As a dog trainer, I often emphasise the importance of using food as a reinforcer. It’s a powerful tool in my training arsenal, both for my own dogs and for those I work with. But what happens when food isn’t the main motivator for our dogs’ behaviour? 

The Challenge of “Over the Top” Behaviour: A Real Life Example

My young Border Collie, Budweis, has big feelings about being off lead. Freedom is very important to him: he really wants to run and explore natural spaces. It is important to me that he gets to experience that freedom! And also, it is important to me that he understands that behaviours that I like (e.g., walking nicely on lead) can get him access to that freedom, as opposed to pulling on lead, yanking me around, vocalising, etc. 

People can really set themselves up for challenges down the line if the dog learns that “over the top” behaviour is what gets them access to the reinforcer (in this case: freedom). It can be tricky, because it is often aversive for the human to have their dog display these big behaviours: the dog wants freedom > he pulls, whines, and lunges on the lead > the human just wants the dog to stop > the human unclips the lead > the dog learns that pulling, whining, lunging, etc., gets them access to what they wanted. 

It’s essential for us to understand what our dogs genuinely want, so that we can help them access these things through desirable behaviours.

Teaching New Skills and Setting Dog Up For Success

It’s important to recognise that our dogs don’t necessarily come equipped with the skills to behave in ways that align with our expectations. Budweis certainly was not born knowing how to walk to the park with a loose lead! And asking him to do something he simply was not able to do would have been grossly unfair. 

Instead, we need to set our dogs up for success. It is not cheating to use management strategies to prevent our dogs from practising undesirable behaviours while we teach them the skills they need!

If I were to feed Budweis for walking with a loose lead, he would eat. However, his real motivation is not the food itself; he wants me to unclip the lead. And I am wise to help him understand that by walking nicely on a loose lead, he can make that happen.

Let’s Work Together

Are you facing challenges with dog? Do you find yourself questioning what truly motivates them? If you’re unsure about how to reinforce the right behaviours, I’m here to help!

Training a dog with big feelings can be a journey, but you don’t have to do it alone. Drop me a message, and let’s explore how we can work together to enhance your dog’s training experience and strengthen your bond. By focusing on the emotional needs and motivations of your dog, you can foster a positive learning environment that benefits you both! Let’s get started on this journey together!