Forgoing

Giving something up is not an easy exercise. It requires the ability to disengage, to deprive yourself.

For your dog, the more specific you are in your behavior request, the more likely he is to adapt.

Personally, I like to use different terms depending on the type of forgoing I'm asking for.

« Wait »

This is perhaps the easiest form of forgoing for your dog to learn because it implies that the foregoing he must demonstrate is only temporary. The foregoing required of him is in the latency to obtain something, not to deprive himself of it. He receives what he coveted anyway. The reinforcer can absolutely be whatever he covets.

« Drop it »

Your dog has grabbed something and you're asking him to let go of it. For him, this means opening his mouth, letting go of what he had acquired and putting it down.

This could be something he will get again, or something he will have to give up.

« Give it »

This request is similar to the previous one, except that I personally expect a different behavior from the dog: that it drops straight in my hand.

« Leave it »

This must be the most depriving form for the dog: he is asked to divert his attention from what attracts him without even accessing it, knowing that he would never obtain it.

The reinforcer is never what he covets.