Don't Shoot the Dog

Synopsis

This edition presents more of Karen Pryor's insights into animal - and human - behaviour. Here are the secrets of using positive reinforcement to change behaviour in pets, kids - even yourself - without yelling, threats, force, punishment and guilt trips.

Summary

Chapter 1: The Ten Laws of Shaping
In this chapter, author Karen Pryor sets the foundation for understanding animal training by introducing the ten laws of shaping. These laws are the basic principles of behavior modification and are applicable to all creatures, including humans. The laws are as follows:

Law 1: Begin with a desirable behavior
This law states that when teaching a new behavior, it is important to start with something the learner already knows and enjoys doing. This creates a positive association with the training process and sets the learner up for success.

Real Example:
A dog owner wants to teach their dog to shake hands. They begin by observing their dog's natural behavior and notice that the dog often lifts its paw when it wants attention. The owner decides to use this action as the starting point for teaching the new behavior of shaking hands.

Law 2: Keep raising the criteria
This law emphasizes the importance of gradually increasing the difficulty level of the task being taught. It is essential to set small achievable goals and gradually build upon them to ensure success.

Real Example:
Following the previous example, once the dog has successfully lifted its paw consistently in response to the owner's cue, the next step is to raise the criteria. The owner begins to hold out their hand and only rewards the dog when it puts its paw in the owner's hand.

Law 3: Reward each step
This law highlights the importance of reinforcing each small step towards the desired behavior. This ensures that the learner stays motivated and continues to make progress.

Real Example:
In the dog shaking hands example, the owner rewards the dog each time it successfully puts its paw in their hand, even if it is just a slight movement in the right direction.

Chapter 2: What's Wrong with Punishment?
This chapter discusses the use of punishment in training and why it is not effective in creating lasting behavior change. Pryor argues that punishment is often used as a quick fix but can have negative consequences on the learner and the relationship between the learner and trainer.

Real Example:
A cat owner is frustrated with their cat scratching the furniture. In an attempt to stop the behavior, they spray the cat with water every time it scratches. While this may initially stop the behavior, it can create fear and distrust in the cat towards its owner.

Chapter 3: Using Reinforcement
This chapter delves into the concept of reinforcement and explains how it can be used to create lasting behavior change. Reinforcement, whether positive or negative, strengthens behavior and increases the likelihood of it being repeated.

Real Example:
A horse trainer is working with a young horse who is afraid of crossing bridges. Rather than using force or punishment, the trainer uses positive reinforcement by rewarding the horse with a treat every time it takes a step towards the bridge. Eventually, the horse becomes confident and willingly crosses the bridge.

Chapter 4: Bridging Stimuli
In this chapter, Pryor introduces the concept of bridging stimuli, which is a signal or marker used to communicate to the learner that they have performed the desired behavior and will receive a reward.

Real Example:
A parrot owner is teaching their parrot to speak. Every time the parrot says a word, the owner uses a clicker as a bridging stimulus to signal that it has performed the behavior correctly and will receive a reward.

Chapter 5: Target Training
Target training involves teaching the learner to touch or follow a specific target, which can then be used to teach more complex behaviors. Pryor explains how to use target training to teach a variety of behaviors, from basic tricks to complex tasks.

Real Example:
A dog owner wants to teach their dog to fetch a specific toy. They use target training by placing the toy on a target mat and teaching the dog to touch the toy with its nose. Once the dog has mastered this behavior, the owner can then use the target to lead the dog to retrieve the toy from different locations.

Chapter 6: Interrupt and Redirect
This chapter focuses on redirecting unwanted behaviors by interrupting them and redirecting the learner's focus to a more desirable behavior.

Real Example:
A rabbit owner notices that their rabbit often chews on wires, which is a dangerous behavior. Instead of punishing the rabbit, the owner uses a loud noise to interrupt the behavior and then redirects the rabbit's attention to a chew toy, reinforcing the appropriate behavior.

Chapter 7: Fighting with Pet Professionals
In this chapter, Pryor addresses common issues that arise between pet owners and professionals, such as veterinarians or dog trainers. She emphasizes the importance of communication and finding common ground to create a positive and effective training environment.

Real Example:
A cat owner has a disagreement with their veterinarian about the best way to handle their cat's aggressive behavior. By understanding each other's perspectives and finding a compromise, they are able to come up with a training plan that works for both the owner and the veterinarian.

In summary, "Don't Shoot the Dog" provides valuable insights into the world of animal training and behavior modification. Each chapter reinforces the importance of understanding the learner and using positive reinforcement to create lasting behavior change. The real-life examples demonstrate how these principles can be applied in various situations and emphasize the importance of effective communication and collaboration between pet owners and professionals.