Just a reminder – your pet is always asking, “What is in it for me?”
It is his motivation for doing behaviors – ones you like AND don’t like to see. If your pet continues to do something, it is because that something gets your pet something he values. Instead of being frustrated with your pet for ‘being bad or obstinate’, think about how you can make the choice YOU want him to make the most valued (and easiest) choice. How can you teach it with enough simplicity to keep your pet in the learning game? How can you set up the environment so that learning your lesson isn’t complicated with other competing reinforcers? What can you use as a high value reinforcer for the behavior you are wanting to teach and see more of?
