Getting
Started Week Ten
- Develop a Praise Scale
Just as you may be more motivated by $100 than $10, you need to discover
what are low, medium and high value rewards for your puppy. For
example, kibble may be low, a cheerio - medium, and freeze-dried liver -
high value.
In addition to
food rewards, you want to develop a range of verbal praise and
enthusiasm in response to what Puppy does to please you. If
your puppy has been sitting for meals and greetings for quite a while, you
still want to reinforce with a simple, "good dog." However, if
Puppy does something new or something better than ever before, you
want to add enthusiasm to your praise. "Whoo-hoo! Alright! You are SUCH
a good dog" - always in a happy, high voice tone not a lower
(growl-like) voice tone.
Varying the
value of food treats and verbal praise is how you "shape"
Puppy's
best responses to instruction and verbal cues. Puppy knows the
difference!
Parenting Tips™ for Puppy
|