The Gamblers
I didn’t know it, but Kenny Rogers taught me a critical lesson about dog training back in 1978.
As I have said before, training should be fun. The Kenny Rogers Rule is a way to make sure that’s true: quit while you’re ahead.
Training can be very addictive, and as we are reinforced by our success our natural instinct is to try for more. At a certain point though, that success is going to slow down or stop. Dogs get bored and distracted just like we do. The trick, as Kenny’s well-seasoned gambler tells us, is to “know when to fold ‘em.”
Always stop training a behavior while you are still having success. I can’t give you a rule or even a guess as to how many repetitions that means or how long you should practice — it’s up to you to read your dog and over time you’ll start to instinctively know when enough is enough. One thing I can tell you is that if you have a breakthrough it’s probably a good time to stop for the day and celebrate with some play or maybe a nap.
If your dog’s interest starts to flag, fall back to easier criteria, an easier behavior, or maybe a better reinforcer — give her a chance to have some success and then step away from the table.
The point is for you and your dog to have fun after all. That’s why you’re together.
That's perfect Eric. Each time I read your blog, I think that many of your posts can apply to parents and how they teach their kids.
I love the beginning where he says he has “made a life out of reading peoples faces, reading what the cards were, by reading peoples eyes”. Isn't it so true how dogs have made their lives out of reading us, knowing our “tells”. AND yes important to for us to know when to hold em, when to fold em and when to walk away from training : )
Eric, we are going to the show on Sat. the 17th. Darn, would have loved to see you!
I love the beginning where he says he has “made a life out of reading peoples faces, reading what the cards were, by reading peoples eyes”. Isn't it so true how dogs have made their lives out of reading us, knowing our “tells”. AND yes important to for us to know when to hold em, when to fold em and when to walk away from training : )
Eric, we are going to the show on Sat. the 17th. Darn, would have loved to see you!