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FirstYorkie · 02-23-2007, 01:35 AM

Alex,

A basic rule of training for you: behavior that is reinforced increases in frequency.

How does this apply to your situation? In 2 ways. One, you need to be careful NOT to reinforce behavior that you don't want. Two, you need to generously reward behavior that you do want.

As for the first - You are inadvertently rewarding Boomer's excited behavior when approaching other people and dogs by coninuing to approach them despite his misbehavior. He acts spastic, you grumble, but you take him to his reward (meeting the other person or dog is highly rewarding for him). When he acts in a way that is unacceptable to you, STOP. If he calms down a smidgeon, slowly carry on. Wild again? Stop. You might even have to turn around and walk the other way until he calms down. When he does, slowly try approaching the object of excitement. He will eventually learn that his poor behavior gets him the opposite of what he wants. Does that make sense?

The same is true when you get home. Don't inadvertently reinforce his excitement by paying attention to him when he acts that way. Spastic dog = invisible dog. The second he calms down - voila! - he is no longer invisible. Great him at that point. As long as he is calm, calmly praise him. Spastic again? Invisible again until he calms down.

To be continued....

02-23-2007, 01:35 AM	#6
FirstYorkie YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: American in London Posts: 1,739	Alex, A basic rule of training for you: behavior that is reinforced increases in frequency. How does this apply to your situation? In 2 ways. One, you need to be careful NOT to reinforce behavior that you don't want. Two, you need to generously reward behavior that you do want. As for the first - You are inadvertently rewarding Boomer's excited behavior when approaching other people and dogs by coninuing to approach them despite his misbehavior. He acts spastic, you grumble, but you take him to his reward (meeting the other person or dog is highly rewarding for him). When he acts in a way that is unacceptable to you, STOP. If he calms down a smidgeon, slowly carry on. Wild again? Stop. You might even have to turn around and walk the other way until he calms down. When he does, slowly try approaching the object of excitement. He will eventually learn that his poor behavior gets him the opposite of what he wants. Does that make sense? The same is true when you get home. Don't inadvertently reinforce his excitement by paying attention to him when he acts that way. Spastic dog = invisible dog. The second he calms down - voila! - he is no longer invisible. Great him at that point. As long as he is calm, calmly praise him. Spastic again? Invisible again until he calms down. To be continued.... __________________ FirstYorkie We Love Clicker-Training!