Average Or Better Dog Training Question: What Did You Just Reward?

Imagine if you and your best friend both got puppies who are littermates. And you both train your puppies the same about of time every week, use the same training rewards and follow the same training plan. Then after six months, your friend’s puppy is amazingly well trained, but your puppy does not seem to know much at all. You might think that you got the puppy who was not too bright, but that is not the case. It could all come down to what you are rewarding! We’re talking about why rewarding dogs for “average or better” will fast-track your training success and grow your dog’s skills.
In the episode you'll hear:
• How reinforcement builds behaviour and how the responses we reward will grow.
• Why we need to have clear criteria to help our dogs understand what we want.
• The reason to ask yourself, “what did that cookie, toy or permission just reinforce?”.
• About knowing what average is for your dog’s behaviors.
• How your dog is aware of your criteria even if you are not.
• About using “average or better” when training a sit.
• What a good sit looks like and what you’d not want to see your dog do.
• Why to be aware of cheap behaviors that might get built into what you are training.
• How average or better will change depending on where you are.
• A little test you can do so that you can know your dog’s average or better for sit.
• How our dogs can only perform as consistently as our criterion dictates.
• That your dog will tell you exactly what your criteria is for what you are training.
• About removing Pez dispensing from your training.
• What to do for responses by your dog that are below average.
• How to set your dog up for success so you can reward average or better.
Resources:
1. Podcast Episode 2: Reinforcement - • Reinforcement #2
2. Podcast Episode 11: The Power of Permission in Dog Training - • The Power of Permissio...
3. Podcast Episode 135: Test Your Dog’s Sit Stay Training - • Test Your Dog's Sit St...
4. Podcast Episode 21: The 5 Critical Dog Training Layers for Confidence with Anything - • The 5 Critical Dog Tra...
5. Podcast Episode 27: Do Dogs Need Rules? - • Do Dogs Need Rules? #27
6. Podcast Episode 133: Become Your Own Dog Training Coach With This Video Strategy - • Become Your Own Dog Tr...
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Dogs That is brought to you by Susan Garrett and the Say Yes Dog Training Team.
Susan Garrett’s interest in animal behaviour started at the University of Guelph where she earned a Bachelor of Science majoring in Animal Science. Since then she has developed into a preeminent dog trainer and canine sports instructor and competitor. Susan is one of the most successful agility competitors of the last three decades. She has won multiple Gold Medals at National or World Championship events with every dog she has ever owned over the past 30 years.
A natural teacher and an entertaining speaker, Susan is world renowned as a leading educator of dog trainers. Her understanding of how to apply science-based learning principles to both competitive and family pet dog training has been pivotal in changing how dogs are trained.
Susan is now helping many thousands of dog owners in 132 countries have the best relationship possible with their dogs. The real joy for her comes from bringing confidence to dogs and their owner through playful interactions and relationship building games that are grounded firmly in the science of how animals learn.
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#dog training, #puppy training, #podcast
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[@DogsThat]

Check out Shaped by Dog Episode 133: Become Your Own Dog Training Coach With This Video Strategy kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6qXfIiJeMhmmdk

[@ammi_10]

Well said! I've been teaching this for decades!🙂

[@DogsThat]

Excellent! Thank you for sharing

[@suzanneevans1771]

I know from watching your Perch Work video that we can do particular exercises to help my younger dog improve her posture when sitting, but the added tip here of getting her to sit on a narrow plank is another great tool in my belt to assist in sharpening that particular criterion, thank you 🙏

[@DogsThat]

Thank you Suzanne, and happy training! 💕

[@trishbech9082]

