Rewards and Reinforcements! - NO MORE EXCUSES!

I had agility class last night, and while I was in the midst of it, I was feeling pretty good about how Hemi was running. She was fast, focused, 2on2off contacts, great weaves, even did a nice lead out pivot to the tunnel, the third obstacle out and not in a straight line! Sounds great… right?

I did make a mental note, that she was as little sassier than the past classes. 

My first excuse was – “That is because we didn’t have class last week”, and second – “Oh I haven’t been practicing in the backyard quite as much due to the rain.” Third – “I haven’t thrown the ball for her enough to get the ya-ya’s out”….

I have a good 45 – 55 minute drive home to replay class – and when I started to replay I just wanted to kick myself!

Where was my reinforcement? Two places –at the start-line and at the finish line… What was I thinking? I did not once reward or reinforce during the runs!  2on2off – nope; weaves – no way; lead out pivots – not there either!  Holy Batman – no wonder she was sassing me! 

Class is class – training… and by definition is just that.  It isn’t a trial, it isn’t for having a perfect run – it is for training.  I had many opportunities to reinforce my young dog – to reinforce her that YES! That is right! YES! That was performance I wanted! YES! Great Lead out! YES! Weaves!   Ugghh… missed opportunities and too many excuses.

Driving home all I could hear was Laura Derrett: the little angel that popped up on my shoulder -- “REWARD! REWARD!” If there is anything I learned from those two seminars last year it was this:  When they perform exceptionally than REWARD!!!!! Instead I had that little devil saying “Run it out – complete it– she doesn’t need rewards – it’s more fun without those pesky interruptions!!”

I know that when we are in class, if I give her reinforcement – she runs much quieter! That should be a very clear indicator to me – REWARD!!

Lessons learned: Next week in training, have some clear goals and visuals of what I want to see from her – and REWARD IT!  Furthermore if she starts sassing me – I am going to stop, take a step back, and ask – “OK what is she not getting? What is she clearly trying to tell me?”  Go back a few obstacles – run again and ask myself – “Was that the goal? Was that what I visualized? Was it better than her average?” Then STOP and REWARD IT!! 

No more EXCUSES about bad behaviors!

From me or my dog! :o)