Consequences to conditioning

In another life, I held positions as a receptionist / assistant. In almost all of these positions, I was the only one to perform this function. Thus, when I had to leave my position, whether for lunch, to pee, or to take a break, I had to transfer my some of my tasks to a colleague, whose job was not to do so and who had been designated to replace me during my absences.

In some companies, I had reached a point where I didn't dare to leave for anything other than a need deemed as essential by my colleagues (eating or urinating). I then granted myself breaks, moments when I distanced my self from my tasks while remaining at my desk. These were, in fact, only half-breaks inasmuch as I kept my attention focused on my tasks one way or another. It was a situation that I ended up accepting so as not to have to hear sighs, unpleasant expressions, because another person was occupying one of my tasks while I was having a break.

As for the conditioning :

I have a break > I can hear the frustration and annoyance of my colleagues (even though it was not directed at me but caused by the situation) > I stop having any other breaks other than "essential".

If I stop a behavior, it means it was punished.

Back to the future

These days I've decided to collect my actual working hours, when I'm actively thinking, training, writing, preparing training plans, observing, etc.

From one task to another, from one appointment to another, I sometimes take breaks, moments when I try to focus on something other than on canines, when I direct my brain towards relaxation or the discovery of other fields.

This is when the conditioning I learned in some companies came forth : I realized that I don't leave my workstation during my breaks. If I work at my computer, I stay in front of it and use it to distract my mind from work. However, relaxation isn't systematically there. Besides, I now can take control of my breaks.

What about your dog ?

To my mind, it does matter to be aware that learning can remain and sometimes become entrenched over the long term. An issue arises if this learning is no longer adapted to the context, if it prevents your dog from taking initiatives.

Simply reinforcing or punishing a behavior isn't enough to prevent it from affecting your dog on other levels. Training your dog is about teaching him skills beyond the immediate moment. It's also about developing his abilities. As a sentient being, every situation brings about learning. Dog X won't respond the same way as Dog Y. By teaching your dog to be more than just obedient, but also an understood one, you'll have a better chance of making him a being who adapts to various contexts.