Category: Advanced Stuff ¤
  Author: Line Farr ¤
   Title: Using Sniffing as a Reinforcer ¤

Kathy wrote:

"Unfortunately, this also gives Banner free rein to wander and
sniff. At the beginning of a session, we'll C/T a few times for sit, but 
he quickly loses interest and wanders off to sniff. So there I stand, 
clicker and treats in hand while my dog wanders the yard. Eventually, 
he'll wander back to me, maybe he'll do something I can click, then he's 
off again.

Banner doesn't see them as being anywhere near as interesting as whatever 
it is that he wants to sniff. I read the posts about using sniffing as a 
"treat", but I *don't* want to encourage this behavior.  It's not  
something that's desireable in the obedience ring. And heck, it's just 
plain annoying."

Hi Kathy,

I have a sniff crazy dog too (pharaoh hounds hunt by sight AND scent very 
handily)and goofy though it sounds C/Ting sniffing has really helped.  
And I had some very humiliating moments in obedience class before I 
started this effort.  Sit and down stays became something he didn't like 
(even if all I did was gently 'fix' his position; I hope I'm through that 
phase now...)and neither did I.  Especially when the border terrier, the 
scottie and the samoyed were all doing beautifully!  

I do use getting to sniff as the reward for not pulling on leash, giving 
me some behaviors (like sitting at heel, walking on a loose leash, sits, 
eye contact, etc.) - as in C/Sniff but I saw even bigger results when I 
began clicking the sniff.  I have done it both on and off lead.  When he 
first figured out I was clicking the sniff the expression on his face was 
priceless and I hope his neck didn't hurt too much from the double take 
he did.  And yes, he started to sniff more - at first.  Just like when 
the kids first have free rein on the Halloween candy.  

But the more I C/T'ed the sniffing, the more times he picked up his head 
FROM sniffing to get the treat.  Soon I was able to work in some Leave 
Its (he already knew that but certainly wouldn't have responded if I'd 
just started out with it).  Then I was able to get a Leave It (or a 
Watch, (also already known elsewhere) and give him either a C/T or a 
C/Sniff.  I have even started to put sniffing on cue (though it needs 
work).

The results?  There is very little sniffing when we are working, at home 
and at class (and it's still decreasing), both on and off lead.  The 
behavior isn't gone (he's a dog and it's integral to his hound being,)but 
it's under far better control than when I glared, pulled his head up or 
otherwise forced him away from the nose to earth stance.  And he isn't 
resisting and turning off - he's into working.

I think there are several things going on here. Jump in more experienced 
behavior folks, please.  

I'm making sure he does get sniffing time (like satisfying beardie 
barking?).  So it's not a frustrated need that crops up the minute the 
opportunity arises.  I do have to go back to kindergarten in new exciting 
places, but that's true of any as yet ungeneralized behavior.  

When doing C/T outdoors I started with the behavior he was offering (with 
leash pulling and sniffing to choose from there was NO contest) and got 
his attention by reinforcing that.  Once he was sucked into the game I 
could find or elicit other things to reinforce.  Then I was able to bring 
in lots of "kitchen trained" behaviors and it was a revelation to him 
that gee, they worked for C/T outdoors too!

While I was clicking and treating sniffing continually I was reinforcing 
it on a fixed schedule with a high rate of frequency - and that's the 
coke machine schedule of reinforcement. You can get the goodie whenever 
you want and you become much more blase about getting it.  I can't give 
the technical explanation, but this causes the behavior to WEAKEN.  Just 
like getting to do it only occasionally (the slot machine schedule of 
reinforcement) causes it to strengthen.  And when sniffing success on the 
variable (slot machine) schedule of reinforcement comes from ignoring Mom 
- guess what's getting reinforced big time?  At a recent Gary Wilkes 
seminar in New Hampshire he suggested to a woman with a problem barker 
that she C/T every single bark to reduce the frequency BEFORE using P+ 
(if needed at all) to get rid of the residue (hope I got that right 
Gary).

Now that I'm not forcing him to quit he's doing it on his own and 
learning self control at the same time.

Even though what I've done sounds like I'm encouraging sniffing, the end 
result has been less sniffing.  The behavior I'm seeing is the litmus 
test and I'm happy with what is in front of my eyes.  Maybe this is the 
people version of Shirley's doggie zen for treats (to get the treat you 
have to give up the treat):  to get the attention you have to give up the 
attention!  Hope this makes you more comfortable with the idea.

Line Farr
lfarr@dynanet.com