When Pigs Fly_ Training Success With Impossible Dogs - Jane Killion [0]
Jane Killion
Dogwise Publishing
A Division of Direct Book Service, Inc.
403 South Mission Street, Wenatchee, Washington 98801
1-509-663-9115, 1-800-776-2665
www.dogwisepublishing.com / info@dogwisepublishing.com
© 2007 Jane Killion
Graphic Design: Nathan Woodward
Cover Photo: Louis B. Ruediger
Indexing: Cheryl Smith
Photographs: Louis B. Ruediger
Dogwise Publishing would like to give a special thanks to Lou for all of the amazing photos and hard work he has put into this book.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, digital or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage or retrieval system without permission in writing from the publisher.
Limits of Liability and Disclaimer of Warranty:
The author and publisher shall not be liable in the event of incidental or consequential damages in connection with, or arising out of, the furnishing, performance, or use of the instructions and suggestions contained in this book.
Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request from the Library of Congress Library of Congress Control Number: 2007011652
ISBN: 1-929242-44-1
Printed in the U.S.A.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Chapter One
Your Dog Can Be Trained!
Chapter Two
Understanding the “Pigs Fly” Training System
Chapter Three
What are Clickers and Markers?
Chapter Four
Fundamentals of Shaping Behaviors
Chapter Five
Teaching Attention as a Behavior
Chapter Six
Using Your Dog’s Natural Behaviors to Train Him
Chapter Seven
Learning How To Play With Your Dog
Chapter Eight
How To Teach Your Dog Any Behavior
Chapter Nine
Basic Behaviors
Chapter Ten
Problem Behaviors
Chapter Eleven
Living and Training in Harmony
Resources
Acknowledgements
Author Biography
For Nicky
Introduction
If you are reading this, you probably have not had much success with training your dog. You might even think of your dog as an “impossible” dog to train. Despite your bribing, begging, and threatening him, he still ignores you and carries on his merry way, often leaving a path of destruction in his wake. He is a charismatic character and a fine companion, but he does not care a fig about what you want him to do. He is a dog with an agenda and if you don’t fit into that agenda, so much the worse for you.
Are you mad to own a dog like that? Unlike you, your friends have nice dogs that sit by their side, quietly awaiting their masters’ next command. They are mild mannered dogs who would never dream of dismembering the couch. They come immediately every time their owner calls them. They do useful tricks, like fetching the paper, at their masters’ bidding. They are no trouble, at all.
Despite the fact that your dog presents some challenges, there is nothing wrong with your dog and nothing wrong with you for owning him. If goodness and obedience were the only criteria we used to pick out friends and mates, there would be powerful few marriages or friendships. If over-achievers were the only people that ever got dates, we would almost all be sitting home Friday nights. If instant compliance with any rule we set were the only thing we cared about in children, the majority of children would be completely unloved.
Fortunately, we don’t limit our affection to people who are good, obedient, workaholics. I would prefer to be around someone who is fabulous than someone who is good, and that feeling extends to dogs as well as people. This book is dedicated to making it possible to live happily with a dog who is fabulous, but not particularly “good.” Welcome to the world where your dog can be trained to behave just as well as any other dog—When Pigs Fly.
1
The Impossible Dream
Your Dog Can be Trained!
Are you having trouble getting your dog to do even the most basic things, like sit, come when called, or walk next to you without pulling on the leash? Have you been to obedience class and been humiliated by how inattentive and wild