Marcy was upset, and I could hear her frustration over the phone. She called me to schedule a private dog training session for her and her dog, Buster. “No matter how hard I work at it, he just doesn’t listen to me!” she exclaimed. “He jumps on people, barks at the mail carrier, chews my slippers, steals things off the counter, and chases the cat. My other dog was never like this! Buster is just plain stubborn, and I think he does things just to spite me.”
These are common complaints voiced by the over 300 families I see each year. One person says, “He’s lazy.” Another complains, “She’s defiant.” The most frequent complaint is, “He knows what to do, but he’s just being stubborn.” As frustrating as this can be, the truth is, it isn’t about disobedience, defiance, or stubbornness. The reality is that none of these dogs really know what they’re supposed to do.
Positive Dog Training: Shifting the Focus
Positive training isn’t about teaching your dog to stop doing something; it’s about teaching him what you want him TO DO instead. For example, it isn’t about how Marcy can get Buster to stop jumping, it’s about teaching Buster to lay down when people come through the door. It isn’t about getting Buster to stop chewing slippers, it’s about teaching Buster to chew appropriate toys and ignore slippers. If you don’t know what you want your dog to do in any given situation, your dog won’t be able to figure it out either. So, it’s all about first picturing what you want your dog TO DO, not just what you want him to stop doing.
Let’s say you want your dog to sit and stay when a squirrel runs through the yard, the mail carrier arrives, or someone walks in the door. These are pretty powerful distractions! In essence, you have to be more attractive than any of them. Let’s face it—these distractions are worth the equivalent of $10,000 to your dog, and you’re worth squat. To get your dog to do what you want, you need to become more valuable than these distractions and teach your dog in baby steps.
Positive Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement means using rewards for behaviors you want your dog to repeat. When your dog performs the sit behavior, for example, reward him. Give him a treat every time he puts his behind on the floor, and there’s a good chance he’ll keep sitting. Start training in a non-distracting environment, and gradually add more challenging distractions until he reliably stays in a sit position, even with a squirrel running by. The key is to have realistic expectations based on your particular dog and progress from kindergarten to a college level of reliability.
Two Simple Methods for Success
We use two simple methods to train your dog effectively:
- The Magnet Game: Simply wait for the behavior to occur, then reward your dog with praise, a scratch behind the ear, and especially treats. In essence, the “sit” behavior attracts the treats, just like a magnet attracts iron.
- Step-by-Step Training (a.k.a. “School”): Use a visual prompt, such as food or a favorite toy, to lure the dog into doing what you want, then praise and reward. Gradually add more distractions. Your dog will need to be at a “college” level of “sit/stay” to be successful with a squirrel running by.
The difference between the two methods is that in Method 1, you don’t ask for the behavior, but reward your dog whenever it naturally occurs. For example, you might be watching television when you notice your dog sitting on her bed. You then say, “Good dog,” and throw her a treat. In Method 2, you are asking for the behavior (such as a sit) and then rewarding her. Both methods are used throughout the day until the dog understands that a certain behavior (like “sit”) is always worth a reward.
Using Treats in the Training Process
But does that mean you always have to use treats? Absolutely not. Once an association is made, you can gradually phase out treats and reward your dog on a variable schedule. In human terms, think of it like a Las Vegas slot machine. At first, you put money into the machine just for fun, but occasionally you win. That occasional jackpot keeps you playing. Similarly, with positive training, your dog initially gets a treat every time he sits, but eventually, treats are given intermittently, keeping your dog engaged. He continues to sit because once in a while, he’ll hit the “jackpot.” Of course, praise and affection are always included, so his interest remains high.
We recommend using high-quality treats, like chicken, turkey, cheese, or dry kibble. Avoid greasy foods and commercial dog training treats that list ingredients like by-products, artificial coloring, additives, wheat, corn, or sugar.
You can shape virtually any behavior you want in your dog. All you need to do is:
Catch your dog in the act and reward him (The Magnet Game), and
Teach your dog step-by-step what you want him to do (School).
It’s all about being consistent, communicating clearly, and managing your environment so your dog can’t get into trouble during training.
If your dog is aggressive or has moderate-to-severe behavioral problems, a professional trainer is necessary. Always err on the side of safety. You can learn a lot about positive dog training from books and DVDs, but joining a group class can also be fun. Since many trainers still use methods that involve physical force, I suggest interviewing potential trainers before hiring them. You can find trainers who use positive training methods through the Association of Pet Dog Trainers ( www.apdt.com ) or The National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors ( www.nadoi.org ).
