Delayed rewards

Joy

Joy

Location
East Sussex
For the last couple of weeks I've been working at putting a few treats in a container with a lid (showing Molly and making lots of 'yum yum' noises as I do so), then doing a very short bit of rally, occasionally just a sit at heel, sometimes 3 or 4 signs, and then clapping my hands and running to the food container with her so she can get her rewards. It really has built her enthusiasm up and we had a good session today in the hall she doesn't much care for, with Molly very engaged with me. I also practised taking her collar off and on (necessary for rallyonline) and then running to the food tub, as I think she'd begun to see the collar business as a signal that there would be no food, so trying to build new associations.

I know Fiona does the 'running to the food' thing, and I used to - I just don't know why I let it lapse. I'm sure I remember us doing 'zen bowls' on TLF as a challenge. Anyway I'm going to keep it going as a strategy.
 
snowbunny

snowbunny

Location
Andorra and Spain
It's so difficult! Dogs are so smart at making associations and learning that the start procedure means that no reinforcement is available for a while is something they're going to pick up on really quickly. For dogs like Squidge and Shadow who just love the opportunity to "play the game", it's less of an issue, but for other dogs, it could have a massive impact. One of these days, I'll get round to doing some of the courses on delayed reinforcement, as I think it's a valuable thing to learn for those dogs who don't find the "thing" itself reinforcing. My instinct is, similarly to retrieving, if you can make that activity reinforcing in itself, then the delay in reinforcement shouldn't be an issue. But that will depend a lot on the dog.

I think the running to food and the varying of the interval before you do that certainly can't hurt, and is probably necessary in the early stages, but I feel it's missing a trick in that, if the behaviours in themselves become secondary reinforcers, then it's unnecessary. But probably a longer process with more steps than I've thought about at this stage.
 
Joy

Joy

Location
East Sussex
Yes ideally I'd want the activity to be rewarding in itself, but it's getting Molly to be willing to do it at the right time. She does seem to enjoy heelwork at times - but it's at times when she feels like it. Then she will nudge me with her nose and we do some together and we're both happy, (quite often out on a walk she'll want to engage me in this way) but other times it's 'I'd rather play tug' or 'I just want to mooch'. I love her to bits but she is the most self-opinionated dog I've ever owned!
 
Emily

Emily

Location
Melbourne, Australia
No idea if this is right but this is what I do with Ella:
When I'm working Ella in the ring at dog club, I vary what I reward with and how often I reward. It's often in the ring, can be food or can be a break and play, mid course. I also vary how and when I carry treats, nearly always leaving some outside the ring but often bringing some in with me (using different treats, different methods of carrying etc.). I think (hope) that Ella now knows there will always be a reward but she has to wait to see when!
 
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