This post is part of the McGreevy seminar series. Click here for the index.
Paul McGreevy wrote a book, Carrots and Sticks (2nd edition to be released soon), where he interviewed a number of animal trainers internationally. Consequently, he identified two key components to animal training: Timing and consistency.
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Good timing is imperative to effective training. This means appropriately rewarding and punishing animals, at the right moment. (Or using a marker to do so.)
Consistency was also important to animal training. He argued that inconsistency impedes training and learning, and increases confusion for the animal. McGreevy explained that, if different people were training an animal, then the animal would have to generalise the training methods and so confusion could occur. He also explained the value in isolation, in order to teach the animal to value human attention, and allow the trainer to be entirely consistent when they do interact with the animal.
Timing and consistency are considered important across all species.
Though it was only mentioned in passing, I think both timing and consistency as a whole could be described by schedules of reinforcement. Schedules of reinforcement are almost ‘rules’ that explain how varying delivery of reinforcement can product different results in the animal’s response. Reinforcement can be based either on ‘all or nothing’ (continuous reinforcement, or no reinforcement seeking extinction), or after a fixed or variable amount of time, or after a fixed or variable amount of responses/behaviours.
More McGreevy seminar based posts to come!
This post is part of the McGreevy seminar series. Click here for the index.
Consistency is a matter of determination. And I believe most pet lovers dedicated to enjoying their lives with their pet pals do have that. It’s the timing that’s tricky. Even I still have a lot to learn.
Thanks for sharing the McGreevy seminar.
Oh yes, if you’re planning to watch Hachiko, don’t forget to bring a lot of tissue or a blanket-sized hanky. You’ll probably need it.
You’re right. I think any pet home is going to be inconsistent at some points, by very nature of being a pet home – and so perhaps focussing on our timing is the best we can do!
Thanks for your comments.
Hi Leema, You and the readers of your blog may be interested in knowing that we are just about to release a reprint edition of Paul’s book: http://purl.library.usyd.edu.au/sup/9781921364150
Same book, different cover. And in hardback this time.
I look forward to reading your posts. Cheers, Agata
Hi Agata. Thanks for that! I know Paul was hoping to have it reprinted. I will update this original post to link to the reprint edition. Ta!
I totally agree with the consistency thing… I’ve sometimes let things slip with Flo and then paid for it when I’ve expected her to do what I’ve asked and she’s given me the ‘oh really?’ look. Serves me right!
H
I know what you mean. The, “are you serious this time?” look. It’s only natural for pets to do this… I mean, I heard recently someone use the example: You’re at home at your friend is over. You say, “Why don’t you come and sit down next me?” If a dog was consistently responding to our cues, the dog would come, sit, down – but dogs know we are inconsistent and choose to ignore us sometimes.