Downtime After Training

[Red Fox]

The book I'm currently reading (Schutzhund Obedience Training in Drive - Gottfried & Booth) suggests that dogs should be given quiet down time after each training session, preferably crated, as "Much learning goes on in the hour following a training session, if you leave his mind free to absorb what just happened."

I'm just wondering how many people actually do this with their dogs?

[tlc]

I guess that makes sense but do their minds really work like that?

After our obedience training sessions I usually take mine to the park for an off leash run.

[Red Fox]

Yes, normally I'd take Kei out for a short run after his morning training session too.

However lately I've noticed that by giving him a half hour of quiet time after most sessions -either in the car while the kids play on the playground, on a tie out, or we go straight home and he will rest in his crate, seems to be helping with his learning.

I'm curious if this is simply co-incidence or if the downtime really does make a difference

[Jacquiboss&scoop]

Just a suggestion but could it be connected more to the concept of deprivation in training , I know a few people who train then crate before training again when they get intensive , perhaps not so much allowing them to absorb the session as making them want the interaction with the handler that much more perhaps ?

[bedazzledx2]

I'm a big believer in latent learning. When I teach something new and particularly with shaping games, my training is very short and then I'll put him away to think about it. I think its really important for puppies and for new behaviours. All of Brookie's training was done this way as I trained him at work in 5 minute bursts and then he went back to his crate.

I don't think it makes much difference once the dog has mastered the exercise and you are training a run through for competition for example. Hopefully by then he will know his job and you are polishing!

The book I'm currently reading (Schutzhund Obedience Training in Drive - Gottfried & Booth) suggests that dogs should be given quiet down time after each training session, preferably crated, as "Much learning goes on in the hour following a training session, if you leave his mind free to absorb what just happened."

I'm just wondering how many people actually do this with their dogs?

[W Sibs]

Emmy and I usually go for a relax walk after training. Then we go home and has a play session with Charlie, then jumps on the couch for a snooze.

[Red Fox]

Just a suggestion but could it be connected more to the concept of deprivation in training , I know a few people who train then crate before training again when they get intensive , perhaps not so much allowing them to absorb the session as making them want the interaction with the handler that much more perhaps ?

The book also states that you should crate before training so that the dog wants the interaction (so yes, a form of deprivation), though the down time afterwards seems to be aimed more along the lines of having the dog absorb the information. I do get the impression that it doesn't neccessarily have to be crated time as it does peace and quiet.

Pretty much what bedazzledx2 is getting at with the latent learning

[Vickie]

I was always advised to put them away to think after sheepdog training & have always put them in a crate after they worked.

I haven't consciously done it after other training although it does happen quite a bit so I can get the other dog out.

Edited July 9, 2010 by Vickie

[Jacquiboss&scoop]

any body got link for latent learning studies in dogs and animals?

I would find it a very interesting read as I have only come across the concepts in humans before , when I think about it I always play a fast hyped game with our dogs for little while after we finish and then leave them to themselves , but I did it because it can be hard work so thought that we all needed a rest have not considered the latent learning angle at all .

[bedazzledx2]

I think it depends on the dog. If the dog is disinterested in training or interaction with the handler, I agree it would be one way of getting more interest. My dogs love training and will turn themselves inside out to have a go so for them I don't crate before hand. Thinking about it though...the car is a kinda crate! We always drive to training other than around the house stuff so effectively they are crated beforehand!

One thing I would never do is to walk them or give them a run Before training!

Just a suggestion but could it be connected more to the concept of deprivation in training , I know a few people who train then crate before training again when they get intensive , perhaps not so much allowing them to absorb the session as making them want the interaction with the handler that much more perhaps ?

The book also states that you should crate before training so that the dog wants the interaction (so yes, a form of deprivation), though the down time afterwards seems to be aimed more along the lines of having the dog absorb the information. I do get the impression that it doesn't neccessarily have to be crated time as it does peace and quiet.

