tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101438868458660054.post2561852213217541876..comments2024-03-04T06:54:50.622-06:00Comments on Reactive Champion: High Value or Low Value? Choosing the Right ReinforcerCrystal (Thompson) Barrerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01738188430244886019noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101438868458660054.post-85521515675101233672010-07-13T06:22:10.992-05:002010-07-13T06:22:10.992-05:00Ooooh, that's cool! I love learning about brai...Ooooh, that's cool! I love learning about brain chemistry stuff... I didn't know that about dopamine, but it makes sense.<br /><br />Thanks for reading, and for adding a link to my blog. I love yours- it's so good! :)Crystal (Thompson) Barrerahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01738188430244886019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101438868458660054.post-83631657638307930612010-07-12T22:15:55.652-05:002010-07-12T22:15:55.652-05:00Great to find you and thanks for the link to the F...Great to find you and thanks for the link to the Fearful Dogs' Blog! I've added a link to yours.<br /><br />When rewards are better than expected we (and dogs) get bigger hits of dopamine, the feel good neurotransmitter, in our brains.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101438868458660054.post-84313842767203776812010-07-11T15:20:05.028-05:002010-07-11T15:20:05.028-05:00I've experimented with using non-food rewards ...I've experimented with using non-food rewards like physical praise, ear rubs, rump tickles that get him going crazy if he's not anxious at all but if we're working on walking calmly outside or anything outside food is the only that gets his attention off making sure everything is okay, not even his favorite balls or stuffed animals help!Ally and Eclipsehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05353928230130764060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101438868458660054.post-75302529297280995022010-07-09T01:52:40.282-05:002010-07-09T01:52:40.282-05:00Ira is such a foodie that even kibble is fairly hi...Ira is such a foodie that even kibble is fairly high value to him. It's so easy to reward him! I usually use store-bought moist treats for him, but I'll pull out the fresh meat at matches/trials.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101438868458660054.post-48711740615075656522010-07-08T21:55:37.670-05:002010-07-08T21:55:37.670-05:00I always test out novel things before using them a...I always test out novel things before using them as a reinforcer, for just that reason- you never know what they'll like. For example, my dog loves lettuce. And basil. And tomatoes. And watermelon. And... I don't think she know she's supposed to be a carnivore. <br /><br />As for dead things... I admit, I will let my dog smell them (I'll even point them out to her), but it never occurred to me to throw them...Crystal (Thompson) Barrerahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01738188430244886019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101438868458660054.post-59872654264914432062010-07-08T21:46:17.313-05:002010-07-08T21:46:17.313-05:00You know I hate having to decide what to buy/use a...You know I hate having to decide what to buy/use as treats.... <br /><br />We tend to not use a lot of super high value reinforcers because those are more expensive or more work to get (...an extra trip to the store or extra preparation). <br /><br />I'm much better about telling students to find and use these things than I am about doing so.<br /><br />With my dogs I don't tend to surprise them with novel things...because there are a lot of novel things they wouldn't touch/eat/go near. I've accidently taken novel things to class...like fish two weeks ago. It even "contaminated" my other treats. (but they like tuna treats and other fish products).<br /><br />And the dead bird is a high value reinforcer in that my dog LOVES to smell it and wants to chase it (when thrown). But he's not yet to the point where retrieving it is reinforcing ('ewww the feathers!')Kristenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13500652686807039501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101438868458660054.post-38377917475704067382010-07-08T14:03:40.824-05:002010-07-08T14:03:40.824-05:00Katie, I "tested" different foods with m...Katie, I "tested" different foods with my Maisy- I wrote about it here:<br />http://reactivechampion.blogspot.com/2010/06/these-are-few-of-her-favorite-things.html <br /><br />Have you tried doing that, to see what your Maizey chooses?<br /><br />Still, some dogs just love food, and I think you're right on with the enthusiasm- the same treat, delivered with more praise and overall attention, is definitely worth more to my dog. A shyer dog may not respond the same way, but for many, this will work.<br /><br />Another thing to consider is how you deliver the food. Again, the same treat, but thrown so that Maisy has to chase it is more interesting than the treat handed to her. I plan on writing more about this in a future post, because reinforcement delivery can be a huge part of the value... and the results. <br /><br />And finally... there's play and activities. Food's great, but chasing a ball is pretty awesome.Crystal (Thompson) Barrerahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01738188430244886019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101438868458660054.post-2707663133555962732010-07-08T13:29:55.309-05:002010-07-08T13:29:55.309-05:00Another fascinating post! My Maizey LOVES food. Pe...Another fascinating post! My Maizey LOVES food. Period. Doesn't matter what and I have had the hardest time discerning that one thing is better than another. I always have various treats on hand, from fresh asparagus(loves) to turkey dogs(loves), peanut butter (loves), squeezee cheese (loves), kibble(loves). . . well you get the idea. So how do you use the tool of high value reinforcers when your dog loves everything? Hmm... I think you have just insprired a future lessons from 4 legs post!:))<br /><br />I do use jackpots and fully agree "Even if they don’t work, they can’t hurt." And I think one of her highest reinforcers is my enthusiasm level. She loves nothing more than crazymomlady jumping up and down clapping, hooting and hollering! (eyes rolling here)katie, Maizey and Magnushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08828596372938916086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101438868458660054.post-78288210057123281252010-07-08T13:27:00.021-05:002010-07-08T13:27:00.021-05:00Oooh, it can be SO hard when your dog has dietary ...Oooh, it can be SO hard when your dog has dietary restrictions. It's good that you can use turkey bacon (and that you can even mix it with kibble!) as a high value reinforcers. <br /><br />Have you tried using any non-food reinforcers? Were they helpful? I know that sometimes, non-food reinforcers do NOT help my dog, especially when we're dealing with reactivity- she's already over-aroused, and adding something else arousing (tug, throwing a ball, etc.) would only make the situation worse.Crystal (Thompson) Barrerahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01738188430244886019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101438868458660054.post-50567009652803013742010-07-08T08:36:50.720-05:002010-07-08T08:36:50.720-05:00I have a slightly reactive male golden retriever t...I have a slightly reactive male golden retriever that has kidney issues and food allergies/sensitivities so a lot of treats and human foods don't work for us. At home or low-stress situations we use his kibble or the canned version mixed with canned pumpkin in a food tube, for high stress we use pieces of turkey bacon. He loves a ton of other foods but they all cause issues with either his kidneys or allergies. We can use chicken as well but on the few and fewer occasions that we now need it we use turkey bacon. <br /><br />The first time I used turkey bacon we started off with just strips of turkey bacon as rewards (hypervigilance outside is what we were working on combating with just eye contact in the driveway). Using that with a click and treat for looking back at me or offering an alternate behaviour in 10-15 minutes he was doing all of his positional commands (he was trained as a service dog but due to health and stress in public is now just my pet) and offering great eye contact besides cats being within 10 feet of him and dogs barking. Since then we can just add the turkey bacon to a cup of kibble and mix it all together and it works for work outside although walking past barking dogs in yards still requires plain turkey bacon, inside we stick to kibble. <br /><br />The use of high-value rewards has been invaluable in our situation! Great post!Ally and Eclipsehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05353928230130764060noreply@blogger.com