FE370: ALL THE SPORTS: Foundation for the Cross-training Canine

Free shaping behaviors isn’t as simple as one might initially think.  Many times, a dog is operant when presented with an object. They offer a variety of behaviors where they interact with that object but when left without that incentive to experiment, they sit motionless and confused. Object operance is typically the most common concept taught in regards to free shaping but there are two other versions that need to be taught to our young dogs as well. Operance in regards to the handler and self-operance are necessary tools to teach our dogs that are often overlooked.

Object operance is any type of shaping in regards to interacting with an object. Some common behaviors that can be taught using object operance include: go to your mat, sit on a perch, nose tough indication on a scent source. The dog performs a behavior in relation to an object that may or may not be phased out in the future. 

Operance in relation to the handler is another tool to teach our dogs. Behaviors such as heeling, hand touches and leg weaves are great examples. The dog is performing a behavior that includes the handler and or is dependent on the handler’s position.

The final form of operant training is self-operance, the dog learns a behavior without the use of a prop or in relation to the handler.  Behaviors such as sit pretty, spin, down and back up can be taught using self-operance. 

Your first homework for this course is to shape the following behaviors to help your dog learn the concepts of object operance, handler operance and self operance.

Nose Touch to Object

Place a novel object (something unique that your dog doesn’t normally see) in front of your dog, click and reward (C/R) any glance or interaction your dog has with the object. Reward as close to the object as you can without luring your dog to it, meaning if my dog is two steps away, I can reward them where they are. Gradually build up your criteria, rewarding little increments of success as your dog moves closer and closer to the object, and eventually C/R nose touches.  As your dog steps up in progression, stop rewarding the lower steps of criteria.

Toss the treat to “reset” your dog every few reps or if they get stuck. This serves for two purposes, the first is to let them take a breather away from the behavior itself if only for a brief pause. The second is to have your dog generalize their approach to the behavior from a variety of locations early in the learning process. If they can go to the object from where you are standing, can they go to the same object while moving towards you? Toss the treat in different directions to help generalize so your dog doesn’t become dependent on location.  Don’t forget to move the object itself every couple of reps!

Eye Contact

Our first handler-operant behavior is one you have probably already started with your dog, eye contact. With your dog hanging out somewhere in front of you, wait for them to glance up towards your face. C/R any eye movement towards your own eyes. Build duration by delaying the click.  Don’t forget to occasionally toss a treat to reset your dog so that they can come back to you from a new location and on a fresh repetition.

This video features Spree shaping eye contact. She is not a dog that offers it naturally, however we have made great progress even in just this one session here.