Chewie is more settled in at the new barn. She seems more confident about her surroundings and about interacting with me.
Whether we are training or just hanging out, I want my interactions with Chewie to be based in positive reinforcement.
Since her arrival, I have been exploring what Chewie likes. Or, in other words, what foods, activities, etc., can I potentially use as positive reinforcers?
For each item, I’m also figuring out in what context it works. “What is reinforcing” to an individual will change in different places or at different times.
Here are some of Chewie’s current reinforcers:
- Scratches. In the pasture Chewie loves scratches and grooming, either with my fingers or with a curry comb. She likes to be scratched on quite a few different places on her body. She will reposition herself if I’m not scratching in the right spot!
- Certain foods. Chewie likes the grain she was fed at the rescue and a low-starch peppermint-flavored grain. She likes alfalfa hay, but not alfalfa pellets. She has turned up her nose when offered another type of grain, carrots, and several types of horse treats. Long term, we may try doing some training to expand her palate.
- Exploration/Novelty. Chewie is a curious gal. If I take her out of the pasture and give her free rein to go where she wants, she will meander around the property. She often walks with her head down and will stop to sniff and investigate new items. Novelty is potentially more difficult to use as a reinforcer during training sessions. However, I can use novel items to set up enrichment activities in the pasture.
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