Children learn from making decisions. A parent aims to teach their child the fundaments of right and wrong, about choices, consequences, and rewards for desired behaviour. It is quite the same for our canine companions. We allow our dogs to make decisions and choices for themselves. Making a wrong decision leads to learning, in the hope that, over time, the dog will make the right decision when he exercises his new knowledge again. Just like the human children that we nurture, dogs learn from their mistakes. Dogs are intelligent animals, and will, over time, learn what is right wrong through making decisions for themselves, with us by their sides to help guide them through the learning process. If a dog goes down on the command to do so, he receives a reward. If a dog does not go down on the command to do so, he receives no reward. Over time, he will learn that doing as he is asked brings exciting rewards, and will therefore continue to do as he is asked. Life is full of decisions, and, just because our dogs are dogs, does not mean that they are incapable of learning through experience of right and wrong. As the owner and a trainer of your dog, it is your responsibility to do nothing or say nothing unless you see the right decision being made! And, over time, your dog will learn what brings him rewards!
 |
| Ethel |
We are joining the Blogging From A To Z April Challenge 2016!
Join in on social media - #AToZChallenge
Oh I is no good at decisions...I wants BOTH!!!!
ReplyDeleteLoves and licky kisses
Princess Leah xxx
Hehe! Bless you!
DeleteCool post!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteDecisions are important. During walks I stop for 87 seconds to make a decision
ReplyDeleteLily & Edward
Indeed. Good on you for making decisions!
DeleteWe know all to well about decisions. In dog sports especially! We always need to be on the same page of the decision manual with Mom.
ReplyDeleteWe agree!
DeleteBoth of mine make decisions when they want to and not always when I want them too!
ReplyDeleteHaha! Sometimes good and sometimes bad, I guess!
DeleteEthel looks absolutely adorable in that photo!!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteExcellent post. I think where most novice dog owners make mistakes in training is not allowing the dog to make a mistake to learn. Setting the dog up for success is all the rage in dog training these days, but if the dog never makes a mistake it will never learn. At least this is true in our field training. We try to set things up so the dog has the potential to make the correct decision, but we realize sometimes they do not.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I definitely agree with you. I always aim for the dog to succeed, but when they fail to do so, I think of it as a good area for learning and improvement.
Delete