Training Tuesday! Reinforcing Stopped Contacts
Changing the location of reinforcement for stopped contacts from in-position to out-of-position sounds counterintuitive, but it works. Releasing forward to a reward reduces dependence on the handler since the handler doesn't need to move close to the dog to deliver the reward. It also helps reduce problems like curling or stopping sideways by keeping the dog's focus forward.
And most importantly, it's a big piece in creating a ring-sustainable behavior. Dogs who are frequently rewarded in-position in training often lose their stopped contact behavior with the absence of those reinforcers in trials. Associating the release with reward in training strengthens the behavior for trials.
Chandra here is retraining from a bang-and-go to 2on/2off on the teeter. We're still working some of the pieces, and front-crossing is a particular challenge for her to think about, especially with the pre-placed toy. :)
facebook.com/beyonddogtrainingco
