The first dog that I ever owned was a little potbelly pig-looking creature from my friend's backyard. they had failed to spay their dog early enough, and their schnauzer and terrier made the most ugly puppies that I had ever seen. This was my weakness - ugly cute puppies with wiry little faces and fat little bellies. I asked if I could bring one home that was desperately trying to get to us through the fence, and after asking his mom, he brought me the feisty little piglet. I later named her Gwen.
Gwen was my first dog, so I tried my best to research all the best training techniques...after all, I was a teenager, and I was not going to ask permission to let her stay in the home. She was mine. I would make sure that she wouldn't lack for anything. I held true to my bargain!
Back then, it was the early oughts, and the internet was blossoming. Yet there was very little out there on dog training unless I was going to go purchase someone's $500 DVD training course who I had never met. Today, social media, with all its ills and eccentricities, really offers much more in the way of "lifestyle dog training" as it's come to be called. Sometimes there's too much information, and we have to weed out all the bullshit and sort through training methodologies to find our most comfortable approach for the animal we love so deeply.
But the fight doesn't end there. Whether you're looking for a bond-based, relationship-based, science-based, reward-based, balanced, or "common sense" trainer, you'll still find there are rifts. What I am seeking to do is to ask clients and adopters to look at the dog in front of them and ask themselves two questions:
Is my dog Learning, and Am I learning?
Are we enjoying the process.
If there is something lacking in a training paradigm, the proof is in the pudding. I have intentionally broken my own rules at times to make allowances for a dog's true personality to shine through. If a training program can get the best out of the dog behaviorally and socially, I am all for it. Instead of the infighting that I am seeing in the balanced training camp so often, I would like to focus on YOU as the client enjoying the process as we're "Training Dogs Together."
Day One
When is a good time to start training my dog - I hear the question often. You actually already started. Really before the dog even comes home, you're setting yourself up for failure or victory.
OPERANT CONDITION ONE: NEGATIVE PUNISHMENT (Sounds Terrible)
In the words of Chad Mackin, the operant conditions that we inherited Arte sort of dog shit compared to the simple language of today, so I am going to just call this quadrant "Prevention." This is the removal of access or the disallowance of the dog to rehearse unwanted behaviors. This could mean anything from peeing inside the house, running out the front door to their death, destroying your belongings, or destroying themselves with something toxic...for the health and safety of the dog - you must do this. The reason that I always start with this one is that you can usually do this stuff before the dog even comes into the home. Or on day one, you can go to Walmart and get what you need: a crate, a gate, an exercise pen, bowls or buckets, an enrichment toy (benebone), an engagement toy (Chuckit, FomDogBalls.com), some cleaning supplies, a placemat, leash, collar, training collar, harness, etc...If you can get things for cheap on Amazon or Facebook Marketplace, that's fine. Just make sure that they are cleaned with bleach or Parvocide before introducing your dog to them.
TEN THINGS YOU CAN START TODAY
Get the containment set. Is your crate the right size? It should be large enough to allow the dog to go in, turn around, stand up straight, entertain themselves, etc...but small enough that the dog doesn't think they can eliminate waste on one side and then retreat from it on the other. You can also use a small utility room, closet, or bathroom to contain the dog on tile with a bed if you want, depending on the dog's ability to potty train in that space.
Allow the dog to drag a leash. Puppies 0-8 months always drag a leash in my home or are directly supervised because I don't want them chewing shoes, getting into the trash, or learning to steal things and run. A light leash pop is one correction possible. Once you've used this correction a couple of times, the leash being placed on the collar can act like a prevention method.
Don't let them sleep in your bed instantly. I usually tell clients to allow the dog to sleep, rest, decompress, chew their benebone, eat, drink, in the crate until they are 1 year old at night - and while you're gone or they're unsupervised until they are two years old. You can thank Larry Krohn for this one. As he mentions often, he's never had an issue with a dog he did this with.
Start studying some training videos...we have hundreds on our YouTube and Instagram. There are also some in the RARE Family Facebook page if you're an adopter. This is going to help get your mindset and expectations right so that you develop the habit of premeditating resentment for your dog because you do not yet know how to communicate your expectations.
Take Ownership. This is your dog. This is your responsibility...not your kids' or your spouse's. Take the 100/100/100/0 principle to heart...this is not a 50/50 or 33/33/34 % undertaking where each does his or her part. This is a partnership where you must be willing to do 100% if there are others who will not. This will give you a sense of peace, acceptance, and surrender as you're undertaking the obedience and behavioral concerns of your pup.
Ask for help. I am happy to field inquiries through our training questionnaire form on the home page. Even if you cannot afford training right now. Virtual consults are free, and in home consults are half price.
Do some retail therapy. I love buying things...I have a problem, haha. Sometimes it can feel good to go out and buy some things for the dog like a little shelf to hang leashes, poop bags, a Tooth & Honey sweater ;). Your dog probably doesn't need boots or a rain coat, but hell what would it hurt? It helps get the mind ready for the coming home event.
Make a donation to the rescue or shelter where you bought your pet from. This will allow them to pull another dog, and you will begin to process emotionally that this dog came from an unknown background but will be happy to forget 100% of their trauma because they will realize they are loved, cared for, and being molded and trained daily.
Talk to your vet about some tools that you can use to limit bad behaviors. You never know what you'll learn. Vets are NOT trainers, but they deal with a massive amount of animals, and they've seen it all, from introducing the dog too soon to drunk people or the cat, to losing a dog on July 4th or New Year's. They've seen the quills to the snout and the bites from introducing dogs too soon to the neighbors. Just take it slow...
That brings me to my last point...it's going to take about 3-4 days to allow them to settle in and feel like they're home. But it may be another 3-4 weeks before they realize that everyone in the family is their family. Take it slow with introductions, and follow the order of the senses that most makes sense to a dog: hear, smell, taste, touch, eye contact. This is the oder they should meet people in. Encourage people to ignore the dog, come in, sit down, and then let the dog out of the crate to hear their voices, give them a good sniff, take some treats out of their hands, and ask for pets and eye contact. Each one of these sense gates should be in control of the dog, not the guest.
All ten of these recommendations serve the purpose of keeping the dog from rehearsing overexcitement, fear, anxious behavior, and destructive chewing. Just remember that you're the last line of defense for the dog, entrusted with protecting them from themselves even! Please take heart. You can do this, and you can start today, one day at a time. You're not alone, and we are happy to help "Train Your Dog Together!"
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