Living on the streets of Puerto Rico, Charlie apparently learned a thing or two about dog training. Here's a little video of Charlie applying the principles of operant conditioning to teaching Tigerlily. Tigerlily has a toy, and Charlie wanted it. Street life (and genetic survival of the socially fittest) in Puerto Rico apparently led Charlie to understand that it was in his best interests not to challenge other dogs for their interesting stuff, but instead , to practice the fine art of cajoling. Look how well Charlie is able to cajole Tigerlily, and this is just hours after their first meeting!
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books
In this clip, notice how Charlie recognizes that if he moves toward Tigerlily, she is likely to move the toy away. So rather than pressuring her, Charlie finds the distance Tigerlily can tolerate, and when he looks away from her and her floppy frisbee, Tigerlily moves closer. Charlie turns his head even more sharply away, and Tigerlily brings the toy even closer to Charlie. He seems to be reinforcing Tigerlily for maintaining proximity by increasing her sense of "psychological distance," or her security that he is not trying to steal the toy. He avoids staring at her, giving her increasing "look aways" the closer she (and the toy) moves to him. Ultimately, when she passes immediately beside him with the toy, he reinforces that behavior by posing absolutely no threat whatsoever to the toy. He disappears for almost a minute, giving Tigerlily time alone with the toy. Not long after this, I found Charlie casually playing with the toy, with Tigerlily resting nearby.
Since then, Tigerlily continues to play right beside Charlie with her toys. It seems that Charlie's behavior is leading Tigerlily to WANT to share her toys with him. She brings them out one at a time and displays them for Charlie.
