It's a Matter of Timing

Everything is a matter of timing, right?  Researching a new canine or feline family member, locating them, getting on waiting lists, etc., it's all about timing.  Everyone wants to get it "just right," which I understand, I really do.  And while I do think it's important not to rush to get a new pet as often that means settling for one you might not ordinarily choose, and I also think getting pets during the holidays is a terrible idea, beyond that, I don't really think timing is as big of an issue when it comes to acquiring a new pet.  You want to know where I do think timing is a big issue?  When offering reinforcement to your pets, whether that reinforcement is positive, negative, or just plain inadvertent, I think timing is everything.  Here's why.

We are all products of reinforcement.  We're told we'll get a pay bump if we finish a project, add an account, or work more overtime.  That pay bump is reinforcement and even though it may not be immediate, we do what it takes to reach that goal. I believe that while humans can perform reasonably well with delayed reinforcement, we, too, prefer quicker payoffs.  For our pets, quicker payoffs is always their goal.  To tell a dog, "Hey, if you keep performing well in this six week class, I'll take you to the store and let you pick a toy on the last day!" isn't going to guarantee that they do that.  In fact, if you don't offer intermittent rewards along the way, in each of those classes, you are likely to lose their attention, and the trust of your canine companion.  Timing is everything in this case.  Whether you are training a new behavior, perfecting a known behavior, or extinguishing a behavior you don't like, you need to offer your reinforcement, whatever that may be, within seconds of your pet doing the behavior. If you have to go to the kitchen, cut up some cheese, and come back to reward your dog, the moment is lost and you'll likely just be rewarding them for following you to the kitchen!  This is why I truly believe and encourage everyone I know, dog and cat owners alike, to keep treats in their pocket at all times.  This means tangible reinforcement can be offered at any time, allowing you to capture and mark behaviors "in real time" versus just during training exercises.  Yes, it's true, you could simply tell your pet that they did a great job, or give them a pat on the head or booty scratch, we know for a fact that pets prefer edible rewards to just verbal or physical rewards.  We also know, for a fact, that they learn faster and retain more when there are food rewards.  But, again, timing is everything.

Sometimes it just isn't feasible to reinforce within seconds of a behavior, so do you just throw up your hands and say, "Oh, well?"  No, of course not. Instead, layer your reinforcement.  Tell your pet "Yes!" to mark the behavior as something you liked or "No!" for something you didn't.  Then, move toward them and either get them to repeat the behavior OR redirect them to the appropriate behavior, and hopefully by this point you are able to dig a treat out of your pocket and apply that important reinforcer, the tangible one that they will actually remember.

For those of you with anxious pets, offering food rewards is often harder than it is for your friends with their non-anxious companions.  Anxiety creates a situation inside of us and our pets where eating isn't priority, survival is.  You will need to get a handle on your pet's anxiety first, that way they can relax and focus on what you are teaching them, and be able to take those treats that are going to reinforce those new, less anxiety-provoking behaviors.  Once again, timing is key.  If your pet is anxious and you are trying to bribe or distract them with food, this isn't going to work, and in fact, it's going to slow everything down and make you seem less trustworthy.  If instead you work through that anxious moment, trying redirection, moving away, or simply just being supportive until the moment passes, and then ask for a simple behavior that allows your pet to focus and reset, followed by offering a treat, you are on the right track, and your timing was perfect.

I was working with a client yesterday who was amazed by my ability to get her dog focused and redirected out in public when normally he is so distracted, pulling on the leash, darting around, and snuffling everything on the ground.  It wasn't magic, folks. I simply had treats ready in my pocket, and two at the ready between my own front teeth, so that when I got her dog redirected and focused on me rather than the ground, other dogs, etc., I had the reward out of my mouth and into that dog's mouth within a couple of seconds. Timing is everything. And not being grossed out by having dog treats in your own mouth!

As always, if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me.

Henley is a ready pupil, eyes on me, focused and ready to work.  He makes training easy because he's not anxious and almost always ridiculously joyful. That doesn't mean I don't still need to be good about my timing of reinforcement for him, it just means I have a bit more wiggle room.