Priming

In psychology, "priming" refers to situations ("trials") where an early stimulus influences response to a later stimulus. Although this phenomenon describes human behavior, I believe dogs also can be "primed". (Big sigh for the degree I need to get to where I can accurately research this.)

When I took my pitbull Ginger to work with Schutzhund competitor Ivan Balabanov, he insisted that the dog be told which of the 3 components of the sport--tracking, obedience, or protection--that the dog was about to work. Although, at the time, I thought this was silly, I also realized that I was pretty much already doing it.

Obedience phrase "Are you ready?" would send Ginger to seated, at my heel, staring at my face.
Protection cue "Are you ready to rumble?" would induce wiggling and attention away from me (Where's my sleeve?)
Tracking trigger "Where is it?" would put her nose to the ground.

Dogs do not treat all cues equally. Effective, deliberate use of cues reduces stress, because they provide reliable information from which the dog can predict what will happen next with high probability. In the case of my 3 different priming phrases, each one predicted a specific, unique set of correct responses. Sniffing the ground is NOT a correct answer in obedience or protection, but it is the primary correct answer in tracking.

How does this concept affect the average pet dog or pet owner?

Whatever behaviors have been taught, deliberately or accidentally, as responses to priming cues will begin to occur. I recommend deliberately teaching all dogs a desirable response, as priming cues are potential problems for pet owners. Prime the dog for a set of correct behaviors BEFORE a problem arises.

Many humans prime their dogs with phrases like "Who is it?" when someone knocks at the door, "Bye. Be a good boy. Good Boy!" when they leave for the day, "Wanna go for a walk?", "There's the mailman!", and others. Humans also prime dogs with actions, such as walking to where the leash is kept, looking at the treat cabinet, putting the dog in the crate, and adding tension to a leash. It is my suspicion that humans can prime dogs with scent cues, such as the stress hormone.

When we train, it is important to deliberately prime for desirable behaviors, and to deliberately stop (where possible LOL-- Stop stressing, I dare you!) using priming cues that are often followed by undesirable behaviors. In the long term, initially avoided priming cues (ones that elicit undesirable behaviors) can be deliberately re-taught, once the desirable behaviors are easily elicited (as a response to alternative priming cues).

For a unwanted behaviors in response to separation, it is often recommended to exit the house in a completely different manner. Some folks have had to climb out windows! Why does this work? Because that priming cue (climbing out the window) is NOT the priming cue that has repeatedly prompted the dog to stress out (walking out the usual way). Climbing out the window does not predict that you will be gone for 8 hours. You can teach the dog that it does by only climbing out the window, which will work for a few repetitions. However, the dog will rapidly suss out the pattern. This "remedy" only works long-term when the window climb out predicts a variety of time lengths of "abandonment". It is ultimately becoming accustomed to the unpredictable nature of departure and arrival that reduces separation anxiety. A dog that has displayed undesirable behavior before will return to it more rapidly than a dog that "invents" the first undesirable behaviors.

This effect can also be seen with equipment switch. The initial pressure of the flat collar on the neck primes the dog for sled-doggery. When you switch to anything different, for some dogs, even just a different width flat collar, the textural difference can give you an opportunity to prime for a different leash behavior. If you just switch the equipment, the dog will eventually adjust to whatever texture. We've all seen dogs plowing along at the end of every single piece of equipment out there. Once the dog has experienced desirable results from pulling, he will pull sooner on the new equipment than a dog who has never experienced the pulling phenomenon.

What priming cues (words, actions, scent) are you using deliberately and accidentally with your dog?

Which of the priming cues that you use elicit desirable behavior? Are you actively rewarding these desirable behaviors?

Which of the priming cues that you use elicit undesirable behavior? How can you eliminate or change these priming cues? What desirable behaviors can you elicit? How will you reward these desirable behaviors?