History and Services Offered:

Text by: David Harris

Video and Training by: Cindy Jacobs

Featured puppy: Gus von Prufenpuden

www.vonjacobs.com

To teach a complex behavior such a bark on command your puppy will need a solid understanding of the conditioned re-enforcer. Remember the conditioned re-enforcer is a sound (verbal or click) that the puppy associates with the arrival of a primary (food or toy) re-enforcer. Without the ability to re-enforce verbally you will find it difficult to TIME your reward quickly enough to communicate what behavior you are trying to reward. Late timing is the beginning trainer's most common problem. Attempting to reward after the behavior is completed will not work for this behavior. You must be able to reward the puppy immediately upon doing the behavior if she is going to learn quickly. There are many, many ways to get a puppy to make a sound. Try different methods of inducing a bark. Sometimes you will need to tie the puppy to something secure. Back away with a toy or food and tease N freeze. The teasing builds excitement and the freeze builds frustration. If you keep moving and moving and teasing your puppy may just look at you like you're crazy. But, when you get them excited and then freeze still they will make some type of movement to try and reanimate you. When they do, click and reward. Any type of behavior that leads towards barking should be rewarded in this initial stage. Bowing down is a common precursor to barking. Just like when puppies are playing with one another. Whining and yipping should be rewarded at first and then slowly you ask the puppy for loader and louder barks. Very quickly your puppy will catch on if you begin by rewarding small steps rather than expecting the puppy to come out with a loud BARK on your first training session. Shaping methods take small steps and builds towards the completed performance.

Good luck and have fun.

David Harris