| Do you remember as a kid when your | | | | |
| Grandmother would tell you that you had to | | | | Since we now understand the Premack |
| finish your vegetables before you could have | | | | Principle, we can set up training situations |
| any ice cream? | | | | where your dog learns to respond to the |
| | | | command "Come" before taking chase. |
| If your Grandmother or anyone else has ever | | | | |
| said that to you, then they were using the | | | | Here is an exercise that I teach: |
| Premack Principle, also known as Grandma's | | | | |
| Law. | | | | With your dog on a 10 to 15 foot leash, throw |
| | | | a treat about 20 feet away. Let your dog see |
| Basically, the Premack Principle is this: "If | | | | you throw the treat. |
| high probability behaviors (more desirable | | | | |
| behaviors) are made contingent upon lower | | | | Now let your dog go to the treat but stop her |
| probability behaviors (less desirable | | | | about two feet from the treat. Your dog will |
| behaviors), then the lower probability | | | | be interested in the treat and probably |
| behaviors are more likely to occur." | | | | ignore your command "Come." Give your dog |
| | | | just a slight tug on the leash and back up a |
| Or to put it simply: "You can't watch TV | | | | few feet. Once your dog comes to you, hold |
| until you finish your homework." | | | | your dog's collar, praise your dog, and then |
| | | | let your dog run back and get the treat. You |
| So how does this apply to dog training? | | | | have just used the Premack Principle with |
| | | | your dog. |
| The Premack Principle works great when you | | | | |
| are trying to teach your dog to come when | | | | Your dog wants the treat (very desirable to |
| called. You see, when your dog is outside | | | | your dog) but can't get the treat until she |
| there are more desirable things to do than to | | | | responds to the command "Come" (less |
| come back to you. | | | | desirable behavior), you are now teaching |
| | | | your dog to respond to your commands in |
| If your dog is outside and sees a squirrel, | | | | distracting situations. |
| the chances of coming back to you decrease | | | | |
| dramatically. Chasing the squirrel is much | | | | At first you need to use the leash to get the |
| more desirable than responding to your | | | | less desirable behavior to occur, but over |
| command "Come." | | | | time you'll find that your dog will start to |
| | | | respond to your voice command and you'll need |
| But... | | | | to use the leash less and less. |