Forever Home.... Mike Deathe CPDT-KA

command of “sit” is the doggy version of the human word please. If you want something, you better say please (hey, I expect the same from my kids!) If you want to go out the door, “sit.” If you want to have your leash put on, “sit.” How about a little dinner, fine, then you “sit.” I don’t care what your thoughts on dog training might be, but I believe that a dog sitting is most likely a dog being good! The next step is to make sure your pooch understands and is extremely reliable with the command “sit.” To ensure you have a reliable “sit”, I suggest taking the next week or so and practice “sit” every day, all day; and then practice some more. Use treats and access to desired resources (food, toys, pets, leash…you name it) and by the end of this practice Fido will be offering “sit” without you even requesting it; because in Fido’s mind “my chances of getting what I want go way up when my butt is on the ground.”

      Now, let’s get back to redirection. We still have to ignore the jumping up behavior whenever it is offered. I don’t mean just kind of ignore; I mean you don’t make eye contact, you don’t touch, you don’t talk to Fido; I mean absolutely no response. I even tell folks to walk out of the room and shut a door on the dog if necessary. If Fido jumps up, you are to give him the cold shoulder for at least 10 to 20 seconds. If you have one of the real stubborn pooches that will jump on your back or follow you while jumping, just leave the kennel or room and shut a door between you, anything you can do to physically separate you from the dog. Remember, the goal here is for the dog to lose total access to you. After all, isn’t access to you exactly what the dog wants? The problem here is that the dog has learned how to push your buttons and get you so frustrated that you “blink” first and reinforce the behavior. Today we turn the tables and use a little Psych 101 on Fido by introducing a replacement behavior.

      We know that dogs only do what is rewarding, right? So after a period of what psychologists call an extinction burst (we call it a temper tantrum), the dog will give up on the old tried and true behavior of jumping all over you to get your attention and try something new. If you have done as we discussed, Fido knows that “sit” almost always gets him what he wants, and if jumping isn’t going to work anymore, why not try putting his butt on the ground. That behavior always seems to work! If done correctly we just made jumping not rewarding (no attention) and created a replacement behavior (“sit”) that leads to the wanted reward, attention. Pretty simple concept huh? Fido jumps up and gets blown off; puts his butt on the ground and gets a treat in his mouth with some love and pets from you…which would you choose? I need to share a word of caution here… you had better be prepared to react the instant Fido’s butt hits the ground! Have some treats handy (in your pocket, not in a container in the kitchen) and jackpot Fido with 2-3 treats and lavish him with love the entire time the butt is on the ground. However, if Fido breaks out of the sit and gets excited by your praise and jumps again, turn around and ignore him, starting the entire process again. Before you know it (if you are consistent) your dog will have decided on his own, that sitting works way better as a way to get your attention!

      Congratulations are now in order! YOU have just allowed your dog to teach himself by choosing between two behaviors; one desirable (sitting, getting treats, attention and praise) vs. the other unpleasant (jumping up and being ignored.) Now even the slowest among us can put this equation together…butt on ground = love and treats or jump up = be ignored. Honestly which one would you choose? I am willing to bet that I know which one the dog will pick!

      You have just learned one of the great truths, the $64,000 question or the Holy Grail of dog training. Got a problem behavior? First ignore it, then replace it and finally…reward the hell out of the replacement behavior. The result: no problem behaviors since dogs only do what is rewarding.

      After the last two chapters you have a basic understanding of how unwanted behaviors develop as well as techniques on how to attack those nasty little buggers and get Fido headed back down the right path. The next chapter takes on dog training in a more specific manner with some basic nuts and bolts as well as the age old argument should we use punishment or reinforcement to teach our furry four legged friends.