The Dog Behavior Answer Book - Arden Moore [49]
PAYING THE PRICE
In my view, the Nothing in Life Is Free (NILIF) program offers the best payoff for most dogs and their owners. With NILIF, your dog complies with your commands and you do not need to bully or use physical force.
The idea is that you bolster your leadership and cultivate your dog’s respect for you by controlling all his resources. Specifically, you determine when you put his food bowl down and when you pick it up, rather than responding to his begging or letting him guard his bowl. You set the time for playing with toys and when game time ends. You initiate grooming and petting sessions.
By controlling his resources, you elevate your status in the eyes of your dog. I particularly like this positive method of training because it works on a wide range of canine personalities, including shy, easily distracted, high energy, and pushy dogs. Shy dogs gain confidence; distracted dogs develop focus and patience; pushy dogs learn canine manners.
Here’s how NILIF works. Start by giving your dog the cold shoulder when he demands your attention. Ignore him if he paws your hand, barks at you, or brings a toy to get you to pet or play with him. Don’t utter a single syllable or push him away. Just act as if he is invisible. This is not meant to be rude or cruel. Rather, you are training your dog to understand that he cannot demand your attention any time he desires. The light bulb will turn on in his brain as he realizes that it is you, not he, who calls the shots in the household.
NOTE: Be prepared for an increase in unwanted behavior as you implement your new strategy. Your dog will try harder at first, since his tactics worked in the past. Do not give in!
All members of the family must participate in the new house rules. Let them know that from now on, your dog must earn his paycheck (praise, treats, playtime) with proper behavior. At mealtime, ask your dog to sit and wait before you put the bowl down. When you want to play one of his favorite games, such as fetching a tennis ball, tell him to lie down before you toss the ball again. When you are done with the game, tell him game over, pick up the ball, and put it out of his reach. Do this calmly and walk away. The key to success is being consistent. Every time you want to toss your dog a small treat, have him do something — sit or do a trick — before you hand over the tasty morsel. When you approach the front door to walk him, make sure he knows that you always exit and enter doors before him. At your dog training class, your dog must do what you’ve asked before he gets a treat.
The bottom line is that NILIF establishes a clear ranking in the household with you in the number one spot. It is done without meanness but rather as a simple fact of life. NIFIL is the canine version of saying please. In time, your dog will come to view you as the Provider of All Things Wonderful and you will be amazed at how much he will come to appreciate this clarity and be more responsive to your cues.
Hey! Come Back Here!
Q I thought teaching my dog to come to me would be a snap. Boy, was I wrong! Higgins is a six-month-old mixed breed with a mind of his own. I find myself having to yell at him to come back to me and scolding him when he finally does. It’s getting worse. When I take him to the local dog park, I have to chase him to put the leash on him when it is time to go. How can I get Higgins to come when I call him?
A There are three basic commands that are doggone vital: come, sit, and stay. These commands can be lifesavers. An obedient dog responds to come and turns toward you rather than chasing a cat into a busy street. Unlike a trained dog who ignores his owner’s calls in favor of an alluring odor, it sounds as though Higgins