NW475: Challenges to Enhance Problem Solving: Another 6 Weeks of Setups

In our previous lecture, we talked about the importance of A+ reinforcers and how you are more important to your dog than you might think. In this lecture, we will apply our reinforcement approach in a way that builds drive for source.  This is going to lay the foundation for all of our work this term. This term, we are going to ask our dogs to work hard and to problem solve. That requires A LOT of brain power! To fuel that brain power, we need maximum motivation. That is where our A+ reinforcers come in and that is where heavily reinforcing drive to source comes in! Using these two concepts we build a dog that WANTS to problem solve.

We are essentially giving the dog a challenge that is doable for their skill level and we are really making it worth their while! Effort versus Payout will be a strong thread for all of our searches this term.

Exercise: Sourcing with Motivation in Tight Hallway

In this exercise, we are going to use environmental pressure to increase the challenge level of a search.  Your dog will encounter tight spaces and other forms of environmental pressure throughout their career. Exercises like this make those searches easy. We can increase the dog's confidence in this type of search by setting something doable within their skillset and then rewarding HEAVILY.

Environmental pressure is the "tightness" that a dog might experience while searching. Some dogs are more sensitive to this pressure and may show more trepidation while working and sourcing.  This can decrease their desire to problem solve unless they are accustomed to great payout for their efforts.

Setup:

You can do this in any standard hallway that you might have in your house. Line both walls with objects. The more advanced the dog's training or the more comfortable the dog is in tight spaces, the more clutter you want to add.  You will want to leave a narrow path for the dog to search. Ideally, the dog will be able to come out into an open area at the opposite side of the hallway.  You might need to leave a door open in order to do this. The reason why we want an open area on the other end of the search area is to allow the dog to chase the odor out and catch an edge of the scent cone. It also provides a little "relief" for more sensitive dogs.

Set a single hide within the clutter. In this example, I have a straw under a lip of a small bin about halfway through the clutter. I have videoed viewpoints from both ends of the search. It's super interesting to show however you are not required to do so in your homework (one view is fine!)

Execution:

Stay back at the start line and let your dog work completely independently. Our dogs learn more when we let them work without interference. If your dog hesitates and you feel the need to "help", stop the search and remove some of the clutter. Dogs learn ok with direction but they learn incredibly well through experiencing self discovery and working independently.

When your dog has indicated at the hide, mark the dog (with a "Yes" or an "Alert".. or whatever you use) and then move in to reward. Reward with your A+ reinforcer and praise HEAVILY. Make sure that your reward event lasts LONGER than your dog's actual search!

Examples:

This is Prize (NW3 Level). Prize is pressure sensitive. Watch how she decides to drive into the hallway and then comes out the other side. This provides her "relief" and helps her to build her confidence to push in. She is rewarded by being successful. Exercises like this will help her to become less pressure sensitive when searching.

This is Brava (Summit Level).  Brava has no environmental pressure or sensitivities. You will note that although all 3 Labradors used in my example are all "high drive", they also get effusive praise and rewards, just like my lower drive Mini Aussie who is featured in the last video. Watch how Brava moves through to the other side of the hallway and then works the odor back to the hide.

This is Powder (Elite Level). Powder is more direct to odor than Brava in many ways. She is also the least environmentally sensitive dog that I have. Powder does not need to work the puzzle from the back of the hallway and instead just drives to source! Even with her drive and energy levels, I am rewarding and praising HEAVILY!

This is Why (NW3 Level). Why is very environmentally sensitive as is much lower drive than the Labradors. However, work like this has really increased his confidence! He does a beautiful job with this search! He also works the hides from the opposite end of the hallway.

Ways to Reduce Challenge Level:

Of course this class is suitable for both very advanced dogs and very novice dogs. In order to set this up for a more novice dog, aim for HALF this clutter and adjust up or down as necessary. Make sure to keep that hide accessible!