Life lessons, change on the horizon.

What's important to you?  Things that you might have considered to be of importance, a year, maybe several years ago might not be so much now.  As we go through life, we have ups and downs; struggles that are the very essence of life itself.  The older you get, the more ups and downs you've had typically.   For most people, the day to day that surrounds what we call life is experience and from experience we grow, learn, evolve and yes, change.

Through the years there will be paths set before you; which one you choose to take is entirely up to you.  That chosen path will in turn set options before you; which one you choose again will set you further down your path.  It is that path that you take which is uniquely yours.  You live your life via the paths which you choose. The choices we make every single day further set our path for us. Sometimes life sucks; so many bad things thrown in with a few good it seems.  But bad is not always bad.  Bad can bring with it good; lessons.....Ah, back to lessons.

I know that I would not be the dog person I am today were it not for the many, MANY lessons that I have learned.  The dogs in our lives teach us so many things, don't they?  Our dogs teach us what is important in life; to be in the moment and linger there.  Don't always be looking out ahead for something better; hanging out in a great moment is time well spent.  Our dogs also teach us about mistakes that we've made; dogs are very good at learning.  If we could only learn as fast as they do.  It can take many repetitions to "get it," for humans whereas a dog may have "got it," the first go round.

Making mistakes is human, it is also canine; what we do with that mistake is where the resulting growth happens or does not.  Are you a listener, the need to know type?  Or are you someone who is happy just plodding along on your existing path?  There is no right or wrong; we all walk our own paths and we all have very personal desires in the life that we have been given.  Although there is one thing that we should all be striving for and that is good.  Good, to be morally excellent (as per dictionary meaning).  I believe that we are improving; the desire to give our dogs more is most definitely a step in the right direction.  By more I do not mean more food, fancy collars or clothing.  More as in more of us, more of our time and care.  So many people are involved with the rescue of dogs in need, donating to those who need financial assistance, offering help when someone is in need; all of these things are good.

There are thousands of people trying to shutdown puppy mills; trying to stop those who do bad.  People who treat both dogs and other humans without care or concern.  The movement can be seen; changes are being made; it has now been set onto the horizon for all to see.  It is coming, sure it might take a while but it's on the way.

In life, there will be those who focus on the negative.  Toss those aside and continue on your good path. 

n ‘first do no harm.’ One of the fundamental principles of medicine according to which the physician should not cause harm to the patient.

I think the above principle should be one for all.


 

Positive reinforcement/association

Reaching down to grab the very wet and disgusting ball out of Elsa's mouth I realized how far she has come.  She never use to want me to have the ball because that meant that our game was over.  She would turn her head but eventually hand it over.  She of course still does not want the game to end but when I say "drop" she gently opens her mouth for me to take it.  Why the change?  Because she gets a treat.  That and because she knows that I might just start the game up again at any moment. Positive reinforcement is so vital to canine behavior and keeping it...well, positive.  It is all about association; the link between two behaviors.   I take the ball in the end, but she gets a treat for giving it up.  Plus I make sure that I throw the ball again at some point during our walk.  That way the game hasn't truly ended until we leave the park or as they say, the fat lady sings.  :)

Positive reinforcement or association can be added easily to your day to day.   Elsa trots along nicely by my side once she gets her ya ya's out.  She knows that when she walks by  my side that treats will appear.  They don't come out often but it is worth her while to hang out there for when they do.  This is positive reinforcement. 

Positive association is a bit different but the same, sort of.   I have used association for nails.  Neither Luke nor Elsa enjoy having their nails done;  not too many dogs do.  But when I bring out the grinder, both circle with excitement.  They know that treats follow nails and I will continue this always.  As soon as their nails are done they get treats; not just one, but a few to make good and sure that it remains a positive.

Positive reinforcement is the act of linking a behavior to a reward.  This, ups the possibility of the behavior being offered again.  Once the behavior is learned you put the reward system on a random delivery schedule.  Perhaps you wait for the best or fastest behavior that your dog offers to reward.   Then you cut it back further to just every so often.  Complete elimination is up to you.  Depending on the behavior is how I factor that in.   Some behaviors should be rewarded once every so often, others don't need to be.

Positive association is creating a positive feeling around a negative activity, like nail cutting or grinding.  There are many things that dogs can baulk at throughout the day so you need to choose which of those need a positive association to.  Positive association can be done with our own behavior; you don't need treats for all associations.  Sometimes your  positive behavior to a situation can turn it around.  Take a little yapper (small dog) for example; who is going off on yours as you walk by.  You can either fuel a negative by pulling your dog away and getting upset or you can create a positive by chirping away happily while you pass them.

Plucking ears (for those who have hairy ear breeds) is another negative activity.  Treats are a must for this one unless your dog is not into treats of course.  Teeth scraping, bathing and the weekly physical; when you have a good look see.  Almost anything can be turned from something your dog doesn't want to do; to an activity that they tolerate due to the reward at the end. 

Don't get frustrated, associate. 

What are you teaching?

It's going to be another scorcher today.  Thankfully I spent much of yesterday in San Diego where it was at least 8-10 degrees cooler.  Still hot but not scorching hot.  When it is as hot as it's going to be today we spend much of our time indoors.  We will head out nice and early before the searing heat hits for a bit of exercise but then we'll be in the AC.  Because today will be another "inside" day I've decided to teach Elsa to go through my legs.  She already knows how to go through; but it is sort of willy nilly style.  She runs through getting all excited but now I want to fine tune the act. 

The other day as I was putting both Luke and Elsa's harnesses on when I thought about the lesson.  Hmmmmmm, I'd like Elsa to come through my legs from the back and slip into her harness.  She already does the very cute and adorable 'latch on' exercise before we leave; which is much like a seeing eye dog does for their owner.  I go to the place where the open button for the garage door is;  she pushes under my hand until I grab her harness.  Then the button is pushed and we can leave, but not until then.  I love it, she is so cute pushing under my hand trying to get me to grab a hold of her harness. 

So now I'm going to teach her to go through my legs and into her harness.  Luke and Elsa both where the Easy Walk Harness by Premier.  This harness is perfect for the exercise because the action required to get it on is exactly what is needed.  She will have to come from behind me; go through my legs, putting her head into the harness.  From that point she will be asked to continue moving forward while I do it up under her chest. 

Elsa gets very silly and overly excited when we are learning new behaviors.  She wants to cut to the chase and get the treat.  Being treat motivated is wonderful for learning new stuff.  Dealing with her over zealous behavior takes calm and cool behavior on my part.  I need to create a black and white scenario, no gray tones for this girl.  If she is on the wrong path I will mark that with a vocal error marker and stop.  Then we start again.  (More detailed instructions on working with over enthusiasm on my website soon).

So while the sun is at it's fullest and the heat is on; we'll be working hard on learning a new behavior.  It doesn't matter what you teach your dog; any new behavior or exercise is a good one.  Many dogs who have never been given the chance to learn have a difficult time with the concept.  Once a dog understands the premise behind learning; they are typically on board for more.  What are you teaching today?