Play Your Way Games

Canine Game Theory™ is not just training a behavior in a new way, but changing the entire training ethos in a world that only marginally supports it, and that support was in child education, not dogs. I knew in my heart it was the way forward and along the way I questioned myself if I'd made the right decision. As time goes on I get confirmation (from results) that I most definitely made the right choice. It still feels uncomfortable at times, especially those times when a potential client choses another trainer, but now I love creating new games, games that teach a dog how to solve problems; games that teach a dog and its human how to think, to reason, to explore, to communicate, and to be creative.

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There are dozens of leashes, collars, harnesses and other devices touted as the new magic wand. We even have one of our own - Canine Game Theory. However, Game Theory and it's uses in education has been around for at least 100 years. Task training and reward-based training has been around for 1000's of years and is how shepherds train their sheep dogs, carters train their mountain dogs and guardian breeds are taught self-control and discrimination.
Here are the six methods that we find most effective in training and we show how to teach each skill in each of these six methods in our own classes.

The theory of human games applies to animal behavior. Game theory does not answer all of our questions about animal behavior, but it gives a solid framework in which we can understand the behavioral choices made by animals.
An animal's choice of strategy may be based on genetic background (essentially, information gained by the action of natural selection on previous generations), experience, and/or an assessment of conditions. Natural selection provides a testing ground for strategies; computer simulations allow biologists to simulate the interaction of strategies. A strategy that cannot be dislodged by other strategies is called an "Evolutionarily Stable Strategy".

Game theory allows biologists to model how evolution affects strategies and tactics. When thinking about an evolutionary game, the biologist precisely defines the participants, their goals, and the actions they can take to meet the goals. Generally, there are many different possible strategies, but some are obviously faulty. An animal will never win a competition for food game, for example, if its strategy is to not eat.

Play Your Way Games

The most interesting "games" that animals play involve making decisions based on predicting future environments. Animals may be equipped with either genetically coded information or they may learn, based on experience, how to predict environmental change. Examples of contexts in which prediction games may be played include decisions about whether to disperse or remain in a home range. Dispersal has its risks; an animal may not find an adequate new home or may put itself at increased risk for predation while moving. Staying put has its own risks, though. One factor that an animal may be able to predict is food supply. Based on weather, current food supply, and the density of competitors, a fairly accurate picture of future food supply may emerge. One strategy that might emerge from predicted future shortages of food is to encourage other animals to disperse by fighting with them. Another strategy is to for the animal to disperse, itself. Complex calculations of risk and potential benefit will determine the appropriate course of action. Many animals may not have the immediate ability to do these calculations, but many generations of evolution can shape behavior to respond in the correct way to a potentially bleak future.

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