Double-edged Praise?

[Valerie]

I recently read and really enjoyed Lee's article about the decline of behavorial type training. It was not the article I was expecting so I was all the more impressed. Anyway, in the article Lee referenced two stories about how he used praise with his dog who eventually stopped sniffing at trash on the ground and he used praise with a rottie who was being aggressive didn't bite him in the face because of it.

The point being that praise can help stop unwanted behavior. The opposite of what behavioral science suggests. Now if I praise my dog for doing something I WANT her to do will she eventually stop doing it? What's the difference between praise that helps extinguish behavior and praise that strengthens behavior? Or am is my thinking still too behaviorally framed?

[Alec]

Interesting question. I would think that the dogs are used to praise (haven't experienced negativity while being praised) which makes them feel more comfortable so that when you praise a "bad" behavior it helps calm them down and/or brings them back into group mood. Whereas when you praise them for doing something you like such as heeling, they are already in group mood and your praise only strengthens the moment and helps them feel even calmer when the energy is increased.

[Lee Charles Kelley]

You're on the right track, Alec.

If behavior is the result of an energy exchange, and the reason dogs learn new things or just act on impulse is to reduce internal tension, then the idea of praising a dog for doing something "wrong" makes sense.

When Freddie was going after sidewalk snacks he wasn't doing it because he was hungry in the physical sense of the word. He felt an inner feeling of needing to do something that satisfied his prey drive. When I praised him I fulfilled that need because my praise was strong enough and satisfying enough at that moment to reduce his internal tension. I became the answer to his problem.

When I praised Twyla, it made her feel happy and socially connected to me. That's why she jumped down and released her tension by licking my hand. (Freddie didn't really need to release his tension because he was already connected to me socially, while Twyla had just met me for the first time.)

It really all comes down to tension and release.

LCK

[Valerie]

So the praise is to release tension no matter what the dog is doing...

[Drea]

I've often wondered why sometimes when I praise Tucker for doing something "right" he stops doing it; for example, if we are walking in a heel position and I say "good heel, Tucker", he'll start to pull ahead.

Then again, lately when he starts to bark at some noise outside, I'll say "good boy, Tucker" and he'll look at me quizzically, then I say "thank you, that's fine", and he stops barking and settles down.

[donnieo]

Originally Posted by Drea

I've often wondered why sometimes when I praise Tucker for doing something "right" he stops doing it; for example, if we are walking in a heel position and I say "good heel, Tucker", he'll start to pull ahead.

I find it's often the same case with Jinxsie. Sometimes when we're practicing off-leash heeling, if I zing her with food too early she breaks out of the heel and moves ahead. If she's moving ahead, I praise her wildly and she settles back into the pocket and then I zing her. My understanding is that by adding energy through the food or verbal praise, you're actually knocking the dog out of the group mood. At least, that's been my experience.

[Drea]

It seems like what you're saying is that you praise the dog when they are out of position, then treat them when they move back into position. Am I understanding you?

It will take some time for me to retrain myself. And when you offer praise when the dog is pulling ahead, what specifically do you say?

[Lee Charles Kelley]

This article might help: How Dulcet Tones Make Your Dog More Willing to Listen | Psychology Today

LCK

[Drea]

Thanks for the link, Lee. Very interesting article and I really like that you added the audio. I've noticed that same principle with Tucker in his short life. They way I taught him Leave It was in a happy sing-song voice, but when he was jumping on the cat tree to access the cat's food, I would yell Leave It! in a stern voice and he would ignore me. Then one day I yelled Leave It! a couple of time sternly, then once in a happy sing-song voice like we did in class, and he got right down and looked at me for more instructions. That's when the light bulb clicked for me.

I'm practicing giving Tucker lots of praise even when he's barking at something outside or doing something I don't like, digging in the trash comes to mind. At the very least, I feel more connected to him rather than just being annoyed.