Motivation Flashcards
Motivation
No motivation? No training.
If you don’t have control of what the animal wants, you cannot train them. Always address the “why” for the animal, before trying to get to the “what” of behavior.
Motivation Problem
The trainer’s problem! No point in attempting to train an unmotivated animal.
If they won’t take a freebie reward, you don’t have motivation.
Creating Motivation
If a dog is not motivated by food, toys, petting, or praise, close the economy on one or more.
Why do animals behave?
“Behavior doesn’t just flow like a fountain. Behavior is a tool animals use to produce consequences.” -Dr. Susan Friedman
Talking about Motivation with Clients
Dogs do what works.
Will repeat many times for all clients. Be patient and steady in explaining that motivation is the keystone of training, even of their past pets.
Leverage
What does the dog want right now? Food, play, person, door opening, adventure, smells, etc. Training relies on the dog believing that you control their motivators.
Don’t have control? Don’t train! Don’t let the dog see you don’t have control, so even when you don’t, they believe that you do.
Hydraulic Behavior
Behaviors which wax and wane depending on how recently it was performed. Large impact on power of motivators right now.
Eating, drinking, sex, and play are good examples. Spike when deprived, lull when satiated.
Implication of Motivator Hierarchy
If a hydraulic behavior has been satiated, it may become momentarily annoying or distracting. Motivations differ throughout the day—use what works right now.
Troubleshooting Motivation: dog takes freebie
RoR is too low, or you have a “what” problem.
Troubleshooting Motivation: dog refuses freebie
Training for too long, or competing motivators.
Three options: End session. Use establishing and abolishing operations. Upgrade/rotate/change class of motivator.
Short Term Motivation Fixes:
how to keep working in this session
Upgrade or change within class: kibble > chicken, ball > stuffie, or switch from one to another if unfamiliar with this dog’s preferences
Rotate: food > praise > toys. Sometimes novelty alone works.
Remove competition: change rooms, more distance, put something away, visual barrier, etc.
Employ competition: Premack! Make the more powerful motivator your new reinforcer.
Long Term Motivation Fixes:
how to maintain motivators for this dog down the road
Lay the groundwork before the session.
Deprivation: Establishing operations. Example: Close the economy on food or skip meal(s) before class.
Saturation: Abolishing operations. Make the motivator boring by opening the economy. Example: play with dogs or cruise the yard for 10 minutes before training session.
Proof gradually—control situations so the dog believes you have control over everything.
Pod
A visual barrier. A valuable tool in group classes.
Fade the pod: once dog is performing better, move beyond the barrier without removing it. If it’s too much for the dog, go back behind it.
Economics of Training
Expensive behaviors require generous, valuable rewards.
Toy Reinforcers
Fetch and tug games with trainer that make the toy “come to life” as fleeing or struggling prey.
Drivey: never ending motivation for toys (i.e. border collies, Malinois)
Non-drivey: not practical to use toys as motivation. Develop their food motivation instead.
Middling: some interest in toys. Control the economy—no free fetch or tug, and keep toy-motivated session time short so you finish while they still want more.
