Category: Common Problems ¤
  Author: Bob Bailey ¤
   Title: What If He's Not 'In the Mood'? ¤

In nature, there is little concern for mood.  If you are an animal and
don't respond well, you either don't eat, or you get eaten.  I am not much
concerned with "stiff upper lip," nor are most chickens, or, in my
experience, most dogs.  If a dog mopes around, there is usually a reason. 
I am NOT saying I don't believe in emotions. They are real.  But, I don't
believe much in how some trainers think of "motivation."  If the dog has
its mind on something else, it is up to me to create interest in what I
want.  Without getting into such technical terminology as "establishing
operations," I can create such interest by changing the dogs environment,
or my behavior.  If I do this right, the dogs behavior will likely change. 
If it doesn't, then we are dealing with something more profound.  By the
way, if the dog just "goes through the motions," that is behavior, and that
is OK with me.  If I am good enough at my craft, I can translate that
apathetic performance into more enthusiastic behavior. My ability to do
that, and to avoid the problem in the future is what I am being paid for.
It is the animal that gives me nothing that I have difficulty with.  If
that happens often, there is something wrong with the animal or with what I
am doing.  I find animals to be remarkably consistant, perhaps because part
of my philosophy is to check my biases and emotions outside the training
room door.  By the way, I find Wilder and Python to be quite consistant -
consistantly funny.
Regards,
Bob Bailey

> 
> Hello + (or whomever)
> The MOOD of the dog should no more matter than it should matter for an
> athlete, a person at work, or even how you treat your significant other. 
> When it is time to do your thing, it is time.  Does it mean that every time
> will be as good as every other time?  Probably not. Then, again, world
> records are not set every day.   But, for the kinds of behavior that we are
> usually talking about in dog training, you should hardly notice a
> difference.  Of course, that assumes that the dog is not physically sick.
> I will say I have heard the excuse HE IS NOT IN THE MOOD very often.  I
> wonder sometimes WHO is not in the mood.
> Bob Bailey