When Pigs Fly_ Training Success With Impossible Dogs - Jane Killion [34]
If you find yourself in a situation where your dog is getting a lot of self reinforcement just by virtue of being in a particular place and he has no interest in working with you, give him some crate time until he calms down. If that does not work, try going back to your vehicle (assuming you drove to wherever you are) and working on attention there. If that doesn’t work, you probably need to take things back a step and go to a less stimulating environment. Likewise, avoid constant praise, patting, or even just fussy interaction (“herefidoherefidohereherelookherelooklook”) when the dog is not offering a behavior you like. Sometimes simply being in public and having the opportunity to ignore you is really fun for your dog—this is not a pleasure to which you want to introduce him.
Allow me to note here that it is barbaric and cruel to withhold all meaningful social contact from a dog unless the dog is working for you. Likewise, never allowing a hound to go out in the back yard and sniff, a terrier to go out in the back yard and dig, or a northern breed to frolic in the snow would stunt normal development and intelligence of the animal. Yes, you have to be the key to everything fun and good for your dog. However, totally isolating your dog and only allowing interaction with you and not other people or dogs is not a good or humane plan. The more experiences and positive interactions your dog has with other dogs, people, and environments, the more intelligent and well-adjusted he will be. Remember, we are talking about control of resources, not deprivation of resources! It is a delicate balance, but you have to make sure your dog has lots of “just be a dog” time, as well as time where he is restricted in what he can do and has to offer you behaviors to get permission to do things he wants to do.
Pig Tale
One of my dogs, Ruby, is almost unbelievably willful and smart. This also means she is a big pain in the rear to live with. If it can be scratched or chewed, she will figure out how get to it and complete her mission of destruction. Because of these qualities, she gets very little “free” time in the house. Even at four years of age, she cannot be trusted without supervision. She gets just as much free time in the house as the other dogs, but I have shaped her to always be at my side and always offering behaviors. Although she does have increasingly long intervals of calmly lying around (which I reinforce heavily), I still have to keep her with me most of the time. It is a big responsibility and tiresome at times to have a dog that shadows you, offering behaviors, but it is better than the unpleasant behaviors with which she will amuse herself if left unattended. Ruby’s seven month old puppy, on the other hand, is trustworthy and calm around the house and is allowed almost complete freedom when loose inside. You have to adjust your training plan to the dog.
A Fair Exchange
A Hot Activity in Return for a Cold Activity
Now that you know what your dog loves to do, and you have gotten control over those activities and things, you are ready to move on to the “E” in ICE—exchange the chance for your dog to do a hot activity in return for your dog performing a cold activity. You will give him access to those activities and things he naturally loves in exchange for doing something that you want him to do. This will accomplish two goals. First, your dog will learn to take it as a truth in life that if he wants something, he can get it if he does something for you. That alone will greatly improve your relationship with your dog and make your life easier. Second, if you pair a hot activity, like chasing a ball, with