Pretty much what bedazzledx2 is getting at with the latent learning

[Jacquiboss&scoop]

Yup playtime before learning would give a bit of a lacklustre performance around here to, zoomies to exhaustion in about 15 mins ,

[Tiggy]

I think it depends on the dog. If the dog is disinterested in training or interaction with the handler, I agree it would be one way of getting more interest. My dogs love training and will turn themselves inside out to have a go so for them I don't crate before hand. Thinking about it though...the car is a kinda crate! We always drive to training other than around the house stuff so effectively they are crated beforehand!

One thing I would never do is to walk them or give them a run Before training!

What about walking them in the afternoon after work then going to training in the evening? That's what I've been doing. I've been naughty and let them run around before class to .

[bedazzledx2]

Depends on the dog, depends on the walk, depends on the attention and focus you get in training. Personally I exercise would them after class or on alternate days. I want full adrenalised attention in training even if its a bit OTT.

I think it depends on the dog. If the dog is disinterested in training or interaction with the handler, I agree it would be one way of getting more interest. My dogs love training and will turn themselves inside out to have a go so for them I don't crate before hand. Thinking about it though...the car is a kinda crate! We always drive to training other than around the house stuff so effectively they are crated beforehand!

One thing I would never do is to walk them or give them a run Before training!

What about walking them in the afternoon after work then going to training in the evening? That's what I've been doing. I've been naughty and let them run around before class to .

[J...]

One thing I would never do is to walk them or give them a run Before training!

I do if I'm doing agility as it's part of Darcy's warm-up. But never for obedience work.

I don't deliberately plan to have down time after training, it's just that it often works that way. I don't crate at home but I've just been out with my two and one is roasting herself in front of the heater and the other is sound asleep on her bed.

I would imagine the benefit would be higher for new learning versus practising a known behaviour?

[bedazzledx2]

Mine is sound asleep on MY bed!!!!! Yes definately for new stuff.

One thing I would never do is to walk them or give them a run Before training!

I do if I'm doing agility as it's part of Darcy's warm-up. But never for obedience work.

I don't deliberately plan to have down time after training, it's just that it often works that way. I don't crate at home but I've just been out with my two and one is roasting herself in front of the heater and the other is sound asleep on her bed.

I would imagine the benefit would be higher for new learning versus practising a known behaviour?

[corvus]

I'm a big believer in latent learning. When I teach something new and particularly with shaping games, my training is very short and then I'll put him away to think about it.

Me too. Often I give them a little rub down after training. I guess I see it as a bonding/calming exercise. Kivi especially adores his post-training cuddles. Not that he needs any calming. I totally buy the latent learning thing. I used to joke that Erik was getting on the internet to look up the things I'd been teaching him because he would always start a new session several steps beyond where he finished the last session. Leslie McDevitt suggests giving dogs a break after a few minutes of training for latent learning.

[PAX]

Training is the fun part, I would never work them before or after training.

I don't crate them after training but training is the most fun my dogs get. Being put back in the yard is not as much fun as training is.

I guess the whole crate thing depends on the dog, how reinforcing being free is to him/her. To my dogs, being in the yard is boring.

[Aidan3]

Tolman and Honzik, 1930. A group of rats were left to freely wander a maze for 10 days with no food rewards. A control group were given food rewards on each trial. A third group did not receive food rewards at any time. The control group learned to navigate the maze without too many errors very quickly.

On the 11th day the experimental group were given a food reward upon completion of the maze. The next two trials they completed the maze with about the same number of errors as the control group. The third group (no rewards at any point) maintained a high level of errors.

[Jacquiboss&scoop]

HI Aidan

thanks very much for that was the reward directly after the activity ? or was there a time lapse ?

[Aidan3]

HI Aidan

thanks very much for that was the reward directly after the activity ? or was there a time lapse ?

My recollection is that the food was found at the end of the maze, so that they would seek the food at the end of the maze when placed at the beginning.