How do you do that?
Three suggestions that may help include:
Make sure you are using reinforcers of high value to your dog. Remember, that it is the value of the reinforcers (to the learner) that give strength to the behavior. Do you know what food, toys and activities your dog is drawn to? If so, great! Use that information to create awesome consequences for your pet doing something you want to see…and you will probably see what you want to see more.
Teach your dog in an environment where YOU and YOUR PET can focus on the lesson. If there are competing reinforcers surrounding you, it makes paying attention (to you), and processing information difficult. Begin teaching new concepts and behaviors where there are minimum distractions and increase difficulty as your pet is understanding and doing what you are teaching.
Break down your lessons into small enough pieces so that you are helping your pet to succeed. If you are trying to teach something that is difficult for the learner to get, frustration may set in and your student may end up losing interest to find something else to do instead. Keeping the rate of reinforcement high has a greater likelihood of keeping the learner engaged…and an engaged learner, learns!
