Training Cues vs Capturing

When it comes to training our dogs we have a lot of options. Most of my clients focus first on teaching their dogs to respond to cues. Sit, down, stay, etc. While teaching our dogs to respond to cued behaviors is extremely valuable in my opinion it is only half of the equation. If all we ever do is train our dogs to respond to what we tell them to do, we are setting ourselves up for a lifetime of constantly having to direct our dogs. I personally don’t like to have to tell my dogs to respond to cues over and over. I prefer to form a dialogue with my dogs, where they are free to make choices and I can be there to either empower them to make that choice again, or be there to redirect them from making a choice I don’t want them to. 

Training our dogs to respond to cues is a fun and bonding experience. If you have used a clicker, or a verbal marker word you know how quickly dogs can pick up on the cue we are giving them and respond in a desirable way. I have taught my dog Waylon a variety of skills over his lifetime and we have had a blast doing it. Tricks, recalls, leash skills and everything in between. Although he can respond to a ton of cues, I knew that wasn’t going to be enough to make sure Waylon could behave in desirable ways in more aspects of our lives. 

Before I talk about why I love capturing so much, let me define what I mean. When I say capturing, I’m referring to observing my dogs and their behavior and rewarding them when they make desirable choices without my influence. For example, when I am out walking my dog Waylon I capture when he looks at me as a dog barks at him from behind a fence. I don’t want Waylon to react back to the other dog, so I  capture when he makes a good choice (not engaging with the other dog and looking at me instead). This is a behavior I have captured consistently over Waylon's lifetime. I don’t have to say a word, he sees a dog barking at him from behind a fence and he offers his attention and we keep walking. The beauty of capturing is you learn to pay attention to how your dog responds under different conditions and in turn learn so much about their preferences and personalities. 

When it comes to capturing, you do not always need to have treats on you. Yes, using treats can be an effective way to capture desirable behaviors your dog offers but there are so many other ways to communicate to your dog that you like what they did and would like them to do it again. You can read more about what makes something a reward in this previous blog post. What Makes Something a Reward. 

When we use a combination of training our dogs to respond to cues as well as using capturing in our everyday lives we see a dog who is free to express themselves and learn to behave in a safe, productive and fulfilling way. I love that both my dogs know that if they are ever faced with something and don’t know how to respond, they can look to me and we can work through it together. I also love that I can trust my dogs to behave in a desirable way without constantly having to micromanage them. 

If you haven't ever tried capturing, it is super easy. I want you to watch your dog today, pay attention to when they do things that you didn’t ask but really like. They are looking out the front window and don’t bark when a dog walks by, walk over to them and give them a treat. You are cooking in the kitchen and your dog is laying on their dog bed instead of being in the way, praise them. The more your dog learns that you are paying attention and are going to reward them, the easier it will be for you and your dog to navigate the world together. 

Happy Training

• Rachel Laurie Harris CPDT-KA