The Joy of Learning

The Joy of Learning by Frances McCormack | Aug 2, 2022 Curiosity, discovery, success, confidence, understanding, growth: all of these things can nurture a joy of learning for its own sake in humans. For dogs, while the same should be possible, the focus is frequently on “the dog will learn to do,” where “success in learning” is understood in terms of ability to perform an action or movement on cue. This often comes at the expense of the pleasure of the learning process itself. But what if our dogs could discover a joy in learning that sparked curiosity, that made them hungry for learning for its own sake, that proved rewarding in and of itself? We asked some of the Learning About Dogs community what lets them know that their dog enjoys learning, and here are their responses. Caryl Dotson I can always tell when my dogs are intrinsically happy to be learning versus when they are just working for the reward. I had to open my mind and heart and to observe all the little nuances in our sessions that I hadn’t been paying enough attention to in the past. I had to be 100% present and slow down. When my observation skills improved, I could see some notable differences between what it looked like when he feels “well this is rather ho-hum” versus when he is saying “this is rad!” For my Collie it is not big tail wags. Instead, it’s very subtle. Mostly I see it in his eyes: they sparkle and brim with curiosity. I can say the same for his speediness to do the work or start the work. It is now almost impossible to settle for dullness in a session. I seek that spark in him that he wants to be doing a thing with me—not because I’m trying to do a 5-minute skill, but because he finds me an interesting companion to learn with. I’ve also learned that this doesn’t exist on its own to be turned on and off in a skill session. It’s a way of living and connecting throughout the day and in different environments. The conversations are ongoing and the “learning session” is just another component in our day now like a quick card game with a friend. It is not a white board “ to do” like it used to be in my past. Kay Laurence I like the “moments” when they’re working towards a solution, and the moment they get it, (marker) we see them light up. For a few seconds even Merrick does not go straight for the “well, … feed me?” face, but seems to savour the aspect of finding the solution, or remembering the cue, or just feeling great when she does a certain movement. Frances McCormack Before arriving in the Learning About Dogs community, I never saw the parallels between canine and human le

arning, and never even thought about how to help foster a love of learning in T. But his repeated success, even when what he is learning deepens, the centrality of his rewards, and the mindset that this engenders in him means that he doesn’t distinguish between learning and play. He’ll request access to a piece of equipment with the same enthusiasm as a favourite toy; he’ll transfer a new skill across contexts with relative ease; he approaches new learning with a genuine curiosity and enthusiasm. It’s so wonderful to be able to help facilitate that. Sue McGuire It’s a look. It’s a presence. It’s in their body. It’s in the beauty of the motion. It’s in the approach. It’s in a movement away. Anticipating the place. It’s in the conversation. The pauses and the bits in between. Hattie pauses and considers. She waits while I pause and consider. She waits for me to think! Hank urges me to make a decision because whatever it is, he’s present and ready for game on. It’s much like defining art. For me, art is in the colors and why they work together. I don’t know the rules of art; I don’t know why some colors shouldn’t be next to other colors. But for me they work. Did the artist break the rules? I don’t know or care. I pause because I have seen something that I like and want to look at it again. So when I see my dogs show me things that go together, it’s an awareness that they’re driving their own learning. It’s not whether they should go together—they do for them. Wow…just wow. Can I remember how they go together? This is my learning. The dog is enjoying the learning when they remain present while I learn. Tamara Pearson Most of the time I didn’t even think to consider (let alone know how to observe) enjoyment in learning on the dogs behalf. Probably because it is not a criteria that is on the tick list for most training regimes? I have never seen it addressed anywhere before, which is strange really as it’s so central to everything else. It is a very subtle and detailed art to be able to observe how a dog enjoys their learning and to have the skills to facilitate that. That’s a journey in itself. When a dog genuinely enjoys learning, that enjoyment is clearly palpable. Thoughtful engineering of that learning, tailored towards that individual and what they need to be successful, underpinned by solid planning and thoughtful reflection, and centred on the reward process make the joy of learning all the more likely. If you want to learn more, check out Build the Learning . Tighearnan: eyes wide open looking for a chance to learn. Key Reading The Answers Await Disc

overy The idea that we’re responsible for our dogs’ learning might well seem strange when we consider how we conceptualise “training:” Read More Guidance is not dependence Guidance can be the lightest change in contingencies, an extra antecedent. I can place a palette of different paints and brushes next to the chair. It doesn’t mean you need to paint the chair, you could sit on the chair and paint your own shoes, but just the presence of the tools would give you guidance. Read More You did everything right but …. But it still hasn’t worked out, even after 6 years? Yeah, it can be disappointing, but at times even the “perfect” protocol, applied with accuracy can undo itself and we go around in the circle again. Read More The Value of Experience The non-experienced, or current generation of imposters, have attended a course, read a book, got a certificate and have yet to gain experience to deepen their knowledge or understanding of the subject, protocol, method … Read More Since the Dawn of Dog Training The old joke reminds us that the only thing dog trainers can agree on is that their training method in the best one. It becomes increasingly difficult to know which method is “right” and whether it will suit the dog, the situation and trainer’s skills. Read More What is a Trainer? I know what I am, as a trainer. But does my view of “A Trainer” coincide with, or even overlap with yours? Read More Construction or suppression Looking at the way the behaviour is carried out is the most important element, and that is the product of all the considerations. Read More Ear Myths There is a myth surrounding Border Collies that ear shape, coat colour or texture, and even eye colour are indicators of that dog’s personality,... Read More Not Today and Not for My Sheepdogs Standard protocols of extinction, impulse control, counterconditioning are quickly grabbed off the shelf as satisfactory solutions. These solutions are unlikely to help your collie, your sheepdog as the focus is heavily on suppression of who they are and why they live. Read More The Need to Correct an Error When learning is littered with costly mistakes we will carry anxiety and avoidance. Errors are feedback. There should be no fear of error just opportunities to learn. Read More Top Training Reasons to use a clicker The concept of “being a clicker trainer” is always going to lead to argument and misunderstanding because it cannot exist alongside the science and technology. It is a “fakery” of our time. The clicker itself is a simple tool that when used in conjunction with technology provides clarity

and understanding in teaching. Read More Fast does not mean better We are becoming surrounded by a culture of fast. We are being sold that immediate gratification is the only solution. Read More Duration: sustaining movement Continuing and maintaining a specific movement Read More One dog watching The other dog working or ….how to train the spectators to quietly rest and watch whilst you work, play, teach a single member of the group Read More A Cue or not a cue? With thoughtful planning and a good understanding of the relevance of antecedent selection we can teach the dog the skills of sorting the wheat from the chaff, finding the bones of the exercise. This skill is critical to being able to distinguish between distractions, which are just cues for an alternative reward opportunity, and cues which signify a guarantee of success. Read More A teaching plan The pathway ahead, a road map for success. Details of what, why, when, how. Read More Do you see what I see Doing better is the reward from doing the work. This work needs to be the right work at the right time with the right intent done in the right way. Read More Living well through movement “The purpose of learning is to get more or better rewards” W. Shultz Can we assume that the more we learn the more rewards we can enjoy? Often these... Read More Location is Their Cue We begin teaching the dog to go to a target, such as a mat or platform and in this process our focus is on the outcome – the dog can place feet on the object or settle down. But at the same time this learning is happening the dog is also noting the location: where this is happening in this room, in the house, relative to the food-machine (you). Read More Cue Seeking is Connection Connection is very individual and to be authentic we have to observe, slow down, understand our dogs and meet them where they are. Read More Submit a Comment Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Comment * Name * Email * Website Δ