Yes! Susan, I’m a recovering Pez dispenser… thanks to a good friend introducing me to your training philosophy and programs! They are priceless and so very helpful. I used to hear my friend talk and watch her with her dogs. honestly I thought that the quality of training was because they’re performance dogs and that they do a “higher” level of training because they are “required” to do so. I never quite understood that it was for everyone and every pet owner is capable of such training… that it’s not this secret club. I didn’t get that it wasn’t this huge ordeal, taking hours upon hours every single day, taking up your whole day! Also, that’s not why the dogs were listening. I wasn’t totally convinced until I saw the first few videos, like “It’s Yer Choice”. I saw how simple it was. I just had to be committed and CONSISTENT. That’s it. I was empowered! I could do this! How it only took a few minutes each day, if I stuck with not only your advice, but stuck with my dog too. I was finally experiencing the relationship I was so desperately seeking, but needed the “how”. You’re such a great teacher! Thanks again! ♥️

[@DogsThat]

Love, love, love your comment Trish...and FWIW I remember watching professional dog trainers with their dogs close to 50 years ago thinking the same thing..."this is some sort of secret club I can't imagine ever being a part of it!" #SecretIsOutItsForALLDOGS

[@Krystals_Dog_Journal]

I have started sharing podcast as part of whatever we are teaching in class that week, I appreciate you have got a podcast for almost everything now 😂 Thanks boobaloo ❤❤❤

[@DogsThat]

Thank you so much for sharing our podcasts with the world, and for your kind words 💕💕💕

[@nesebsen3779]

Thank you Susan another great one. I shared this one with family. Especially with my kids. We need to watch this together. Mostly, good try and sometimes that cute face wins and I loose. Sometimes I feel I never going to abla to train my dog properly. I wish I found you when we got him. Thanks again.

[@Islandflats]

Makes total sense. I never thought much Bout adding Trash to a behavior. I give you the example of the recall. If the dog didn't come I have a second command...not realizing I built that into it. Now I just walk back to the dog quietly release a few seconds to break from the exercise and start over. Such an AHa moment for me. I still lapse frpm time to time or get a what do I do now thought when I don't get the behavior I'm looking for....but I am a lot better than that now...and don't randomly give rewards for a not so great effort by the dog. And if it's often repeated I go back to see where I screwed up!!! Great podcast !

[@terrijacobs7278]

Thought you might be interested to know that I saw a ‘rehoming’ appeal for a puppy today, on reading the detail the charity insist that anyone adopting must agree to only use reinforcement based training. I was thrilled to see that this amazing approach is becoming more ‘mainstream’ 😀

[@timmottshaw4092]

Susan, your presentations have opened up a whole new avenue of learning for me as a trainer. I really enjoy your podcasts! And I thank Janice Gunn, who I think it was, who led me to you in a mention of your name in one of her training videos on KZbin. Both of you are top notch. Thanks.

[@suescheffelaar5977]

Susan this is so enlightening. I shall definitely try to pay attention to what I am reinforcing... wonderfully enlightening ❤

[@bluecaleb7344]

Average or Better..I was/am in a bad place as a 50 yr dog trainer. I have met my match with wonderful GSD...no matter what I cannot get a full time focus on this boy...Done all your pods Susan..but he must have ADD..your Average or Better is a tough "cookie" to work on for attention and Focus ( on going)..watched you pods on Attention..no joy ..I really want to help train this boy for this owner..pulling hair and i do not have much left..aaagghhhh!...goal is Obedience..

[@donnadigiacomo-kesten1455]

Susan thanks so much for your videos , you are my training plan. I listen to a video most mornings and what you say in the video is what I train that day. Sometimes it may be for a few days but either way I have something in my mind when I do my daily training even if it’s just in the kitchen while I’m making dinner. 👍👍👍👏👏👏

[@azogal53]

Well, I can tell you right off, our Sits are not as spiffy as they could be. (I've been shaped by dog 🙂). Definitely room for improvement. Thanks for some good suggestions on how to improve things. And I've got to be more careful about what I reinforce! 🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪

[@armiller70]

This! I LOVE this! Podcast ❤️ Average or better, a mantra that was instilled in me years ago by Susan. This! is such a great explaintion.. thank-you SG! I can't to share this podcast!

[@nancyhooper1742]

Gonna work on this now and guilty at times of allowing less than average,me bad and know it❤️❤️❤️❤️🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[@welcometogilead]

Yes. Having raised several labs for dog guides I have my own super sassy bc x that just wants to tug or chase something. Has given me lots of “cheap behaviours” which I have been rewarding. Now I have to backtrack and work these out. Time to raise the bar.

