The most common way we teach new behaviors is by starting with a food lure. A food lure is a piece of food that we use to guide a dog into a position. (E.G. sit, down.) Some dogs follow it follow very easily and we can then turn the food lure into a hand signal. (Once it’s on a hand signal we no longer need to have the food present first.)
Another way to teach a behavior is by a process called Capturing. Capturing is all about rewarding the behavior while it’s happening on its own. For example, if a dog is really struggling with lying down for a food lure, you may end up waiting for it to happen naturally and then rewarding it often. This will start to result in a lightbulb going off when you come near and your dog is in that position. Once your dog starts catching on, you’ll be able to reward it when you see it, then invite your dog out of position and then patiently wait to see if your dog offers the behavior again. You’ll then be able to reward that and repeat the cycle. Once the cycle is going very smoothly you’ll be ready to add in the verbal cue or hand signal to the cycle before your dog does the behavior.
Behaviors are a good thing to teach if it’s going to make your life (and your dog’s life) easier. Once your dog is able to perform the behavior, you’ll still need to reward it. Behaviors that are rewarded will continue and behaviors that aren’t rewarded will stop.
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