Sunday, July 19, 2015

Choices! Force Free Dog Training - B&W Sunday

"Is the cookie good enough to make it worth getting wet?"

 I try to keep things pretty force free at my house and when training. My dogs get a choice and it's a "cue" not a "command". I'm requesting that Zoe join me in the water and it's her choice. She does not have to but if she does come she will get a fabulous treat. As you can tell from the photo she's not really thrilled about the whole water thing yet but in time she will figure it out! Maybe not this year but we will keep trying! Choice is so very important in dog training and even more so if you have a "soft" dog like Zoe. If they feel like they have a choice they are more likely to choose you. (Which she did.)

Happy B&W Sunday everyone!


19 comments:

  1. The look on Zoe's face is the same one I get when I go into the water. I don't like it much at all but during our last camping trip, I actually went in the water on my own! Ma was very impressed.
    Happy B&W Sunday
    Oz

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Y'all!

    Very expressive Zoe. Your expression says it all! Was the treat really worth it?

    Y'all come on by,
    Hawk aka BrownDog

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love this philosophy. The research on choices in humans (even if it is a so called forced choice) shows that even small choices result in greater happiness and compliance. It is not a surprise it is the same with our dogs.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Very good point! We love to give our dogs choices as well!

    Woofs & Wags from Bear and Scooter of SheSpeaksBark

    ReplyDelete
  5. Bentley thinks all of the things that I ask him to do are simply suggestions! LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Cookies are always worth it.

    sumskersandearlskers13.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Nice photo! Don't hold out on her liking the water, I will not get in it for treats at all!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Forcing is never a good thing!

    Your Pals,

    Murphy & Stanley

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hopefully she'll choose more and more to get in the water.

    I can't tell you how many people told me to drop Honey in the water to force her to swim.

    Now that she's starting to do it on her own, I'm so glad I was smart enough (unusual for me) to realize they were just a bunch of bullying jerks.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Choice is indeed very important. They do want to please, but some things they don't want to do. Patience.

    Have a woof woof day you two. My best to your mom. ☺

    ReplyDelete
  11. I like your style. We are trying to do this "choice" philosophy more and more. Not perfect, but trying.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Yeah, I don't thinks even a cookie would gets me in there!!! BOL!!! Okays, MAYBE a margarita! ☺
    That must've been some cookie Zoe! BOL
    Kisses,
    Ruby ♥

    ReplyDelete
  13. So true! The only thing I view as "non-negotiable" in training is recall. They are always heavily rewarded, and always come! Sometimes they don't feel like doing tricks, but recalls always happen.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Love that pic!!! And yea, I think it's great to make it more of a choice for them. I know I am much more willing to do something if it's my own choice rather than being told.
    ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!

    ReplyDelete
  15. It can be hard (and rewarding!) working with soft dogs. Mr. N is also a very soft dog.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Border Collies can be very sensitive too. Lots of patience required! :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. I love the look on her face. You can really see the "dogged" reluctance! My dogs don't like water. I thought Boca would, coming from an island, but neither one wanted to get in the kiddie pool I got them last year. They have never been to a lake or river.

    ReplyDelete

Hi! Thank you for commenting!
All comments are being moderated for spam.
Thank you for understanding!