This week Dallas ran through a trial CGC-Ready test with the Secondary Trainer and she was very successful. The final CGC-Ready test is done without food rewards, but it takes time to get there. When we are first working on command we use continuous reinforcement techniques, which means we are offering the primary reinforcement every time Dallas complies with a command. As time passes, we start shifting to intermittent reinforcement techniques.
It has taken us a while, but we have been able to get Dallas more food driven. We noticed that when she first wakes up, she still needs a few minutes before she will focus on her trainer. Once she is awake she has become a lot more reliable with her commands. By introducing some intermittent reinforcement techniques we are working on making sure that the commands she has learned will actually stick and not be susceptible to extinction. There are varying forms of intermittent reinforcement, but we like using variable ratio reinforcement. This can come in various rewards including food, pets or toys.
As we have been introducing the GET IT command, we are building her play drive as well. We are making sure to use the value transfer principle to make sure she stays engaged in returning the items she is retrieving.
Dallas has been progressing very well with her working commands. She enjoys being pet and being with her trainers, so we make every experience meaningful. She does love her training which is great!
