“Fixing” problem behaviors using positive reinforcement

One of the aspects of using positive reinforcement based training people can struggle with is how do I fix a problem without correcting them for doing the wrong thing? How does a cookie fix a dog doing something I don’t like?

The answer is, we look at teaching them what they can do instead! In techincal terms we call it teaching an incompatiable behavior. For example your dog barks or nips when excited? Teach them to hold a toy, it’s hard to bark and nip at someone with a toy in your mouth! Dog jumps on visitors? Teach them to lay down on a bed when people walk in the door.

To apply these fixes, we have to first teach the behavior outside of context where the problem is occuring. So if I try to teach a dog to hold a toy whilst a visitor is standing right there, well the pup will be too excited to understand the new game. So we begin by teaching these skills away from the current problem area. Once the dog understands the new behavior AND LIKES TO PERFORM IT, only then do we work on it in context, and ideally by doing so with a pre scripted plan. We arrange a friend to come over who will follow our instructions of ignoring us as we work on the new skill in that setting.

Remind yourself of this: Behavior has purpose! A dog is doing a behavior because of the history of previously doing so. So the idea is give a new behavior that purpose. Holding a toy gets me attention and it’s fun! Laying on my spots makes people happy and they give me rewards.

Here is a video example of me shaping Julia to offer a behavior instead of pawing when she wants something, I teach her a behavior that she can offer instead, laying her head down. This way she can still communicate her desires, but do so in a more passive and far less painful way!

So when your dog is doing something you don’t like, think about, what could I teach and reward them for doing instead?