"PR" ~ What Does
This Mean To You?
Most would say that PR stands for 'Public Relations' - definition
"representing and promoting the Interests of a person in its relations
with the public."
© Canine Caretaker
...And in Dog Terms; you wouldn't be that far off with that definition;
but in Dog Terms, PR stands for 'Praise and Release'.
These are two very crucial elements when training: whether it be dogs,
children, cats or students. Every being must be given the confirmation
or the confidence that they are doing 'right'. Too many dog owners assume
this means ONLY when something is asked of them, but in order for a dog
to determine what is 'wrong' and 'non-acceptable' they must be told when
they are 'good' and everytime they are good, to be able to relate the difference
between the two.
If you take children for example; a child doesn't want to finish his
dinner and is told that he must eat up or he cannot leave the table or
watch television that night. Eventually the parent notices the child nibbling
away. Now the parent could wait until the dinner is completely gone before
allowing the child some dessert or television but the dinner might not
ever get finished. Maybe the child is feeling ill or full from a large
lunch or maybe the child eats a few pieces more and considers that enough
because no one is watching.
I believe that if the parent was to say something 'positive' a couple
of times during the finishing of the meal - there would be a greater chance
that the meal would get completely finished and probably a lot sooner too.
This positive reaction is called 'Praise' or 'building confidence'.
The same is done with dogs.
If a young pup has been running around and getting underfoot all day
and then, by choice, decides to go lay down on a mat somewhere out of the
way - tell him that he is a Good Dog for acting on an action that is positive
or what you consider a good behaviour. Don't wait until he's getting into
trouble again so you can ask him to stop and then Praise for doing what
you ask.
What if you did wait but the pup did not do what you asked?
When would he ever get the Praise or the message to what is 'accpetable
behaviour' and what is 'not'?
How many times would he hear your voice growl or your words repeat
the "NO!" before you finally got angry enough chasing him that when you
did catch him, he gets tossed in a crate or an area of confinement with
No Praise or words of confidence ever heard from you?
When and how would he learn what is 'good' from you?
'Praise' is easily forgotten by most owners and even some trainers.
To get caught up with the dog learning something that you carry on trying
to teach one more thing and maybe getting some Praise when the training
is over. What if that one more thing you asked is not completed? What if
the dog is just too young to learn so much at once or too tired to learn
one more thing that day - when would the Praise be given?
Now the 'R' or 'Release' is something that almost everyone always forgets.
In fact a lot of trainers and owners feel it is unnecessary or unimportant.
To give you a typical scenario: You've started Basic Obedience Classes
with you pup about 3 weeks ago and now you're at home practicing the 'sit
stays' for next week's session. You sit your dog then command the 'stay'
with voice and hand signal as you walk away about 10 feet. The phone rings
and you reach over a few steps to answer it. It's your favourite Aunt that
you haven't spoken to in ages. A couple of minutes go by, maybe even 10
or 15 minutes when you finally get off the phone and notice your dog napping
at your feet.
What have you taught your dog so far??
Did it occur to you that you have now set a pattern that 'stay' means
"I'll sit here for a few minutes and then I can leave."??
Ever wonder why it is so difficult to get your dog to be trust-worthy
in a 'sit', 'stay', or 'down'?
Chances are, you forgot to 'Release'. Had you said to your dog when
the phone rang "O.K. Go Play." and then started over when you were finished
on the phone, a minor correction (and perhaps not even that) is all that
you would have needed to reinforce the 'sit, stay'.
Maybe you thought you could handle the training while you were on the
phone; reminding him to 'stay' when he moved or motioning him to go back
to where you left him or even just sitting him beside you when he wandered
or inched his way over to you.
You probably wasted a lot of time and effort only to have to 're-train'
the bad habit you just created. All because your dog still doesn't understand
what you wanted and yet you keep losing your patience when you repeat this
'half-training' over and over again.
This 'Release' is used not only in training obedience but with everything.
Say you are going for a walk with your dog on a leash and you've been trying
to train him not to jump at the end of the leash everytime he sees another
dog. There are a few words that need to be taught with this particular
scenario including the 'Release'.
"Leave It." - to reinforce that you don't want him to visit the other
dog or jump at the end of the leash; "Good dog." - each and everytime your
dog is being good or does what you ask; "Don't pull." - to save you from
having your arm dislocated from your shoulder and then, perhaps after a
few minutes and after you have consulted with the owner of the other dog
and received their permission that the two dogs may be introduced, you
'Release' with "O.K.!" and coax your dog to go say hello.
Now this doesn't mean the dog has to be 'Released' from the leash -
on the contrary. Control must be maintained through any training you have
started. It does mean that the dog is now 'free from commands' and can go sniff or visit with the other dog and doesn't have to 'sit' or 'stay' or remain by your side.
There is a time and a place for everything and when you ask your dog
not to sniff or pull or go check out another dog - then he should listen;
in return you should allow introductions at some point or at least reward
with a treat. This will further enhance your training for now the dog learns
that if he obeys that eventually he will get a reward (whether it be to
visit and play with the other dog or get a food treat or maybe a toy).
Once the 'Release' is learned, your dog will love you for it because
now he understands not only what you want but when.
After a dog has been told to "Stand, stay." in a tub for 15 minutes,
you'll notice how well behaved and how easy a task bathing becomes when
he learns that after you are finished with bathing, toweling and maybe
nails that the "O.K." allows a free tear around the house or a good shake
or two.
Praise and Release - try not to forget these two Basic Fundamentals
when teaching or training your dog.
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