Re: [PyrNet-L] Re: pinch and electric collars

["Tracy Bassett" <espinay@dynamite.com.au>]

<< Perhaps, bribing is a better word.  Not that I have any problem with
bribing my dog.>>

Nope, not bribing either.  Perhaps 'rewarding' is a better one.  Bribing
implies that you are begging the dog to do something by showing it the treat
to get it to do it. Yes, you do sometimes use a 'lure' when first teaching
an exercise, but the reward should be quickly randomised or it will be much
less effective.  This is the part that most people (including some so-called
'motivational' trainers) forget.  The best analogy is a casino poker
machine.  You keep playing on the chance that you will be rewarded.  If you
were rewarded every time (a dollar in, a dollar out) or never, you would
quickly find something better to do.  It is its RANDOM nature that keeps you
playing.

 <<However, what you are describing is a behavior modification without the
negative reinforcements and punsihments.  You may be using some punsihments
such as withdrawl of attention. >>

Withdrawal of attention, ie the removal of a positive stimulus to decrease
negative behaviour, is a 'response cost', NOT 'punishment'.  A good example
of this is turning your back and 'withdrawing' from a dog to decrease
jumping.  A VERY effective method.  Punishment is the addition of a negative
stimulus to decrease a negative behaviour.

<<There have been times when controlling Jake with only positive (which by
the way in terms of behavioral sciene positive techniques increase a
behavior and that is not what you are trying to do) methods will not and
have not worked.  >>

Yes, positive reinforcement increases a behaviour.  So how about teaching a
behaviour to REPLACE the behaviour you don't want?  For example, if the dog
is jumping up, teach it to sit (it can't really sit and jump up at the same
time after all!!!). Chasing the cat is very rewarding for a dog (lol!), but
this behaviour can also in most cases be lessened (and even extinguished)
through substitution.  You just have to train proactively.

Tracy Bassett
Canberra, Australia
espinay@dynamite.com.au
visit my webpage at http://members.dynamite.com.au/espinay/index.htm