GREAT ... (OR MAYBE JUST REALISTIC) ..........EXPECTATIONS ...

Photo courtesy of Cathy Fox

Many people think that just paying the tuition to a dog class should give them a "perfectly trained dog" ... that learning respond to the command "sit" in the living room ensures that the dog will sit perfectly and promptly anywhere and at any time. Not so.

These are lessons, and like taking music lessons, you have to
practice and practice and practice before you will be ready to join the symphony.

The dog's ability to perform is subject to the environment, the level of distraction, and his level of training. His level of training is contingent on the trainer's willingness to put in the time and effort to practice, not just at home, but in many places and at increasing levels of distraction as his ability to perform becomes more and more reliable.

Can your dog hold a sit-stay while a ball is rolled a few feet in front of him? No? Then he certainly can't be expected to hold a sit stay at the sound of the doorbell as guests come in, talking excitedly to you and to him. He can't possibly be expected to do a sit-stay with a monumentally exciting - moving - novel - reaching - smiling - cooing "hello puppieeeeee" distraction when the dog is emotionally out of control and certainly not without handler direction and assistance. This is simply working beyond the dog's level of ability. Expecting a concerto from a dog who barely knows chopsticks.

 

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT.

How often?
3 to 5 minute sessions as often as you have 3 to 5 minutes to spare. All day, every day. Use your commands and reinforcement with every interaction with your dog. Training should be "real life" not just practice sessions. If you practice every day at five o'clock in the living room, then your dog will be well trained at five o'clock in the living room. If you want him to be well trained everywhere and all the time, then you must practice everywhere and in every situation you want him to be reliably behaved!

Be prepared. When is your dog most likely to be a lunatic? Get his attention and give him direction BEFORE he loses his composure, don't wait til he's bonkers and then find yourself merely trying to control his frenzy.

"Properly trained, a man CAN be dog's best friend!"

THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DOG'S LEARNING
............................................. LIES IN THE HANDS OF THE TRAINER.

A quote by noted trainer, *Morgan Spector: "Behavior is essentially a product of two things: (a) instinct and (b) the entire history of conditioning experienced by the animal, including the absence of conditioning of particular behaviors. No instinctive behavior can be "wrong;" by definition an instinctive behavior is one that has been selected over time as appropriate for the survival and well being of the species. Nor can any behavior that is the product of conditioning (or the absence of conditioning) be wrong, because the dog is only doing what it has learned to do through its experience. We do not describe behavior as "good" or "bad", or as "right" or "wrong". Behavior merely is what it is. A given behavior may not be the behavior you want in context, but that does not make it "bad" or "wrong" - it merely means that you have not done what you need to do to establish the behavior you want. If acquired behavior is the product of conditioning (training) and you are the trainer, you are responsible for the behavior the dog acquires. If the behavior is not what you want, it is your responsibility and your problem to solve." *Visit Morgan's website at www.bestbehavior.net

Is your adolescent dog testing your patience? Don't give up!

This handout may be reprinted in its entirety for distribution free of charge and with full credit given:
© CAROL A. BYRNES "DIAMONDS IN THE RUFF" Training for Dogs & Their People -
ditr_training @ hotmail.com - http://www.diamondsintheruff.com