Sometimes we, as parents and pet owners, attempt novel ways to effect behavior change in our children/pets. Sometimes our methods for both our two- and four-legged charges are the same. Sometimes not. In the interest of my status with Social Services and PETA, I'll let you determine which of my examples are human-approved, which are PETA approved, and which are um, simply invented. Sometimes behavior modification is successful. Sometimes not. Sometimes it's both.
Unfortunately, we occasionally employ negative reinforcement. Yeah, yeah. I've heard it all before. "Johnny is perfect. We never yell or spank or shake him at all." I don't believe you. I believe occasionally, when you've put Johnny to bed for the 999th time and he keeps toddling downstairs to stall, and you're just trying to have a clandestine bottle of wine with a PG-13 rated movie, you might be pushed to the point where you use a stern voice, and say, "I am going to take you upstairs, and lean on your door so that you can't come out anymore tonight. It's BEDTIME!" Some people have been known to use choke chains or collars to modify behavior. I find that a strategically timed, unpredicted pop on the bum can be very effective.
Sometimes, we use positive reinforcement. Some call it bribery. Tomato, tomahto, I say. "If you PROMISE not to talk about boogers at Easter Dinner, I promise to buy all the on-sale Easter candy tomorrow and you can eat it all at once." You've said it. You know you have.
Sometimes, we use goldfish crackers or bits of hot dog, but we ultimately trade treats for desired behavior. Effective. On all species.
Sometimes, we inadvertently use the latter thinking we are doing the former:
The Cat story has recently come to a sad, but inevitable end. Cat's 'Owner' passed away. I'm truly sad for their family, as she seemed to be a much loved member.
In the wake of this event, Cat has figured out that the food is only being dispensed at our house these days. He's spending more time inside, and terrorizing Clooney more and more.
Clooney, who just got a haircut, and is feeling pretty good about himself, has certainly been trying to assert his primary ownership of the house.
Cat is tough. He's been walking around the house with tufts of Clooney fur stuck in his retracted claws. I feel like I have to intervene. Clooney needs to feel safe and Cat needs to know there are consequences to his actions.
I put Cat outside. Rain or shine, cold or hot, Cat's consequences are the same: out he goes. No exceptions.
Sometimes consistency can backfire. Last night, I was watching TV while determined to ignore Cat's whine to be let out. Sometimes, once my butt gets in the couch, inertia takes over, and I become stuck. Only the threat of cat 'accident' eventually gets me up, unlocks the door, opens the screen and lets Cat out to the great sandbox of the neighborhood.
But last night, I waited too long. I ignored Cat one mew too many. So he took a swipe at the dog. A BIG ol' swipe at the door. Instantly, I was up, unlocking doors and pitching out feline.
"Holy crap. Instead of teaching Cat not to fight with Clooney, I've taught him to slap Clooney around when he wants to go out."
That's bad. Then, I thought about how, like an annoying little bell, Cat sat by the door waiting for me to come. And how, when I do it promptly, he rewards me by pooping outside....
Wait a minute. Who's training whom here?
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