Play+ Information Station | Affordances in Play+

Affordances are a foundational concept within the Play+ framework, providing a lens through which handlers and dogs can dynamically interact with their environment. This guide helps clarify what affordances are and how to recognize and leverage them to foster intentional cooperative play.


1. Understanding Affordances

Affordances are the potential opportunities for action that the environment offers to a specific being, based on their abilities.

Key Examples

  • For the Dog:
    • A frisbee in mid-air offers a chance to leap and catch.
  • For the Handler:
    • The dog’s body language signals readiness for a new activity.

Relational Nature of Affordances

  • Affordances exist in the interaction between the environment and the capabilities of the dog or handler.
    • Example 1: A high jump might not be an affordance for a small or tired dog but could be for a larger, energized one.
    • Example 2: A frisbee at ground level offers a different affordance than one flying through the air.

2. Affordances in Play

Affordances are present in every aspect of play. Understanding and utilizing these affordances enhances the interaction between handler and dog.

Disc Throwing

  • A disc in motion creates an affordance for the dog to chase or leap.
  • The quality of the affordance depends on the handler’s throw:
    • Is it reachable?
    • Is it engaging?
    • Is it clear?

Handler Movements

  • Stepping backward may afford the dog the opportunity to move into a front position.
  • A crouched posture might invite the dog to vault.

Environmental Factors

  • Open fields afford opportunities for running or flanking maneuvers.
  • Pedestals or platforms afford opportunities for jumping or perching.

Affordances and Distractions

  • A distraction, such as a squirrel, may not simply pull attention away but can also afford the opportunity for a chase or other action.
  • Affordances for actions unrelated to the current task may appear as distractions, depending on how they align with the dog’s focus and the handler’s goals.
    • Recognizing these moments allows the handler to reframe distractions as dynamic components of the play environment rather than obstacles to engagement.

Reflection

When observing how dogs interact with objects or the environment:

  1. What does the dog perceive as an opportunity?
  2. How does the dog respond to this opportunity?
  3. How might your actions influence the creation or limitation of these opportunities?

3. Affordances are Context Dependent

Affordances are context dependent. What affords or invites an action in one situation might not afford the same action in another, or it might afford no action at all.

  • A squirrel in an open field may afford a chase, engaging the dog in an instinctive pursuit, while the same squirrel seen through a window offers no such opportunity but may still capture the dog’s attention.
  • A frisbee thrown at the right angle affords a leap and catch, but if thrown too low or too high, it might only afford observation or disengagement.

Recognizing these shifting affordances allows handlers to adapt their strategies to harness opportunities effectively and prevent potential distractions from derailing the play dynamic.


4. Affordances in the Play+ Framework

Affordances are central to Play+ and connect to several key principles, enriching the interaction between handler and dog.

Flow

  • Reading and responding to affordances keeps the dog and handler in an optimal state of engagement.
  • Balancing challenge and skill ensures flow:
    • Example: A frisbee thrown too high may disrupt the dog’s flow by exceeding their skill level, while a perfectly placed throw keeps them engaged.

Markers

  • Inceptive Marking: Highlights moments when an affordance is acted upon, transforming an action into an intentional skill.
    • Example: Marking a leap when the dog seizes the affordance of a flying frisbee.
  • Expectant Marking: Creates a sense of opportunity, encouraging the dog to explore potential affordances.

Awareness and Attention

  • Awareness is essential for recognizing affordances.
  • Attention focuses on specific opportunities:
    • Example: A deliberate hand gesture by the handler can focus the dog’s attention on an affordance, such as targeting a frisbee in the air.

Cooperative Affordances

  • Play involves shared affordances created dynamically by handler and dog.
    • Example: A handler initiating a throw creates an affordance for the dog to chase, while the dog’s return with the frisbee affords the handler the opportunity to throw again.

By incorporating these elements into training and play, handlers and dogs establish a continuous feedback loop of engagement and responsiveness. This dynamic relationship encourages intentional and cooperative actions, enabling both the dog and handler to shape the environment and influence each other’s actions. The result is a fluid and purposeful interaction that strengthens the relationship and fosters a deeper mutual understanding.

Related Articles

Responses

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *