Written By: Zach Miller
Over-Praising and Under-Praising typically go back in forth when a green trainer is realizing one or the other in the field. It is important for owners and trainers to be mindful of how they praise their duck dogs during training and hunting. Over-praising your duck dog can be detrimental to their performance and can lead to behavioral issues down the road. Here are some basic reasons why it is important not to over-praise your duck dog. Keep in mind that this falls under the canopy of “Every Dog Is Different”.
1. It Can Lead to Over-Excitement
Over-praising your duck dog can lead to over-excitement, which can be counterproductive during training and hunting. When a dog becomes too excited, they may lose focus and become distracted. In some circumstances, too much praise can cause a dog (working or not) to break a static position. This can lead to mistakes and can make it more difficult for the dog to perform their tasks effectively. Steadiness is a key element of a quality gundog and if we misread our dog’s proper praise amounts, we have failed our dog.
2. It Can Create Dependence
Over-praising your duck dog can create a dependence on praise, which can be problematic during hunting. If a dog becomes too reliant on praise, they may become hesitant to perform tasks without it. This can lead to delays and can make it more difficult for the dog to retrieve ducks and other waterfowl. Finding what amount of praise your dog responds to is something we as handlers must find out well before we start dropping birds from the sky.
3. It Can Lead to Behavioral Issues
Over-praising your duck dog can also lead to behavioral issues, such as aggression and dominance and other forms of reactivity. If a dog becomes too accustomed to praise, they may become possessive of their toys and other objects and create a behavior known as “Resource Guarding”. This (in some cases) can lead to reactive behavior towards other dogs and humans, place and objects.
4. It Can Diminish the Value of Praise
Over-praising your duck dog can diminish the value of praise, making it less effective as a training tool. If a dog receives praise too often, it may become less meaningful and less motivating. If I give you a tasty beer every time you did something for a year, the second I hand you a bottle of water you might think about biting me too…or at least I would. Nonetheless, it can make it more difficult for owners to reinforce positive behaviors and can make it more difficult for the dog to learn new tasks.
In closing, over-praising your duck dog can be (at times) detrimental to their performance and can lead to behavioral issues. It is important for owners to be mindful of how they praise their dogs during training and hunting. Praise should be used strategically and sparingly and should be accompanied by other forms of reinforcement, such as treats and playtime. By using praise effectively, owners can help their duck dogs perform at their best and achieve success in the field. Know how your dog responds to levels of praise before stepping foot in the hunting blind!
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