The secret to creating a good dog is a simple formula; R+C+R+C=R. And what, might you ask,
does this formula stand for? Is it scientific? Is it math? Does it make the
magic powder that, when applied, creates a well behaved dog?
Unfortunately, it is a formula that requires work as, to my
knowledge, there are no magic powders that have been developed (yet). The
formula requires dedication, and diligence, but when applied, can help to
achieve the dog that you’ve always wanted.
So what do the letters stand for? Well, they stand for four
of the most important components to canine ownership.
I will go over them in order, and expand upon their meaning,
so that you can start to implement the formula in your daily life with your
dogs.
R – Relationship
You need to build a relationship with your dog, but this
doesn’t mean constantly showering them with affection and attention. This means
doing things with your dog, spending time with them in meaningful, constructive
ways. Take your dog for a walk, or a hike, play fetch or tug with your dog,
incorporate training in all aspects of their life, regardless of how you train
or what methods that you use. Work on
engagement and focus skills, make yourself interesting and important for your
dog. Teach your dog tricks, teach your dog to fetch you a beer or a bottle of
wine. Spend time just being with your dog, even if it’s a lazy Sunday, and
you’re watching a movie, or you just want to hang out on the park bench for a
while and watch the seagulls fight amongst each other. Teach your dog that the
relationship matters. If you don’t have a relationship, you will never move
forward with training. With certain dogs, and certain temperaments, it may take
a longer period to build that relationship. With other dogs, it takes all of 10
minutes to put the first blocks of the relationship together. What ever type of
dog you have, keep at it, and keep at it for the rest of your dog’s life. Trust
me, your dog will thank you.
C – Consistency
Consistency is something I tend to force feed my clients. If
you are not consistent, your dog will not understand what is expected of
him/her. This goes for both obedience training (or what ever type of training
that you do with your dog) and every day life rules.
This first example is in regards to simple, every day life
rules. If you allow your dog to jump on you when you’re wearing a shirt that
you used to change the oil in your car, but then get mad at him/her for jumping
on you while you’re wearing your fancy duds on the way out for dinner, and then
go back to allowing jumping when you’re lounging around in your sweat suit
after a hard day at work, you are being unclear and inconsistent. The dog
doesn’t know the difference between your outfits, nor do they care if you are
on your way out to impress your new lady or man friend. You are setting them up
for failure and confusion by your inconsistency. If you do not want your dog to
jump, do not allow it period, regardless of what you decide with be your outfit
for the day.
This second example is in regards to obedience training. If
you are working on the stay, for instance, and you are strict with your rules
on Tuesday and require that your dog must wait for your release in order to get
up, but for some reason, you are lax in your requirements on Wednesday, and
allow the dog to decide when they will move from the stay, you are sending the
wrong, unclear, inconsistent message. If you want your dog to have a solid
stay, you must be consistent in the rules for your training, not wishy washy
just because you don’t have the patience on a certain day, or the kids are
demanding dinner while you practice, or your dog fetched you too many beers the
night before. Be consistent and clear, that is the only way to be fair and
ensure your dog will understand what is being asked of him/her.
R – Rules
Ah yes, the word that some shy away from and even revolt
against. The word that “requires”. The word that creates order and clarity of
behaviour. Rules for your dog are VERY important for them to become acceptable
members of society. Sure, we can let dogs be dogs, but we can’t let them be
dogs without some clear lines that they shouldn’t cross. If you make a rule,
stick to it if you want your dog to follow it (remember, consistency). If you
decide that you’d prefer your dog not be on the sofa, then make it a clear
rule. If you’d prefer that your dog did not jump on guests (which is
preferred), then be ready to enforce it. If you’ve decided that you’d rather
your dog not fly out the front door every time it opens, make sure you make it
very clear to your dog. If you want to teach the dog that it’s actually your
house, and not theirs (no matter how much they try and convince you that they
make the mortgage payments), require that your dog work for you. There is lot’s
of other fair and clear rules that you can set in place to help your dog become
the best they can be. Dogs like to know where they stand, and what they can and
can not get away with, so help them understand by implementing rules that suit
your lifestyle. Without rules, chaos ensues, and chaos breeds stress, fear,
frustration and anxiety.
C – Consequences
Now, some will look at the above word and automatically
think something negative. This is definitely not the case here. A consequence
can be either negative or positive, depending on what you are trying to
achieve. A positive consequence can be an addition of a reward, or removal of
pressure. A negative consequence can be an addition of a correction or a
removal of a reward. When teaching and working with your dog, there should be a
balance of consequences, though not all dogs are alike or require the same type
of consequences. Some dogs work better with addition of reward, others work
better with removal of pressure, and others still will do great with both.
There should be a consequence to your dogs behaviour, positive to increase the
good things, and negative to decrease the not so good things. Some sort of
consequence should be in place in order to clearly let the dog know that they
are doing a great job, or that they are breaking one of your rules. If you have
clear, consistent consequences your dogs will learn faster and achieve more
understanding during their training and every day life.
R+C+R+C does equal
something very important. It equals …
Respect
Now, respect must run both ways, dog to human, and human to
dog, but if you apply the above, you will most certainly earn your dogs
respect, and respect is what keeps a relationship healthy and thriving. Respect
is also what keeps your dog following the rules and helps to maintain any
training that you put in.
Simple stuff. And
keep it simple. Don’t over complicate, be clear, be fair, be consistent and be
present. I hope this helps you to enjoy your dog in a more meaningful, healthy
way.
*Please note: this article should in no
way replace proper training of your dog, and if you are experiencing any
behavioural issues, please consult a professional in your area.
©
Smart Dogs Canine Training 2015 – no part of this article can be reproduced
without written permission
The truth is dog training is for life, not just for a month or two when they are young. Every moment of every day in a young puppies life (and any dog for that matter) is potential learning and training opportunities. Every time they are awake, interact with you, play, walk, experience new environments etc. they are learning. Every slip you make, every time you give in, every time your do or do not reinforce something, every time you freak out, get frustrated, are happy, energetic etc. they are learning.
If you think of your puppy going through all of the stages of childhood (like your own kid would do) this would help to set you up to handle what's coming at you when you add a new puppy to the household. The benefit is that puppies go through these stages a lot faster then children do, but it is no less fair to expect a 6 year old to behave like an adult then it is to expect a 6 month old puppy to show the same restraint, cognitive abilities, self control and stamina that an adult dog would.
