 transition into variable reward schedule
#372520 - 01/24/2013 02:20 PM |
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I'm wondering how to go about transitioning into a variable reward schedule without causing confusion for my dog or causing him to lose some of his drive if he doesn't see the reward. Currently every sit, down, stand etc is marked and rewarded.
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Re: transition into variable reward schedule
[Re: gary chesney ]
#372521 - 01/24/2013 02:47 PM |
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"See the reward"? Food rewards? I'm wondering about whether you might be using the food as a bribe rather than a reward. Are you displaying the reward as you give the command? (That would be a bribe.)
Variable reward ..... means variable mark-and-reward, right? You don't give an empty marker (that is, don't say it unless you pay it).
Also, where are you in the training?
Is every sit, for example, dependable and good, regardless of venue and distraction?
Have you watched either Power of Markers or Power of Food? Which?
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Re: transition into variable reward schedule
[Re: gary chesney ]
#372522 - 01/24/2013 02:43 PM |
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Re: transition into variable reward schedule
[Re: Connie Sutherland ]
#372525 - 01/24/2013 03:12 PM |
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What I was referring to about him seeing the reward is I want to avoid him not doing the behavior because he doesn't see the reward. I don't bribe him, he will do what he has learned with only vocal cues and he doesn't need to see the reward. I'm worried if I tell him to sit and he does that if he doesn't get the mark and reward that he will be less enthusiastic about sitting the next time I tell him to. So far the rewards have always been food. I have watched the power of training dogs with food. I haven't clicked and paid. He is very solid with his sits and downs and stands around many different locations and distractions.
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Re: transition into variable reward schedule
[Re: gary chesney ]
#372528 - 01/24/2013 04:09 PM |
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So you mean "seeing the reward" after he has complied? As in when you mark and reward?
You know that with a variable or random m/r schedule, he never knows when he will get a
reward ..... that is, his interest is strengthened as he focuses on "is it this time?"
Did you watch this? http://leerburg.com/flix/player.php/185/Weaning_Dogs_off_of_Food_Rewards_By_Michael_Ellis
"So far the rewards have always been food. ..... I haven't clicked and paid."
I don't understand "I haven't clicked and paid" ..... you have not marked and rewarded? But you are rewarding with food?
Have you not started marking?
I'm confused.  I'm sure it's me, and I hope someone else will step in. 
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Re: transition into variable reward schedule
[Re: Connie Sutherland ]
#372530 - 01/24/2013 04:31 PM |
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I'm sorry. That was a typo, I meant I haven't marked and not paid. So far every good behavior gets a mark and every mark gets a reward. We have done marker training since I got him several times a day for four months. I understand the principles and purpose of the variable reward but I don't know the correct way to implement it.
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Re: transition into variable reward schedule
[Re: Connie Sutherland ]
#372531 - 01/24/2013 05:50 PM |
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delete duplicate post
Edited by Connie Sutherland (01/24/2013 05:50 PM)
Edit reason: delete duplicate post
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Re: transition into variable reward schedule
[Re: gary chesney ]
#372534 - 01/24/2013 05:55 PM |
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Ah! OK.
You could start by m/r for fewer of the repetitions, using your intermediate bridge (or maybe "good dog!" or other praise word that is not your terminal bridge, or what we usually call our verbal marker ..... or any praise word if your marker or TB is a clicker) instead. That is, say my marker is "yes." I might say "good!" with no reward for a compliance response, skipping the m/r.
And I don't advertise the presence or absence of food rewards ..... also, I DO have secret stashes around so the dog can never perceive "Well, this is a no-reward zone." That is, when I start the decreasing of 100% m/r, I'm keeping a slot machine in mind.
(BTW, I don't mark and not reward {or give an empty marker}. If I give the marker, I pay, because the marker means "reward coming!" But I think you got that; we just had a communication glitch in there.)
(Raising your criteria also reduces number of m/r.)
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Re: transition into variable reward schedule
[Re: gary chesney ]
#372537 - 01/24/2013 06:08 PM |
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That makes beautiful simple sense. Thank you!
Would this be where I would want to start incorporating the release command? If the terminal bridge acts also as a release, it seems this may be an opportune time to introduce him to "okay" as his release command.
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Re: transition into variable reward schedule
[Re: gary chesney ]
#372538 - 01/24/2013 06:22 PM |
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"Would this be where I would want to start incorporating the release command? If the terminal bridge acts also as a release, it seems this may be an opportune time to introduce him to "okay" as his release command. "
To release him? The marker is the release.
That is, when you give your TB (your marker, like a click or verbal marker), you ended the command. He's done.
Introducing duration .... the duration comes in BEFORE the marker.
Suppose I was teaching down. As soon as I mark that down, it's over.
Introducing duration isn't really related to this rewards-schedule topic ...... except that I may well be using my intermediate bridge as I introduce duration.
BTW, introducing duration is very gradual.
PS
QUOTE: "If the terminal bridge acts also as a release, it seems this may be an opportune time to introduce him to "okay" as his release command."
See the inconsistency? The TB (marker) is the release. Why would "okay" become a newly introduced "release command"? I'm not following ..... maybe a terminology issue.
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