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By Root 335 0

at home watching TV, and your spouse said, “Go upstairs and pack your suitcase,” you would probably say “Why?” If he or she answered, “Because I say so,” you might or might not actually pack your bag, and you would probably be a little resentful about being ordered around that way. Most people would want the courtesy of an explanation. Even if you did pack your bag, you would do so reluctantly. If, instead of, “Because I say so,” he or she said, “We just won the lottery and to celebrate we are going to the French Rivera!” you’d run upstairs right away and pack, wouldn’t you? Well, non-biddable dogs think the same way that you do. Biddable dogs would not ask “Why?” if they were told to go upstairs and pack their bags, but non-biddable dogs would need more information before they made their choices about whether or not to comply with your request. Biddability, then, can be defined as removing the “Why?” from the dog’s psyche. The biddable dog never asks why, he just does what you are asking.

So, is it such a big deal if we just have to answer the question “Why?” Why should he sit/stay/walk on loose leash, etc? Because you are his master and he is within your dominion and that was the way it went on Lassie? Dream on. Because you are capable of giving him the doggie equivalent of a trip to the French Rivera if he does what you want? Now, you’re talkin’.

Although lack of biddability is part of what makes your dog different from “easy” breeds, there is more to it than that. Your dog is the dog who asks the questions. He acts like he is deaf when you call him, but he could figure out how to escape from a high security penitentiary if there was something he wanted on the outside. He’s probably inquisitive and on fire to explore the world—always scheming, but never scheming to figure out what you want. While he appears to have no interest in doing anything you want him to do, he is almost obsessive about performing tasks of his own choosing, like chasing squirrels, sniffing, or tearing apart upholstered furniture. Although he is affectionate, his agenda does not include doing anything to please you. Far from seeking your approval, at times it seems as if he revels in the chaos that his disruptive behavior creates—sometimes you have a sneaking suspicion that he thinks it’s funny when you get angry.

How do you describe a dog like that in one word or phrase? Independent? Stubborn? Hard to Train? Challenging? Obsessive? Stupid? Intelligent? These are all value-laden terms that pass judgment on the dog, his attributes, and what he should or should not be able to do. They invite us to draw negative conclusions about the dog because of a lack of understanding of dogs and how they think. I don’t believe that using those kinds of words or phrases to describe your dog will further your goal of becoming a happy team with your canine companion. In this book you will find that I frequently use the term “Pigs Fly dog” as shorthand for a dog with all of the fabulous (yes, fabulous) qualities I described above. I like “Pigs Fly” because, although these dogs sometimes seem impossible to deal with, in fact they are trainable, even brilliantly trainable. I also use the term non-biddable because, although it is a more limited term, it is an accurate description of the nature of these dogs and cuts to the core of why people have trouble training them. Sometimes I will even use the terms “difficult to train,” “hard to train,” and the like, but they should be taken with a grain of salt. As you will see in this book, the number one rule for success is to pick out your dog’s strengths and work them to your advantage. I think it is important you think of your dog in terms of all of his wonderful attributes, and not get caught up in any pre-judgment about what he can or can’t do. Taking away negative labels and the stigma that goes with them is the first step in opening your mind to the potential in your dog.

Any kind of dog may fall under the Pigs Fly umbrella—purebreds and mixed breeds alike. When I talk about “Terriers” or any other breed or group of