As head of a training organization for canine and feline behaviorist educator, I insist and regularly reflect on some fundamental points so essential to me, to improve my teaching and especially the training and training of different animal species like a hen, a horse, a cat or a dog, as we do every day at the Animal Formations Welfare Center.
1. Ratio and value of reinforcement
We very often see the owners come with 3 kibbles and some professionals refuse to give any reward…
Do we reward children with mashed ham or spinach!
Yes… A high ratio and different levels of reinforcement value are essential, as this:
- can solve many problems while avoiding confusion and frustration
- very quickly improves training performance
Sometimes trainers believe that experienced dogs no longer need continuous reinforcement, but sometimes the behavior will eventually die out.
On the other hand, it is obvious that it is necessary to reduce and stop dependence on food, by using various secondary reinforcers, which often become much stronger, by keeping an excellent motivation. Always ask the owners to reflect on a list of what their animal adores (foods, toys, certain highly reinforced behaviors…)
- makes it possible to avoid such a harmful immersion in gradual desensitization, by alternating a known and highly reinforced behavior, and a new, more difficult behavior.
2. Have fun together during training!
Sometimes we get so focused on our training that we put too much pressure on the animal to succeed, with such a serious side ...
When your teacher “mouths”, are you comfortable? Often you wonder if you are doing well!
You should know that our pets are very sensitive to our micro-signals. If you seem worried or upset, the animal will automatically perceive it and will be much less relaxed and comfortable to suggest new behaviors. Even when training is important, you should always keep the session fun, encouraging and motivating for the animal.
Favor short sessions, with an important history of strengthening, rather than long and tiring sessions.
3. Enrichment and filling of the vacuum
Animals learn all the time even outside of a training session, without our treats and our clicker!
The session lasts only a small part of the day. It is the trainer's responsibility to ensure that the rest of the time is rewarding. Toys, mental work, food in interesting places, adequate social gatherings, possibilities for rest, ability to exercise, places of comfort and protection against natural elements (bad weather, cold, heat ...), are just a few - one of the compulsory elements to be respected. If training is the only stimulating moment, an animal's life can become very boring, and have a significant impact on its well-being, and lead to the emergence of troublesome behaviors.
4. Fundamental behaviors are the basis of success
To form complex behaviors, make sure that each animal has a solid knowledge of fluid basic behaviors, such as "do nothing", "touch", targeting, stay / wait, call back, follow, recover, pick up , give, push, pull, get closer, turn and much more,…
Because training fluid basic behaviors is useful:
- it gives animals the skills necessary to quickly learn new, more complex behaviors, such as chains.
- it helps animals learn how to use new enrichment devices and more easily solve certain food puzzles.
- it allows you to create a variety of training sessions by intercalating easy basic behaviors in a long and difficult session.
- to avoid certain immersion situations.
- it allows trainers to adjust and refine behaviors by guiding the animal in the right position or by modeling its movements. For example, an animal that has a hip targeting signal can quickly find itself in a new position for a medical examination.
5. Reading emotional signals
It is essential that an educator is able to read the body language of the animal, react and adapt to what the animal feels.
For example, a trainer should give a signal that the animal gives when it is alert and ready to continue.
Educators should be able to tell at any time when an animal is tense or relaxed, hesitant or impatient, excited or nervous, and this information should influence decisions about the next steps in each session.
An understanding of animal body language should be one of the first things taught to new trainers.
6. Communication with the owners
It is understandable that educators focus their attention on the needs of the animal, and do not always think about the human side of the human-animal team.
Being an animal trainer involves working cooperatively with humans (colleagues, customers, family members). It is important to have clear objectives, by implementing coherent protocols adapted to each person and animal.
In case of lack of communication, without expression of progress or failure, the animal suffers. I firmly believe that the needs of the animal should always come first.
When trainers improve their training, and use the principles discussed above, they contribute to making a better life for all our animals, by establishing a good relationship with the owner and finally making a harmonious family life.
Good training… Good training…