How do You Get Your Dog to do That? A definition of training as it relates to dogs.

Hi Ariel,

Because of Waffle’s (my Border Collie/Pit Bull mix) superb behavior and mannerisms, people are almost constantly asking me, “Wow! How do you get your dog to do that?” That is a simple, systematic, albeit a multi-step answer. With the most brevity possible, this would be my answer:

First, I had her checked out by a vet to rule out any medical causes. Then, in order to effectively train, I gave up all of my excuses. Finally, with a ton of attitude, I consistently disciplined Waffles and gave her nothing but consequences in a timely manner for her efforts.

What!? That may sound like animal abuse, but it isn’t. If it sounds bad to you, it is because you are assuming things and are not familiar enough with the meaning of the words I used. Let me clarify over a series of Hubs. Let’s start with what training is.

Training. Before we start, write down what you think the definition of training is to you. Don’t look it up, just write down in your own words what you think the definition is. Yes, actually write it down. Don’t get a vague thought in your head and use that as your guide. Yes, you will have to actually think and take the time to physically write an articulate, definitive meaning of training. Your efforts may result in a less than stellar definition, but that is OK- as long as you made a genuine effort. Training is more about doing than reading. At least humor your ol’ dad. If you aren’t up to making the effort of writing a sentence or three, you are not up to the effort of training your dog. If you already have a dog, find it a good home, quit reading this, and go back to rotting your brain on too much TV and Mountain Dew.

Still here? Awesome! Keep in mind, though, that no matter what you do in regards to training, you are going to be wrong, so get over it when someone tells you as much.

For example many people complain about being jumped on by dogs and rightly so. With that in mind, I train Waffles to stay near me before she can go say hi because not everyone likes dogs, or some people are in poor health and can’t endure the mildest of scrapes or bumps. And keeping Waffles by my side until she gets permission to leave is plain courteous. What is weird is many of those people who complain about rude dogs and expect a dog to behave properly also think that Waffles is afraid of them when she won’t go up to them without my permission. Or they sometimes think she is sizing them up and maybe will be aggressive. (To be fair that Border Collie "stare" can be intimidating.)

Another example is what you use when restraining your dog. Some will say not to use a choke or a prong collar (which is totally fine when used properly), and one should use a flat collar instead. Then some will say that a flat collar could slip off allowing the dog to run loose (which is especially true of breeds with narrow skulls like Dobermans), so one should use a choke collar for walking. Then some say any kind of collar used for restraint is wrong, so a harness should be used, but others disagree and say that a harness encourages pulling, which defeats one’s efforts to establish a controlled walk. Some frown on head halters while others praise it. Some think healing off-leash is inherently dangerous because one cannot control any one dog well enough to do so safely (which is bogus) and that it is illegal in many areas (not bogus…well bogus but true). No matter what you choose to do, you will be wrong no matter how right you are. Sometimes especially how right you are.

Let’s get to the training part. The American Heritage definition of training is in part: “To make proficient with specialized instruction and practice.” The definition of training as it applies to dogs is primarily your reaction (when you react or lack of reaction, how you react, and how much you react) to your dog’s behaviors. A smaller part of it is managing your dog (physically controlling your dog and/or its environment).

This means that the reason your dog acts like it does is because you trained it that way.

Stay with me; don't run off yet. That is a strong statement and almost every person I have ever said that to shuts down and refuses to truly listen to what I have to say after that, but hear me out. An excellent example is a dog that is afraid of fireworks, or kids, or men, or women, or garbage trucks, or pop cans, or (pick your phobia). The owner then coddles the dog in a good-hearted attempt to calm the dog, but the interaction (often petting and calm words), although well intentioned, is actually giving positive rewards for the dog’s fearful behavior. Then when I ask the owner if they have done any training with the dog, they invariably say no when they in fact have- they just don't realize it.

The owners also feel helpless and confused and that dealing with the dog’s problem is beyond them, but that could not be farther from the truth. The training was so easy that the owner did it without even thinking; what an amazing, powerful influence the owner had on her dog with so little effort! If the owner were to take that very same interaction (petting and calm words) and apply them at a time when the dog shows calmness or confidence then the dog would quickly become far more relaxed and confident. As easy as it was to provide positive rewards for the fearful behavior, it will be just as easy to provide those same rewards for the behavior that the owner desires.

Training is easy as we want to make it or as hard as we want to make it.

Sometimes the owner will ask me, “My three-year-old dog was fearful when we had it as a pup. Are you saying that my dog is still fearful because I trained it that way?” Yes! Even if your dog’s inherited temperament encourages it to be abnormally fearful, you still have a HUGE impact on how it deals with its fear when it is older.

Training does not always give you 100% control over how the dog is going to behave or react, but you usually have 80% to 90% influence of that behavior, even if it is a genetically ingrained behavior. You won’t get every dog to perform flawlessly with helicopters flying around and gunshots everywhere while being pelted with dirt and debris with the smell of death and charred ruins tainting every breath, but you can expect a dog to be relatively calm during the Fourth of July. Training is powerful. Do not underestimate it like so many others do.

How did your definition of training compare to what I wrote? You may have included other things that I have not addressed yet and that is fine. Those will likely be brought up in the near future. This will bring me to my next hub: Excuses.

Love You Oodles and Gobs
Dad :)