From: CBARNES@tamvm1.tamu.edu (Chris Barnes)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: Re: Too much praise?!?
Date: Wed, 06 Jan 93 15:59:32 CST
Organization: Texas A&M University
NNTP-Posting-Host: tamvm1.tamu.edu

In article <1993Jan6.174931.20269@pixel.kodak.com>
   morss@ssd.kodak.com (Charlie Morss) writes:
 
>I've just started reading the Bauman book (recommended in the FAQ)
>and came to the chapter on giving praise. She says it's possible to
>give to much paise - "Some people will praise their dogs for just
>being alive" (or something like that).
>
>Does this mean that I reserve phases like "Good Boy", etc. only for
>lessons or does it mean that I shouldn't be as affectionate with
>my dog in general? And does it make a difference how old the dog is
>(mine lab pup is almost 4 months old now)? It seems it would make
>a dog like lesson time more if you are only affectionate during a
>lesson, but that seems alittle tough (and I could never get my wife
>not to be affectionate all the time, making the dog "like" her much
>more than me, thereby, making lessons difficult).
 
Well.......Not having read her book and only having what you said to
go by, I'ld have to say that for the most part I disagree with her.
While it's quite true that some people don't seem to be able to use
the common sense that God gave a worm and go around praising their
dog when they piddle (I saw that word in a previous subject line and
thought it was cute) on your shoes, I don't think that you can over-
praise your dog when he truely does something right  (whew, that was
a long sentence).
 
 
>Also, along these lines Bauman states that dogs don't know the difference
>between if something is 100% correct or partially correct, but then
>she goes on to say that when praising change what you say depending
>on how hard an effort was required (i.e. "good dog" for average effort,
>"excellent dog" for an outstanding effort). Is the dog going to
>really know the difference if it is not backed up by physical praise?
 
Now this actually makes some sense.  Of course, I would change what
she says from *what* you say to how vigousley you priase.  For example,
I'm not going to go nuts over my dog when she does a single, short
retrieve over golf-course type conditions.  But let her do a triple
through gut-sucking mud with a couple of 150 yard blinds through 4'
high weeds and then I'll be rolling on the ground with her when she
gets back!
 
 
>P.S. I just realized that what a dog is to be "used" for may make a
>	 big difference in how praise and affection are handled. My
>	 situation is this: 3.5 month Choc. lab, will be a family pet
>	 but will also be a hunter - quarter a field, retrieve ("normal"
>	 and handled), etc.
 
3.5 months......Don't do any real serious retrieve training for another
4-5 months.  The only training during that time is "the big 3" (ie.
sit, stay, & come).  Do alot of retrieve PLAYING during this time, but
make sure that that's what it is ---- play.
 
Oh, and 1 other thing.  Buy the books _Water Dog_, _Gun Dog_, and
_Game Dog_ by Richard Wolters.  Don't pay any attention to WHEN he
says to do things, but do follow WHAT he says to do and HOW to train.
 
All of this is MHO, of course!
      -----------------------------------------------------
Chris Barnes            |   President - Bryan/College Station
cbarnes@tamvm1.tamu.edu |         Retriever Club.
(409) 846-3273 (home)   |   "Dedicated to the betterment of
(409) 845-4437 (work)   |               the retrieving breeds"
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs