Pay day

Dogs are creatures of habit. They are developed through life based on routine and consistency. The more a behaviour is offered and rewarded the more it becomes habit.

So, let's look at the different ways in which we pay dogs for desirable behaviours.

1. Food treat
2. Physical praise
3. Verbal praise
4. Play time (time for the dog to interact with the owner in a playful manner.)
5. Dog time (rewards such as walkies, freedom to roam off the lead under supervision, freedom to interact with other dogs etc.)

Now, relate these to planned motivational training, for example 'sit'. You would offer the dog a food treat by placing it in front of his nose. As he tries to take it you would move it slowly up and over his head, keeping it just out of reach. As the treat moves backwards towards the tail, he looks up as far as he can, ultimately the only way he can continue to follow the treat is to drop at the back end. As his bum touches the floor you release the treat. The release of the treat marks the desired behaviour. As this is repeated over many sessions you add in the word 'sit', attaching the word to the behaviour. In time you progress from giving the treat and command as the dog offers the behaviour, to giving the command, receiving the behaviour as a result, and treating the dog for offering the behaviour when told. This is payday. Obviously the time will come when a food treat is not necessary and other means of 'pay' will take its place. In any event, the behaviour will soon become linked with the command in the dogs mind, meaning that 'pay' will not be necessary on each and every occasion.

The above is a very simple and successful way of training dogs to 'sit' on command. It is motivational and non violent. You will repeat the training over a period of time to develop the desired behaviour as a conditioned response.

So, let's keep those payment methods in mind and relate them instead to daily life. You come home from work, walk through the door and are greeted by a bouncy dog who is yapping and running around in excitement. You start to greet him in return by matching his energy level, following him around and stroking him and talking in a high pitched voice. Six months later you have friends round and as they arrive your dog greets them in the same way but, your new friends don't like it, so you try to stop him from jumping up and yapping but he will not stop. What started out as a nice greeting from your dog has turned into a problem behaviour, the Jack Russell with the sharp claws, or the large German Shepherd jumping up is a problem. Yet every time your dog has done this in the past you have excitedly praised him. Little wonder that he is now a touch confused.

Many people go through life not connecting the dots, they think that training dogs is simple, you offer a food reward, say sit and job done. Dog training is so much more. You should be mindful every day that your actions have an effect on your dog's behaviour.

It is very easy to unwittingly congratulate your dog for behaving inappropriately. Another example is when people comfort their dogs during periods of anxiety. They hold the dog close, stroking him and saying 'sssh, you're ok'. The dog hears 'good boy, you're quite right, this is a very upsetting situation and there is nothing else for it but to sit here and cry!'

When a fight breaks out between dogs, or a dog shows an aggressive behaviour, people often become upset themselves and shout and scream at their dog to stop it. The dog hears 'woof woof woof woof!!!!' His Alpha is standing behind him making loud aggressive noises, spurring him on. With small aggressive or nervous dogs, owners often lift them off the ground to avoid any undesirable behaviour as others pass. The dog hears 'oh my goodness, here comes that really scary thing neither of us like!' Confirmation that the passer by is something to be nervous about.

A great starting point to developing that balance and leadership is to pay for everything your dog does that you desire in one or more of the five ways listed above. If he toilets outside, praise him and pat him as he comes in. If he chooses to be near you when you are out walking off the lead, give him a treat. Additionally, whenever you want him to do something you should offer a payment. Dogs enjoy working, they enjoy it more and are willing to work harder the more we reward them for it.