One thing we know about dogs is that to educate them in a kind way you need to have your pockets full of treats and dispense them whenever they behave as you want. Thus gratified, it is said, they will repeat the welcome behavior and the mission is accomplished.
On several occasions we have seen that with dogs things are often different and more complicated than you think and this case too is no exception.
I talked about it with Sara De Cristofaro, dog educator, diabetes alert dog trainer and author of the book Senti chi Abbaia.
Let ‘s See Rewarding the Desired Behaviors of Dogs
Definitely rewarding the desired behaviors of dogs. By positive reinforcement we mean any element, positive, which serves to repeat pleasant behaviors.Food as a positive reinforcement for dogs
The idea and practice that food is THE reinforcement for dogs has become established and widespread because it is easy and immediate to use. In reality the question is complex because food is not only not the only reinforcement but also a delicate and risky tool that you need to know how to use and dose correctly, which is not easy, and the risks of improper and incorrect use of food are really important. . Unbelievable but true, not all dogs love food as a reinforcement
Food is not loved by all dogs as a reinforcement and there are also many dogs who are not very skilled or not even interested in the classic games that are proposed to them so you have to be creative and consider the motivations of each dog – for example a dog that loves to find and motivated by structured search games (which can be done both at home and outside), the dog who loves to explore will be reinforced by outdoor games, in new environments perhaps wilder than those he is used to, while those who love water are gratified by a swim or dive, etc .. Stuations in which food is commonly used
1. The dog is scared-worried-terrified by a situation and to help him deal with it, he is offered food
2. The dog has difficulty with people, children or strangers and to ‘make friends’, he is offered food
3. The dog is busy, playing, sniffing, etc. and to make him come he waves food and as soon as he arrives he puts him on a leash and takes him away
4. The dog does something that bothers him and to make him stop he is offered food The dog is scared-worried-terrified by a situation and for to help him deal with it, he is offered food
What humans think: In the case of frightened, worried, or even terrified dogs hesitating at the offer of a treat, it is very easy to focus on trying to get the dog to eat and not work on the real problem – his. discomfort – and on improving the context that puts him in difficulty. Result: the real problem is not addressed, the dog is further stressed and a situation is created in which misunderstanding and frustration develop between dog and humans
The reality of dogs: The use of food can add further stress and anxiety as well as frustration ( he would like so much the delicacy that is offered to him but cannot take it as much as he is stressed) to the already altered emotional state of the dog so instead of helping him it creates a further problem.The dog has difficulty with people, children or strangers and to ‘make friends’ they offer them food
What humans think: The acceptance of food by the dog is interpreted as a sign that one has become friends and it is treated consequently – we take confidence, we try to touch him – and we are surprised when he reacts badly, we get angry, maybe we punish him. Doing so gives way to a spiral of frustration and misunderstanding with very serious negative consequences for the human-canine relationship.
The reality of dogs: The dog accepts the morsel because he is very greedy but he is not serene nor happy with it and melted with humans and if after he has taken the food he is touched he feels betrayed and it is possible that he reacts badly; he no longer trusts and will no longer accept morsels in contexts in which he feels in trouble. If he is also scolded and perhaps punished, the situation worsens further because the seriousness of the misunderstanding increases and the consequences for the human-canine relationship are very serious. The dog is busy, playing, sniffing, etc. and to make him come he flies food and as soon as he arrives he puts him on a leash and takes him away
What humans think: you want to go home and to call the busy dog ​​you attract him with the prospect of a nice treat and when he arrives you tie him up and take him away. In the moment – and it takes little – in which the dog stops responding to the call, we get angry, shout and create a situation of misunderstanding with the dog with potentially very serious consequences.
The reality of dogs: the dog learns that the appearance of food means being carried away by something he likes and also learns not to approach when called. The dog does something that bothers him and to make him interrupt he is offered food
What humans think: the dog does something that you don’t like and to make it stop you offer it food and when, instead of stopping it repeats, repeats, repeats the behavior you get irritated, you get angry, possibly punish the dog. Doing so gives way to a negative spiral of frustration and misunderstanding with heavy consequences for the human-canine relationship.
The reality of dogs: By receiving food, the dog learns that that behavior brings attention and food and learns to repeat it. Another risk of food
Since dogs tend to be always available for food, it is thought to take advantage of gluttony to reinforce their behavior without paying particular attention to any signs of stomach ache and / or nausea. It is a problem because the dog that has stomach ache or nausea can still give in to the offer of the tidbit and if he then feels worse, more than likely, it creates a negative association between the discomfort and the tidbit that was offered. (the negative association between malaise and the intake of that food arises even a few hours later) with the result that he may feel bad every time that food is presented to him or if it is repeated in that context (exactly as happens to we who when we are sick after eating something we feel sick at the very thought).Going beyond food
The reality of dogs is that, as we have seen before, there are many other reinforcements than food, even more valuable and even more effective than treats. The first reinforcement of all is the relationship and the relationship with the owners, which are built and structured over time on shared experiences, the game in all its forms and also the delicious morsels and snacks to chew longer. The importance of the relationship with the owners
Ownership relationship and approval is truly appreciated by dogs and humans tend to overlook them by focusing on treats instead. In situations such as those described above and numerous others, for example, instead of food, the best strategy is to propose the game to the dog, in which humans will also participate. Playing improves his sense of belonging to the group and if the dog accepts the proposal and plays it means that he is in a positive state of mind so that he will memorize the experience as pleasant, the people involved in this beautiful experience (which must be repeated, it is not enough to commit just once) they will enter the circle of friends and begin to appreciate their presence until you get to love them. To improve the dog’s sense of belonging to the group, walks in places where the creature is very happy are also useful, for example a wood or a park full of spaces to explore. It is very important to give dogs the space and time to learn to know and understand people and places they do not know, it helps them to read, to interpret and to learn to appreciate what worried and frightened them and food cannot do this. role.In conclusion
The point is not not to use food – food is one of the positive reinforcements that can be used in the education of the dog – but you have to know how to use and dose it and it is not easy, in using it continuously you really make many mistakes. Not only that, it is good to know that food is not the only reinforcement, it is not the best and it is not the most effective – more important are the relationship and approval of the owners.
