Choice and empowerment are two words I have used a lot over the years when it comes to modifying behaviors AND enhancing quality of life. Rather than using force and aversive strategies as much as possible, I prefer to teach and create change in the most positive and least intrusive ways (now called LIMA training for Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive) and that typically involves those concepts. Now there is another psychology buzz word that is commonly used by dog trainers, other animal trainers, and behaviorists. It is AGENCY. This post will talk about agency, choice and empowerment in dog training (and parrot training, or training any other animal – including humans), and why they are important concepts to understand (and practice).
Helping Olivia With Positive Reinforcement
Empowerment.
I talk about that word often as it relates to dog training (and have written about it too), especially for dogs who dealing with issues of fear, stress and anxiety; and I got to thinking about it the last few weeks.
Choice And Empowerment In Dog Training
Choice and empowerment are two words I am likely to use in describing dog training (or training other animals). Empowerment is about giving our animals as much control over their behaviors as possible. That means teaching, not by force but by choice. Instead of pushing a dog into a down, I can either capture him lying down or lure him into that position and then teach him that decision to lay down was an awesome choice by giving him something he values afterwards.
Empowerment And Choices: Putting A Leash On A Puppy
“The power to control one’s own outcomes is essential to behavioral health, and the degree to which a behavior reduction procedure preserves learner control is essential to developing a standard of humane, effective practice.” – Dr. Susan Friedman
In Dog & Pet Training, How Do You Define Success?
I have said many times, when you are teaching your pet a behavior skill, knowing what it is that YOU are looking for in that behavior skill is going to be extra important in being able to teach your pet with clarity.