A couple weeks ago I wrote about walking the dogs, for the first time this year, and how I gradually get them back to behaving the way I want to on a leash. I mentioned that all bets were off with their behavior if the situation was changed in any manner.
Today while I was vacuuming, I recognized a behavior that works in one situation, but not another (for me anyway). When I am vacuuming, the dogs are very concious of where I am, and where I want them to be. While I am vacuuming the living room, I will motion them out and point them to where I want them (down the hall). They go there without any fuss or confusion.
When I have finished with the livingroom and kitchen, I will point them to the livingroom, so I can do the rest of the upstairs. Okay, got that? I point and they go where I point to.
However, when we are out in the yard, and Prince is looking for his toy for me to throw, he will go randomly looking for it. But he won't wander far from me and pretty soon he just stands and stares at me like I have it hidden up my sleeve.
I will motion and point to the general direction in the yard where the toy is at. I expect him to go in that direction as he does when I am vacuuming. But he doesn't. He is confused and has no idea what I want of him. He may actually come up to me and sniff my finger! I haven't figured out a way to teach him to go where I am pointing (I have no clue how I taught the dogs while they are in the house). So, after a while, I give up and get the toy for him, then throw it. Actually, I think he has me well trained!
With Missy I don't have this problem because she always knows where her toy was last at. And usually, she drops it right outside the door where she can grab it as she is going out.
Anyway, back to Prince's behavior. Two major things have changed between the two scenarios; the circumstances and the location. When I am vacuuming, I point in only in two directions; up the hall and down the hall. When we are outside, I can point in any direction. Additionally, if I don't have the vacuum out, my success at pointing the dogs where I want them to go, drops a bit (from 98% to about 75%). So just the presence of the vacuum plays a part. And no, they aren't scared of it; they will walk within inches of the growling beast without a care in the world.
There is actually a third variable in this equation. When I am vacuuming, I have never given up on getting the dogs to move to where I want them to go. Then I reward them with a "Thank You" or "Good Boy/Girl". When we are out in the yard, if they present me with a toy, we play. If they don't present me with a toy, I will pet them if they are nearby - so either way they get rewarded (and of course, I find Prince's toy for him, which is a different reward).
I would bet dollars to doughnuts (where the heck did that expression ever come from anyway?), if WS were vacuuming, the dogs would be confused about where they were supposed to move to, and when they were supposed to move. That is because WS would probably use a slightly different gesture, or use a verbal command.
Many people have the mistaken impression that dogs should be able to associate the same commands when different situations, locations and/or rewards are offered. Most dogs don't have the ability to think like that. They don't make associations that tell them "everytime she points her finger, I am supposed to go that way."
This can be a Godsend; if I point out something to WS thru the window, I don't want the dogs jumping through the window!
"Dollars to donuts" was in use back WIWAK, when donuts cost about 10 cents each. Obviously, one must be very certain to bet 10:1 odds.
Posted by: Cop Car | January 21, 2006 at 04:38 PM
Now the next question is, how did you stumble onto this post 9 months later?
Posted by: bogie | January 22, 2006 at 08:06 AM
Reading all of your postings under "Our Animals" to refresh my memory.
Posted by: Cop Car | January 22, 2006 at 08:35 AM