Shaping is one way to get behaviors from your dog. When we use shaping as a means of obtaining behaviors, we reinforce small incremental steps to the final behavior. For example, if you want your dog to roll over, you would start off by reinforcing the dog lying down. Once he is easily lying down, you will wait for him to move to a hip or lure him onto his hip before you reinforce. The third reinforcement step is when the dog’s shoulder is on the ground. Eventually, step-by-step, you stop reinforcing the beginning steps and only reinforce the dog at the end of the final behavior -- when he rolls over.

This takes patience but is a great way for your dog to use his brain, especially on a cold or rainy day when you cannot get him out for physical exercise. In today’s session, you will teach your dog some behaviors through the process of shaping. If you have a clicker, make sure you have it handy and ready, along with a bag of soft treats.