Hi-Tech in dog training

John, my husband, is looking for a “new” truck. He is looking in lots of different places just for the “right” truck at the “right” price.  He actually goes and drives a couple that appear to be promising. After one of those drives, he pronounces — in between giggles, that the one he just drove had a cassette player!!  What? No CD player? No bluetooth?  Airbags?  Clearly, he chose to pass on this beauty and continue looking.

As he dove daily into Consumer Reports, car dealership websites, and the like, we discussed perhaps prompted by the cassette player, which “bells and whistles” were  non-negotiable in the purchase of his truck.  It took us but just a few minutes for both to agree on the high-tech modern technologies that the truck needed to have.

I get that not everyone is interested in high-tech. Yet, high-tech is nearly but present in most people’s lives. We are past the point of expecting technologies of all sorts to go away.  As a matter of fact, most of these technologies have brought ample benefits.  Especially so, I would argue, when they are used appropriately. As I like to remind myself: the phone and computer are there for me; versus me for them.  This little reminder most often puts  me on track on how I choose to spend my time. Especially salient, I find unplugged and get uninterrupted time.

Technologies are everywhere.  Even in dog training.  A practice that has very much embraced them. Most trainers that are worth a client entrusting their precious pup to,  are using advance methods that are backed by hard science versus simplistic theories in explaining behavior and most importantly in shaping and modifying behavior.

So why is it then that there are still some folks out there — that almost religiously, continue to expect help from pros that subscribe to obsolete, simplistic models of “alpha” or “leader”?  Can you hear me yawning?

I guess we can blame our big mammalian brain! Our brain loves patterns.  We create patterns perhaps to better understand our environment(s) and keeping ourselves safe. We love to put stuff in categories -  such as the Border Collie, keeping everything neatly in place!  In effect, we must really make an effort to look beyond what appears to be “the facts” to dig deeper and to question claims.

Not only are scientific findings interesting, but I would argue they are also fair (to the species being studied) and very, very helpful to the ones doing the training.  There has been (and we can continue to add to these numbers) over 200 animals species studied. These studies are the foundations of much of what we know about animals and how they learn, relate, feel, etc.  But we still doubt the findings?

Besides the scientific findings, that are the tenets of the science of animal learning and cognition, there are also technologies that have made a big impact in the world of dogs and training.

One that comes to mind is, of course, the clicker. This is one of my ultimate favorite tools AND technologies.  It is a technology because there is much more in the background than the just “click” and “pay” modicum. There is quite a bit that one must understand regarding the science of animal learning if one wants to not only use the clicker (called an event marker) well: click first, pay second, etc.  But we must apply  what we know about how dogs learn  (or your species of choice) and then use the clicker anchored in this learning.

Another great technology is the head-halter.  Think of a head-halter as driving with power steering versus without. You still need to know how to drive the car, but the steering will be much easier.   The same is true for the head-halter.  It can surely aid folks whose dogs are powerful, rowdy on the leash or exhibit big displays of fear/aggression such as lunging at a passerby. However, due diligence must be in place to assure that the owner knows exactly how to use this piece of equipment for effectiveness and kindness to the dog, while the dog must be taught to enjoy wearing the halter because the owner or the trainer have taken the time in paring the halter with fun and positive stuff for the dog.  Enjoy is much better than “tolerate”… I have never liked “tolerating” itchy clothing. Yuck!

I would argue the same about crates.  They can be fabulous in providing dogs with the safety when riding in the car, the flexibility of leaving your dog in a hotel safely in their comfy crates and a personal place for your dog to hang out.  However, the notion that all dogs love crates because they are “den” animals is more fiction than fact. I would argue that all dogs must be taught that the crate is the place to be.  Some will take to it a lot easier for a myriad of reasons while others will never want to be near a crate.

These are but three examples that, in my opinion, have bridge living life with a dog with technologies that make existing with a dog  more pleasurable for the person, and when used appropriately, they can also be a bonus for the dog.

When it comes to training high-tech, we must also pay attention to the thinking behind the practice.  No, not all training is the same.  Yes, dogs are individuals and as such they do have preferences and dislikes but to claim that any dog choose to be pushed around, scared of hurt is plain stupid!

