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RSS FeedPositive reinforcement or correction based training: Which is the better method?
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| Reinforce | 71% | 95 votes | Total: 134 votes | |
| Correct | 29% | 39 votes |
Reinforce
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Add to FavoritesWith training, it is important to understand that four types of consequences can happen: positive punishment (add bad thing), positive reinforcement (add good), negative punishment (stop good), and negative reinforcement (stop bad). Dogs, like all animals, are concentrating on survival. Considering that, our pets realize that we have control of the access to important resources like food, toys, walks, etc. The goal of positive reinforcement is to let the animal know that it performed the correct behavior, earning it brief access to a resource.
According to Jean Donaldson's book, "The Culture Clash," there are five important rules to understanding behavior. First, dogs do whatever works. The second rule is presented above, the four kinds of consequences. Third, all of those consequences must be immediate. The good and bad consequences will be associated with the animal's surroundings. Finally, dogs are experts at reading the environment to know which consequences are likely for which behaviors in any given situation. The bottom line is that behavior that is reinforced should increase in frequency.
Therefore, it would be wise to assume that ignoring a problem/undesired behavior while rewarding goal behavior would be the most effective method to training. In human society, we tend to use punishment a lot, though. For example, criminals are sent to prison for their problem behaviors. However, a large number of those punished re-offend. Simply put, this type of "training" does not seem to work well (Donaldson). Examples of punishment in dog training are verbal reprimands, spanking, hitting, spraying with water, leash jerks, etc. Typically, these actions have to be used over and over, and generally, the intensity of the action has to increase. Punishment does NOT stop behavior. It stuns, or interrupts, it. The animal will figure out ways to do the behavior without receiving a punishment. For example, a dog that is punished for urinating in the living room will learn that it is unsafe to urinate in the living room while it's owner is present. Or, if it is punished for urinating while it's owner was at work (the owner did not witness the "crime"), it will learn that the return of it's owner from work is dangerous, which creates fear. This is the potential hazard of punishment-based training. If used inappropriately and ineffectively, it can cause your animal to actively fear YOU. Most of the time, the animal associates the punishment with you and/or the specific occurrences in the environment, not with the behavior you are trying to extinguish.
No reward markers ("No", "Oops", etc) can be used as conditioned negative punishers, a signal that the dog has just lost a reward. However, I do not advise using these constantly, as they could become positive punishers (if your tone increases in intensity). Besides that, timing for no reward markers has to be impeccable, too. It is better to consider what you want the animal to do. Instead of punishing the wrong behavior, reward the correct behavior. Likewise, give the dog an alternative. If you do not want your dog jumping up on you when you arrive home, ask it for a sit before it jumps. Shower it with attention when it sits! Eventually, it will realize that it will receive a desired resource (your attention) if it sits. The sits should become more prevalent. If the dog continues to jump sporadically, you could say "Oops" and turn your back to the dog (No reward marker). Wait for the dog to sit before you show it any attention. This should be a more positive experience for both you AND your dog (versus punishing).
In my opinion, the best strategy for training is positive reinforcement. I have seen both methods in action, and I have had the most success training with positive ways. "Most success" meaning that inappropriate behaviors actually become extinct (since they do not work for the animal), and the offering of correct behavior increases rapidly and enthusiastically. From my experience, dogs trained with positive methods seem happier. I would much rather see a dog excitedly offering "sits", "stays", etc, versus one that looks fearfully at it's owner as it sits. As trainers, we should all desire to have happy, trusting, and obedient animals (it IS possible!).
Reference s:
Donaldson, Jean. "The Culture Clash." James and Kenneth Publishers, 1996.
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Correct
Correct or Reinforce? I don't see how anyone could "train" a dog, or any other animal for that matter, without BOTH!
I have raised (or "trained" older dogs) many times, and there is no abuse needed to correct a dog. I also use much, much praise, pats, hugs, smiles, and happy sounds when the animal does good. They want to please you and be with you more than anything else!
Abuse is abuse, plain and simple. If abuse is involved, that human needs corrected, shown the difference between good & not good dog/pet ownership. If abuse happens again, the animal needs removed from that person. Permanently, in a legal manner. Once shown, many pet owners will gladly take advice.
A correction for doing something wrong can be as gentle as taking away an item, shaking your head no, SAYING "no", and then showing it what it can have or can do. Or just gently moving the animal away from something and saying "no", and shaking your head no at it. I'm a firm believer in using body motions with your head or hands as you also say something to it. I also firmly believe in talking to your pets a s much as possible, in simple terms they even possibly can someday learn from you repeating them, as even the TONE of voice tells them things. And the like being talked to! They like being sung to also!
I also have had to use one sheet of a newspaper rolled LOOSELY or folded a couple times, on the rear-end, NOT HURTING THEM but scaring them with the sound of it only, with my voice telling them a simple word or 2 such as "No, go OUT", or "No, no up!", or some such. Hitting or yelling is totally useless & self-defeating, as any animal (or child) only learns to be afraid of you if such methods are used. But if an animal is not corrected gently, firmly, I can only imagine one would have a pretty unpleasant animal for awhile, probably a long while.
With gentle correction and all the love and praise and rewards I can give them, I have had some truly outstanding pets. I have had two dogs who could even say "Out", and that certainly wasn't something they'd ever have done had I been abusive and taught them to fear me. A Golden Retriever/Sheltie I had learned 89 little "tricks" or activities I showed her how to do. Yes, she was a way smart dog! She was my furry child. There's very little we wouldn't have done for her or she for us. We sometimes took that to extremes, but we enjoyed every minute of it, and so did she. She loved to learn new things. (When she was ill once, she showed me it was past pill time by nosing her pill alarm clock. I had not taught her that! ) We continued that theme with all pets since her, just lovingly showing them what they need to know. We've all been very happy that way, pets and people!
Knowing pets helps too. For instance, knowing a pet is going to need outside after eating or drinking a lot, means you can put them out then, instead of waiting for an accident to happen. Puppies need out often. Puppies need watched, even outside. We got a large plastic playpen for our last two pups, for the livingroom, believe it or not, and kept it clean, and kept them from having to be corrected all day long. Nobody likes to be corrected a lot all day. And it kept them safe! Puppies will often nip or bite at first, but all you need to do is turn away, make hurt sounds, and don't handle them again for awhile. They stop really soon. To loose your attention is the worse correction they know of. They want to please you and be with you more than anything else!
And we are very responsible pet owners, who keep our pets for life, and take the best care of them we possibly can. Only 1 pet out of the last 10 we've had died before old age. They have all been very happy and very loved! No pets could be more loved than they are in my house! That 1 who died before old age is a sad, sad story for another day.
So, all in all, yes, I'd say use both lavish praise and love, reinforcement and correction, and enjoy a loving, close relationship with the only life form that will love you unconditionally for life!
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