Backchaining – ah, that is just the thing where you are doing it all backwards, right?
Yes, it kind of is, but it is also so much more…
Predictability is great for both our and the dogs performance, and clean training loops and reinforcement strategies are some of the strategies we can use to get that. Having built our base of behaviors, we want to get to the next level- and backchaining is the prize for doing your foundation work with care. In this presentation we will dive deeper into the subject of backchaining and discuss why a behavior chain that is backchained, is glued so strongly together. We will also explore stimulus control, and how to turn our cues into a “green light” in the chain, while also figuring out what we should do if a mistake happens in the chain.
How to start from a “not yet existing” behavior, to a behavior that can be used for backchaining, is also a topic that we will dicuss. By making sure that we have prepared our self and our learner in the best way possible, we can harvest all that’s in the chain. In this presentation we will lay the pathway to behavior chains that are reliable, while discussing the double effect of each behavior in the chain. We will also touch on the testing phase and explore the option of chaining those annoying moments into something that is great for us.
Hopefully this will inspire you to backchain even short behavior chains, and maybe even doing some backchaining with yourself.
Working on duration behaviors? Backchain it.
Working on details in a precision behavior? Backchain it.
Working on sport exercises? Backchain it.
Working on every day life skills? You guessed it.. Backchain it.
Most behavior chains have the option to be backchained, and this lesson will hopefully inspire you to do just that.