MISTAKE#3: FAILING TO TEACH YOUR DOG HOW TO BEHAVE
What every dog needs to know is how we want them to behave in different situations. If we don’t give them clear guidance and preparation, then how do they know what is expected of them?
Our dogs learn very quickly what they can get away with and what they can’t. They’re very smart. Just asking someone else, a friend or a professional, to train them rarely works in the long run. In fact, I don’t think it ever works in the long run unless we are the ones being trained. It’s actually not our dogs who need training - it’s us!
They take their cues from you (or their primary person) and then try to figure things out as best they can - from a canine viewpoint, based on their breeding, instinct, experience and levels of experience.
Many dog owners feel their animal is so out of control that they hire a professional to help them. And their dogs probably did pretty well with that trainer. But then when they got them back home, they quickly reverted back to their bad manners.
What’s cute and adorable behavior in a puppy isn’t so cute or adorable when they weigh more than you do or when they’re more powerful or faster than you are. And it’s especially not cute when they’re out of control so badly that they are dangerous to themselves or others or they’re being rude or embarrassing.
I know you’ve probably heard the phrase “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” Well, that’s wrong. Of course you can teach an old dog new tricks! It’s just harder when they’re older, partly because you've invested so much of your time and energy into teaching all the old tricks! All you have to do to teach new tricks is toss out the old tricks you don’t want to reward anymore, get clear in your mind what you do want, then consistently reward that!
The happiest dogs I’ve ever met are those that have the most training. They know exactly what they’re supposed to be doing, they trust their Leaders, they know their job and they take pleasure in doing it well. They know for a fact that they’ll be rewarded appropriately.
Our dogs perform best and feel happiest with people who are clear and consistent, who know how to recognize them appropriately, and when and how to reward them.
Behavior that persists does so because it is being rewarded in some way. When we are a bit slow in the way that we recognize and reward actions, we actually end up rewarding the very thing that we dislike and sometimes ignore the very behavior that we love and want to encourage. So we’re giving all the wrong signals at the wrong times – that’s very confusing to our doggies.
Be certain that you’re acknowledging and rewarding what you do want in a timely manner and that you’re clearly discouraging what you don’t want. The wonderful thing is that when we become good trainers and teachers for our dog friends, we’re actually teaching and training ourselves to achieve results with clarity and with good focus.
Our dogs often have us very well trained. How often do you respond in certain ways when your dog does certain things? I promise you they spend a lot of time thinking about how to get what they want from us. When they fiddle with their food bowl, don’t we get the message that they’re hungry? When they scratch or whine at the door, don’t we go let them out? What other ways have they got you well trained?
If you are having trouble training your dog or aren’t sure how to get started, I highly recommend taking a class from a really good instructor. But don’t stop there. The more you know, the easier it gets.
There are some really great resources out there, including my favorite book on dogs and dog training called Bones Would Rain From the Sky by Suzanne Clothier. Another good positive and practical guide is The Power of Positive Dog Training by Pat Miller and Jean Donaldson.
Clicker training is a fun way to encourage your dog to basically teach themselves!! Check out Karen Pryor’s book, Don’t Shoot The Dog – it is a lot of fun for both you and your dog.
I once taught my horse to fetch using clicker training! The great thing was that he truly loved playing the game with me. Because I tend to be clumsy and often drop things, I wanted him to be able to pick them up and give them to me without my having to dismount to get them myself. It’s not always easy or even safe to dismount your horse when you’re in the field or arena or on a trail. Once I’d gone back and picked up whatever I dropped, then I had to try to figure out a way to remount!
So I taught him to distinguish what object I wanted, to pick it up with his teeth, hold it or carry it for me, and then offer it to me – whether I was on his back or on the ground. He loved learning this game! And what a joy it was for him to be able to do that for me. He was so very clever.
I also like Carol Lea Benjamin’s book, Dog Training in 10 Minutes a Day. She helps you understand that every time you are interacting with your dog, you are training them by what you ask of them, what you reward and what you discourage. Be sure you are giving all the right signals.
Training doesn’t have to take hours to do. Done properly, you can easily teach your dog what he or she needs to know in only 5 to 10 minutes at a time.
While we are talking about books, there are some other really great resources out there. Here are a few more to consider:
Smarter Than You Think, by Paul Loeb and Suzanne Hlavacek
The Dog Who Loved Too Much, by Dr. Nicholas Dodman
Cesar’s Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems,by Cesar Milan and Melissa Jo Peltier
Just remember that your dog is responding to you, given how you are interacting with them, what cues and signals you give them, your energy state, and on what you choose to reward. Don’t expect someone else to do the work for you.
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