An Economics Lesson ... from a French Bulldog
The handsome gentleman you see at right is the newest addition to the Senik household. Beauregard the French Bulldog (his call name, "Beau", is already atrophying due to constant inquiries from the unenlightened as to whether he was named after President Obama's dog) is about three months old and, in accordance with the trials of that age, is currently being housebroken (it remains an open question whether he or the house will be broken first).
As the son of a professional dog trainer, this is not exactly new territory for me (my first job was three years spent working in the family kennel, a resume entry I would wager is unique amongst the ranks of former White House speechwriters). The drill is pretty simple operant conditioning: positive reinforcement when the puppy does what you want him to, positive punishment when he doesn't.
One of the ways this plays out, of course, is the time-honored tradition of giving the pup a treat when he relieves himself somewhere other than on an heirloom rug. Beauregard doesn't lack for brainpower and he picked up the rules with impressive speed.
Then something interesting began to happen. He started using his designated rest area with such frequency that I was beginning to worry about his health. It turns out, upon further inspection, that my fears were misbegotten. He had simply come up with an elaborate routine in which he would literally "go through the motions" without doing anything, knowing there would be a reward waiting for him.
Yes, you read that right. I have subsidized into existence a market for fake bathroom breaks.
I always knew this dog was smart. But I didn't anticipate him teaching me about perverse incentives and the welfare state before so much as losing his baby teeth.
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May '12
Re: An Economics Lesson ... from a French Bulldog
The eyes alone sparkle with intelligence.
Sep '10
Re: An Economics Lesson ... from a French Bulldog
I'm just experiencing all of this for the first time. Never had my own dog before. I thought I was a genius when I got her to shake. Now every time she sees me reach into the drawer where I keep the treats she automatically sits and extends her paw.
As an aside, the one thing I simply can't figure out is how to get her to stop pulling on walks. Please advise.
Dec '10
Re: An Economics Lesson ... from a French Bulldog
Looks like the dog has some work to do to get you properly trained.
Re: An Economics Lesson ... from a French Bulldog
Mark,
Do you use a solid leash or one of those retractable ones with the plastic grip? If the latter, that's part of the problem. They condition the dog to think that she has free reign to determine how far ahead she walks. A solid leash sets barriers more concretely.
Mark Belling Fan:
As an aside, the one thing I simply can't figure out is how to get her to stop pulling on walks. Please advise. · 1 minute ago
Re: An Economics Lesson ... from a French Bulldog
!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The cuteness of that pup is unbearable.
May '10
Re: An Economics Lesson ... from a French Bulldog
French Bulldog? Seems like an oxymoron. When you try to train him does he surrender to your wishes?
Jun '10
Re: An Economics Lesson ... from a French Bulldog
One man's negative incentive is a dog's positive incentive.
Jan '11
Re: An Economics Lesson ... from a French Bulldog
I just read this to my wife and Scruffy the Wonderdog (indeterminate age, mixed Terrier/?? shelter dog) came up to let me know it was time to go outside/get a treat. I am convinced he understood the post.
The biggest mistake we made with our pack was to put a shop bell (the sort that rings when you open the door to the store) down at dog-nose level so they could let us know when they "needed" to go outside. Darn thing didn't stop ringing once they figured it out. Sort of reverse Pavlov, I guess. It was ripped it out pretty quickly.
Mar '11
Re: An Economics Lesson ... from a French Bulldog
The picture needs the word "Soon" superimposed underneath the pup.
Sep '10
Re: An Economics Lesson ... from a French Bulldog
Troy Senik, Ed.: Mark,
Do you use a solid leash or one of those retractable ones with the plastic grip? If the latter, that's part of the problem. They condition the dog to think that she has free reign to determine how far ahead she walks. A solid leash sets barriers more concretely.
Mark Belling Fan:
As an aside, the one thing I simply can't figure out is how to get her to stop pulling on walks. Please advise. · 1 minute ago
18 minutes ago
I use a short leash. She pulls, and pulls. I'm told that I need to stop and force her to sit every time she pulls. But as soon as we start the walk again she immediately pulls.
Re: An Economics Lesson ... from a French Bulldog
To quote the website of the American Kennel Club:
One hundred and sixty-one breeds, and the Seniks chose...a French bulldog?
Troy, I am afraid that you are now required to explain yourself.
Re: An Economics Lesson ... from a French Bulldog
I loved this. Beau could not be reached for comment as he was busy reading Hayek at the time.
This reminds me of my college mentor, who owned a Boston Terrier (a similar breed, which is also what I previously owned). When one of his students asked if it was a French Bulldog, he responded "God no. At that point, I might as well just hoist a white flag above the house." Further testimony to the wisdom of attending college in Tennessee.
Edited on May 18, 2012 at 8:44pmRe: An Economics Lesson ... from a French Bulldog
Peter Robinson: To quote the website of the American Kennel Club:
One hundred and sixty-one breeds, and the Seniks chose...aFrench bulldog?
Troy, I am afraid that you are now required to explain yourself. · 14 minutes ago
Says the man with a French poodle.
Re: An Economics Lesson ... from a French Bulldog
Peter Robinson: To quote the website of the American Kennel Club:
One hundred and sixty-one breeds, and the Seniks chose...aFrench bulldog?
Troy, I am afraid that you are now required to explain yourself. · 12 minutes ago
I can do no better than to refer you to Diane's comment # 5. It turns out that your humble correspondent is, alas, soft.
May '12
Re: An Economics Lesson ... from a French Bulldog
Beauregard has attained the first level of mastery of training his human. What a few years, and he will reach this level:
Re: An Economics Lesson ... from a French Bulldog
Diane Ellis, Ed.
Peter Robinson: To quote the website of the American Kennel Club:
One hundred and sixty-one breeds, and the Seniks chose...aFrench bulldog?
Troy, I am afraid that you are now required to explain yourself. · 14 minutes ago
Says the man with a French poodle. · 11 minutes ago
I will have you know, Madam, that the French poodle is a handsome and a reputable breed, originally a hunting dog, now noble, alert, intelligent, loyal and manly.
Jun '11
Re: An Economics Lesson ... from a French Bulldog
The newest member of our family 1s 14 weeks old and being crate trained. From her first day here I marveled at her intelligence. But in the last week I found out the curse of that bright brain, Troy. She too has learned that at 4AM even a "dry run" gets a treat from a sleepy man.
Apr '11
Re: An Economics Lesson ... from a French Bulldog
Peter Robinson
Diane Ellis, Ed.
Says the man with a French poodle. · 11 minutes ago
I will have you know, Madam, that the French poodle is a handsome and a reputable breed, originally a hunting dog, now noble, alert, intelligent, loyal and manly. · 35 minutes ago
My wife and I are also owners of a French Bulldog, and in their defense I should say they are in fact English in origin, not French;-)
The breed originated when the Brits crossed English Bulldogs with Terriers-- in that respect they are close relatives to the Boston Terrier. The French can only take credit for popularizing the breed: along with a number of other recent British imports, the "exotic" Miniature English Bulldog became very popular in fin-de-siècle France.
They're great dogs, especially for those of us city dwellers with very little space. They have a bulldog's ego, but with a terrier's sense of mischief (that's actually a more charming combination than it sounds)-- sure, they're certainly not Labradors or Poodles, but I'd never consider them "unmanly":-)
Jan '11
Re: An Economics Lesson ... from a French Bulldog
"As an aside, the one thing I simply can't figure out is how to get her to stop pulling on walks. Please advise."
Get her one of these:
http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Walk-Harness-Medium-Large-Tweener/dp/B000ZM6NS6/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1337381884&sr=8-11
Worked wonders with our pit mix. Walking her is now a pleasure.
Edited on May 19, 2012 at 12:59amMay '11
Re: An Economics Lesson ... from a French Bulldog
Are you sure he is smart enough to know you were rewarding him for business done? It sounds like he thought you enjoyed watching him lift his leg. There is probably a french joke in there somewhere but I will leave it for others.