What is the most important principle in dog training?
Go ahead…think about it.
Some people would say it is what training collar you use
Others might say “energy”, “being alpha”, or “exercise”…
Allow me to let you in on a little insider knowledge…they are all wrong.
Sure, some of these concepts have merit. Some are valid. Others are just psychobabble. None of them really hit on the most crucial but most undervalued overlooked aspect to anybody looking to develop a great relationship with their dog.
Do I have you wondering yet?
Ok, here it is…plain and simple.
If you want to do right by yourself and your dog, if you want to develop a great relationship with your dog, if you want to have your dog listen to you…simply use this concept…
Recognize when your dog does something right.
That’s it. Think about that for a minute.
Now you may be saying…”I always do this and my dog does not listen to me, he does not respect me….what about being a pack leader, what about being alpha?”
My response…”Hogwash”
Fact is, we humans really suck at recognizing positive behaviour from our dogs.
We are great at recognizing the negative…oh are we ever great at this! However, when it comes to recognizing and rewarding the positive, we are sadly lacking. Our timing is awful and our consistency sucks.
Allow me to use an example.
Let me pose a scenario and please answer the following questions. Be honest and realistic:
Your dog is a counter surfer. He will steal food off the table at the drop of a hat. You have the type of dog that if you turn your back you discover your sandwich gone 2 seconds later. Your dog is a food ninja.
How many times have you rewarded your dog for simply laying at your feet on the floor when you are eating?
How many times have you rewarded your dog for sitting nicely as you are preparing a meal?
How many times have you rewarded your dog for walking past a table full of food when you are in the room and not taking anything?
Now, how many times have you come down like a ton of bricks on your dog when you notice the piece of chicken you just prepared is gone?
Remember, I told you to be HONEST.
I am willing to bet, if you answered honestly for the first three questions, most answered “very little”.
Usually, we reward the dog as an afterthought. Most definitely do not repeatedly reward during each of these situations. I am just as willing to bet, most of us responded “almost every time” for the last question.
Do not get upset. It is human nature.
However, this aspect of human nature sucks. In communicating with our dogs like this, we are reacting to failure as opposed to setting our dogs up for success. It is unfair.
We need to be proactive as opposed to reactive.
Look, dogs brains are very simple. They tend to think in a very binary fashion.
If I do x, I get y. Or more applicable….if I do x and get y, I am more likely to do x again. This is operant conditioning and we can use it to our advantage.
If you are attempting to teach your dog to sit, reward your dog EVERY TIME he sits. If you are trying to teach a reliable recall, reward your dog EVERY TIME he comes to your side. If you are trying to get your dog to react positively around other dogs, recognize EACH AND EVERY TIME he reacts positively around other dogs. Be proactive. Set your dog up for success as opposed to reacting to failure.
Guaranteed, if you start doing this, positive changes in behaviour will happen. Your dog will become more confident, and more relaxed.
Why is this?
Because your dog knows exactly what it needs to do in order to function in a given situation. He has a history of positive results for a given behaviour. Your dog knows exactly what you want because you are now communicating effectively with your dog.
Using a principle like this is not as easy as it seems. It means that you, as an owner, have to be constantly looking for positive behaviours. You have to constantly be aware when your dog behaves in a desired way and consistently recognize it.
Frankly, it can be exhausting. But, like anything….nothing good ever comes easy.
Put the work in and the results will speak for themselves.
Start practicing this concept, you will see the changes and your dogs will love you for it.