[@cindyclark3969]

I have been a pez dispenser. Yikes. Time to get back on track. Thanks for the reminder!

[@teammine]

I have actually been aware of the fact that I am human pez dispenser and have rewarded behaviors that are sub-standard or "good try". This was very helpful.

[@dianaosman7585]

Thank you , the video made sense to me and I’ve been doing this with retrieve , if my dog drops the toy on the floor rather than pushing it into my hand. I don’t reward it even though she usually looks at me after she’s dropped it on the floor and then picks up the toy and brings it to my hand. I just say thank you and reset her for another go. So I only reward the ones where she pushes it into my hand.

[@bwebster4835]

Great video!!! I never really cared if the paws splay out but I wondered about the physical effects. I didn't know how to fix it....until now!

[@katherinecollmer1094]

It's so funny because just the other day the coaches on Recallers were asking me, "What were all those cookies for???" I sometimes use lots of cookies to reinforce duration with HZ, becoming the human pez dispenser (and yes, I'm old enough to remember those:). But this video has helped me to recognize that I need to ask for average or better during our walks. Walking next to the curb results in maintaining the RZ; but as we get further away from the curb, Windsor likes to walk at the end of the leash, although he's not pulling on it. What is it about the boy that he wants to maintain a safe distance from me? LOL! I'm thinking I have a new plan for our walks now. As always, thank you so much for sharing your amazing expertise.

[@nesebsen3779]

Also, from cute face good try criteria to A+ criteria change after 6 months later, the dog can adjust himself to that expectation?

[@bash3681]

Next podcast idea: I wish I could go back in time when the puppy was 8 weeks old and start over. This is what I think every time I listen or watch your podcast. Because I’m not sure if I can fix all his behaviors and make him a well trained dog by starting at 8 months. Can I? I’m sure many people watching your videos may have the same doubt. I would love for you to give us the hope that your way of training will help benefit any dog at any age. (When followed correctly of course)

[@DogsThat]

Great suggestion, @BASH, added to our list!

[@DogsThat]

Hi @BASH here's the episode for you! kzbin.info/www/bejne/pmXYeX6GjZ6bjdk

[@titanbuck7]

Can we see you do the actions with your dog more and include voice overs for the visual learners?

[@Bomaht]

Serious question. Did you ever get that PEZ dispenser?

[@kwlancaster1804]

HELP I have a young Border Collie (12 weeks). Ive been binge watching your videos. I’m struggling to teach sit. It’s a basic thing. But I can’t seem to get it. How can I help my dog understand? Please dedicate a video to the games and strategies for the basic sit and lie down. (My pup is very good at the lie down and I’m confused how that happened)

[@DogsThat]

Here is exactly how I've been teaching it for the past 25 years. 1. Crate Games...the dog defers to the sit because of the reinforcement...got to CrateGames.com to join. #2 I shape the sit with a game of tug. I don't give the cue "sit" until my dog automatically offers it everytime I take the toy out of their mouths. I"m on the floor, we tug, I pull the toy away and wait until the puppy offers something...anything. Everything different gets rewarded once...it doesn't take any time at all until the sit gets offered over and over.

[@kwlancaster1804]

@@DogsThat thank you, I do sit on the floor and play tug. I will go to the website and continue to watch more

[@ariley7539]

What is your response if you do not get the response you want. I understand do not reward and do not repeat the command, (or in my case say"now") but what do you do? Move and start over? Or what?

[@DogsThat]

Hi @ariley7539, it would depend on the situation, but move and start over is one option. We have two videos that cover everything related to sitting that will help. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nX_Rn6KngceHsM0 kzbin.info/www/bejne/pouUmHmEgrpggZo If you are in one of our online programs, post for our coaches to help based on the context.

[@watchmoivies123]

So I know are dogs are themselves but I thought this dog looked so much like Swagger.. Kauko jumppaa on youtube