relax and calm down (ie. the environmental photo triggers the dog to behave in the
same way as it did on its first visit). It will be ready and eager
to learn and be focused enough to concentrate on what it is being
taught due to its low levels of adrenaline.
The dog will soon be able to cope with other dogs being in the
venue at the same time (especially if they are relaxed and calm
from their initial introduction to the training venue as well) and
all the dogs will be able to make further "photos" to help them
remember what they are being taught.
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