We owe it to our dogs — the ones we claim to be wo[men]’s best friend, to really understand them as a species first and as an individual second.  Not only is this crucial for anyone giving advise about dog behavior, ethology and training but even for dog owners.

Truly, it is time for all of us involved to get our heads out of the sand and educate ourselves in reputable, science-based methods of animal learning as well as  the understanding of canine ethology, instead of simplifying the  factual known nature of our dogs just because we are too lazy to dive deeper.  I guess our brain make us do this!

Tracking You

Over the weekend I read an article in the Personal Tech section of the New York Times regarding unique bracelets that act as tracking devices for activities such as: how active you are, how much money you spend, how much time you are vegging out in front of the TV. This is all in an effort to make you aware of your “bad” habits so that you can well, correct them. And get this, you can even share how you are doing with your friends in a sort of I am doing better (hopefully) than you are, with the idea being that this will keep you and your friends motivated to push onward.

While technology can become too much of a looming presence in our lives, I have to say that I am kind of intrigued as to how such specific data can be tracked. But most importantly how can this sort of mega-awareness of one’s habits really help us change these habits? Now don’t get me wrong, the idea of having alarms go off when I am in the middle of a shopping spree scares the heck out of me. However, I would be curious to see how I chose to spend my time. Is it spent wisely, recklessly or balanced?

But, here is my spin on these tracking bracelets. How about if we could have a different type of tracking bracelet. The one I would design would actually be VERY hip, one that has options so that you can wear it with anything from a sporty outfit to a more formal affair. It is kind of a girly-girly design with an obvious touch of modernist aesthetics. Yes, I would also design something cool that guys can wear too. Besides making a fashion statement, these bracelets would more importantly track the times per day that we reinforce our dog cat, bird, horse, etc. (people, you are welcome to use one too!) for “good” behavior. For example, choosing to have your dog be entertained with a Kong instead of chewing on your coffee table and for ANY and all behaviors that you like.

I reeaally think that I am on to something here… the thing is this: the laws of learning state that whatever behavior is reinforced (reinforcement defined as: the process by which a consequence increases the strength of the behavior it follows) will increase the probability of the behavior taking place. Reinforcement could be either positive reinforcement (something the animal wants or would work for) or negative reinforcement (the contingent removal of a stimulus immediately following a behavior which will increase the future strength of the behavior).

Now noticed that I said the laws of learning so this is not just an opinion. And for something to qualify as lawful it means that it has been tested over and over again and received the same results. In the case of animal learning, there have been years of experiments and studies with over 200 different species of learners under laboratory (controlled) conditions, as well as non-controlled environment such as your household or mine.

Now back to my idea of the bracelet device. I think that if you and me would choose to wear one of these devices, we could become much more aware about what our animals are doing “right” from our (human) perspective and we would then be even more inclined to offer positive reinforcement. As we've just been made aware of our pet’s actions, and because we love our animals dearly, we understand how learning and reinforcement works so that we can reinforce all that we want to see more of!

Brilliant device, brilliant way to finally reach our goals of having a pet that is wonderful to live with and a pet that is super happy and thriving because he/she is being acknowledged for engaging in the not so natural behaviors that living in our world demands of them.

On a more serious note, think about this. How many gazillions of times do our animals do the “right” thing and it does not get acknowledge (reinforced) mainly because we are all either too busy to do so or just plain ignorant of the facts regarding how behavior and the laws of learning work? Reinforcing is difficult for all of us- even those of whom make a living at it. But the good news is that it does not have to be an all or nothing situation! We can commit - bracelet in tow or not - to become more mindful of our interactions with our animals. We can choose – and this choice is made daily… day by day to acknowledge what we'd  love for them to do more of, and either manage, ignore or modify what we cannot accept to live with. Perhaps we will not reinforce every incident but we most definitely can up the ante.

So here is my proposition for you: think about one behavior that you would love to see your animal do more of. Perhaps is more quite time on his favorite bed, or less barking, more snuggle time with you… Deuce can you hear me? And begin to reinforce that one behavior.

See what happens. As this behavior becomes stronger you will be more inclined in sticking with a daily and robust program of reinforcement for your dog.