Behaviour Breakdowns: Breaking Duration on Purpose
This Behaviour Breakdown looks at how reinforcement history and environmental context shape a dog’s choices during duration work.
Using a real-life, multi-dog training setup, I walk through why “free” isn’t always a functional release, how competing reinforcers affect success, and how intentional breaks—using well-reinforced alternate behaviours—can support duration instead of weakening it.
This is a practical example of managing the environment, reading the situation, and making training decisions that prevent breakdown before it happens.
What You’ll Notice
Hazel watching me
Ella alternating between movement and play
Food tossed to Hazel at random intervals
How a quick break allows her to reset and settle back in to the task
Why This Matters
Duration isn’t just about asking a dog to stay longer — it’s about recognizing how much mental work that behaviour requires, especially in dynamic environments. Dogs are constantly evaluating what’s happening around them and deciding whether staying put is still the best option.
By managing competing reinforcers and using intentional breaks, we can support duration without pushing dogs to the point of failure. A release cue doesn’t always function as a true break — sometimes the most effective reset comes from briefly shifting the task, then returning to it with clarity.
Training decisions like this aren’t about rigid rules or perfect stays. They’re about reading the situation, understanding reinforcement history, and adjusting in ways that help dogs stay successful and engaged.
📍 Location: Waubaushene, Ontario
🌎 Environment: My backyard
🐶 Focus: Down Stay
