| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | on the game or stop. Your goal is to negotiate, stop |
| Bad Behavior is only a Game. | | | | the game early, or start a different game with |
| I recently changed the way I think about training my | | | | something acceptable. So, I will get the towel from him, |
| dog. I have one of those high spirited dominate alpha | | | | but then bring him a ball and start a different game. |
| males who instinctively thinks he is the leader of the | | | | Eventually, he will think about it, and bring me the ball |
| pack and is always testing my authority. I often | | | | when he wants to play instead of the towel. |
| thought, why is he so challenging, he knows he is not | | | | Emotions Tell Him What to Do |
| supposed to do that because I've told him "no" a | | | | It seems everybody tells their dog "don't do this or |
| hundred times. Boomer, my dog, likes to steal things | | | | that". What their dog hears is only "do this or that." |
| and be chased. To him it's a game, a fun activity that | | | | Dogs struggle with the concept of "don't do |
| he knows will get me going. He takes the towels from | | | | something." To get your dog to stop doing something, |
| the hanger in the bathroom and flaunts it in front of me, | | | | simply distract him with a very brief sound and |
| stopping to make sure I see him before he runs off. I | | | | something else to do. He will learn after awhile. If you |
| found that if I ignore him, he just lays down and later I | | | | just stay on the theme of "don't do this or that" the |
| can get the towel from him. At first I thought that he | | | | situation just continues to worsen, as the dog does |
| just made a mistake, but then I realized its just a game | | | | what he knows or thinks is best for his home and you. |
| to him. The problem was that he never asked if I | | | | The longer you continue the more confusing it is to him. |
| wanted to play, he just started a game of keep away. | | | | The more concerned you become about his behavior, |
| The mistakes my dog makes are neither mistakes nor | | | | the more he believes you are worried and he is unsure |
| accidents. I just misunderstood the game, and even | | | | about the reason. Certainly if you're worried, then he |
| though it was fun to him, it wasn't necessarily fun for | | | | should be mimic you and get worried also. He doesn't |
| me! | | | | even realize that it's his behavior you are worried |
| What's Right and Wrong | | | | about. |
| As I thought about this game, I also realized that he | | | | Have you ever noticed that when you come home, |
| was challenging my role as leader of the pack, and my | | | | your dog is really excited to see you, and that if you |
| ownership of the towel. Why shouldn't he own the | | | | really become animated and excited, he becomes |
| towel, or have his own towel. It was an instinctive | | | | even more excited? That's because he plays off your |
| challenge to my leadership and authority. Also, I realized | | | | emotions and actions. If you run, he runs; if you run |
| that nothing by itself is either good or bad, it's thinking | | | | faster, he runs faster. |
| that makes it so. If one can only remember back to | | | | Dogs Learn by Repetition |
| our pre-school years and all the frustration and trouble | | | | Dogs can learn and unlearn any behavior by repetition, |
| there was. That's because we were going through a | | | | preferably in four different but similar settings or |
| learning curve about what is right and wrong behavior. | | | | situations. The first time your dog hears a new |
| Your dog is new to your world and it's perception of | | | | command, he has no idea what is being requested. |
| right and wrong are different. It's perfectly acceptable | | | | The second time he hears that command, he begins to |
| from a dog's perspective to pick anything up and claim | | | | comprehend. The third time, he fully understands, but |
| ownership of it, whether it is a stick or anything else he | | | | he may resist the new command. |
| found outside. The same is true indoors as well. It's | | | | He has to think it through to be sure he understands, |
| also OK in a dog's world to tear something apart, | | | | and it may take him a few moments to think it through. |
| chew it up, or destroy something, but not true in your | | | | This happens usually on the third request, or instance, |
| world. | | | | of trying to teach or break a behavior. So, when your |
| Be a Pack Leader and Change the Game | | | | dog thinks about the new behavior being learned or |
| I was gaining insight into a dog's world and how a dog | | | | unlearned, praise and patience, are required during the |
| thinks, and now I was changing my thinking on how to | | | | few moments it takes to correctly understand this |
| train them. Dogs are pack animals, and there is always | | | | new information. He needs time to think things out. He's |
| a pack leader, followers, and those that want to be the | | | | going to think about the idea, then glance at you. Then |
| pack leader. The alpha male or female grew up in a | | | | back to the idea, now thinking of you. Then think about |
| litter and learned that if it fights long enough and is | | | | the idea, then think about you. Give him time to think |
| persistent that the others in the litter will yield. So, your | | | | and comprehend. Allow his choice to dictate your next |
| dog will discover many options, then think about the | | | | move. Chances are, he's going to make one last try at |
| options, and either go along with you or subvert your | | | | having his own way. |
| efforts to control him. Your alpha dog's job is to | | | | There are only two choices he can make. He's either |
| oppose you and challenge your place as pack leader. | | | | going to do it correctly, or, he's going to do it wrong. If |
| Your dog wants you to be consistent in your | | | | he gets it wrong, try a similar setting or situation later in |
| responses otherwise he doesn't know what to think. If | | | | the day. This process gives you the opportunity to |
| he starts playing a game with you, you have a choice | | | | allow your dog to progress at his own speed. The third |
| not to play. The difficulty is that if you don't play he will | | | | time your dog is given a command, he'll probably do it |
| either try harder, get depressed, try a different angle | | | | incorrectly just to see if you are going to be consistent. |