Motivational Behavior with Canines Lesson 2 Motivational Behavior with Canines

Check In Where are you today? Breathe... Take 2 minutes to allow students to self-reflect on where they are. Optionally a show of hands for who is in the yellow, orange, red today to help gauge where youth are. Take 2 more minutes to have all (you too!) breathe in 1-2-3-4-5 release 1-2-3-4-5. Oxygen! Where are you today?

How are dogs motivated? Click here Engagement How are dogs motivated? Click here

Engagement Show video – Have students discuss their thoughts on how the videos for the dogs and for the humans are different, similar. Click here to watch video on big bang positive reinforcement

Objective Students will learn about positive reinforcement and how this applies to training dogs as well as to their own lives. Positive Reinforcement as a way to increase behaviors we want.

Concept Development Ask dog to sit Dog sits Dog sits Give dog a treat Help students further understanding by explaining: Dogs and people are motivated by rewards. This is often referred to as positive reinforcement. Adding something to encourage repeating. To help your dog, yourself, or others start or continue a good behavior, it’s important to encourage and provide a reward.

Time to Motivate Some Dogs! Review your safety chart for how to greet a dog and your dog body language chart and let’s get MOTIVATING

Watch video to see target training in action Modeling Think It Through: Are you holding your hand palm flat toward your dog? Are you clicking when your dog makes any type of move toward your hand, even a look? Once your dog touches your palm 4-5 times consistently, are you putting a name to it? Once your dog touches your palm 4-5 times consistently, are you trying different movements? Watch video to see target training in action Model how to teach a dog to hand target by watching the video. As you watch, ask aloud the think it through steps to help students identify the process. It is time to bring in the dogs.

Guided Practice Think It Through: Are you holding your hand palm flat toward your dog? Are you clicking when your dog makes any type of move toward your hand, even a look? Once your dog touches your palm 4-5 times consistently, are you putting a name to it? Once your dog touches your palm 4-5 times consistently, are you trying different movements? Dogs should be tethered and ready to train. Have students work with their dogs on targeting. Follow the thinking steps. Work for 3 minutes and then take a break. Students can love on their dog during this time (approx. 1-2 minutes). Give feedback the entire time students are working. Repeat the guided practice 3-minute cycle one more time. Remember from slide 8, if they are successful with targeting, they can move to more advanced targeting skills. This most likely will happen quickly so encourage further targeting like going in a figure eight or through their legs, etc., so students and dogs don’t get bored.

S.E.E. Spot Why do dogs and people need rewards? How is motivation linked to positive reinforcement (giving a reward for a behavior)? Have students been able to further develop understanding of positive reinforcement and how that might work in their own lives?