Taking your dog to social outings, or:
How to teach a dog to misbehave in just one hour.
This morning, I accompanied my son to his Auskick session in the park. While the kids were busy practising their footy skills, I observed a young Labrador/Spaniel cross, who had thoughtfully been brought along by his family. It was obvious the dog had had some training, as it initially offered lots of attention to her handler. Any time the leash went tight (no choke chain, fortunately), she would swivel around and sometimes even offer a beautiful sit in front of her owner. However, all her attention and sits were completely ignored. No patting, no praise, and of course no food either to reinforce these freely offered behaviours. Over the course of the footy session, 1.5 hours in total, the dog became increasingly restless, as the owners just stood and watched the kids play. Having had no success with sitting and paying attention to the owner, the dog now started pulling on her lead, barking, and jumping up on anyone within reach to alleviate her boredom. This at least would draw the owners attention by telling her off. So by the end of the Auskick session, this dog had learned that sitting and attention gets her nothing, but that barking and jumping at least gives her the satisfaction of these self-rewarding behaviours, plus some attention by the owner to top it off.
Next time around, she will probably start off with these more successful behaviours, becoming "naughtier" every time. Eventually, she will be left at home, more and more often.
DeltaDogz Training Tip:
Inconveniently for us, dogs learn all the time, not just when we want to train them. Unless you are actively influencing the consequences of your dog's behaviour, he will learn from unintended consequences, as in the example above.
Doubtlessly the family above meant well by taking the dog along to footy. It seems the better choice than leaving her at home. However, whenever you take your dog anywhere (well in fact, whenever you interact with your dog), think about the desired behaviour, and how to teach your dog what it is you want. Then consider whether in the given situation, you will be able to spend the required time on your dog, and whether you might be asking too much of either your dog, or yourself, in that situation.
In the above setting, the expectation is probably that the dog will sit still, or at least keep still, on a loose leash next to the owner for 1.5 hours.
Only extremely placid or geriatric dogs can reasonably be expected to do this. Sitting still in an exciting environment even for one minute is a lot to ask of a young dog, and needs to be trained carefully. So the expectation in the above scenario is quite simply unrealistic.
So what are the options?
Learn more about how DeltaDogz can help you enjoy your life with your dog!
Next time around, she will probably start off with these more successful behaviours, becoming "naughtier" every time. Eventually, she will be left at home, more and more often.
DeltaDogz Training Tip:
Inconveniently for us, dogs learn all the time, not just when we want to train them. Unless you are actively influencing the consequences of your dog's behaviour, he will learn from unintended consequences, as in the example above.
Doubtlessly the family above meant well by taking the dog along to footy. It seems the better choice than leaving her at home. However, whenever you take your dog anywhere (well in fact, whenever you interact with your dog), think about the desired behaviour, and how to teach your dog what it is you want. Then consider whether in the given situation, you will be able to spend the required time on your dog, and whether you might be asking too much of either your dog, or yourself, in that situation.
In the above setting, the expectation is probably that the dog will sit still, or at least keep still, on a loose leash next to the owner for 1.5 hours.
Only extremely placid or geriatric dogs can reasonably be expected to do this. Sitting still in an exciting environment even for one minute is a lot to ask of a young dog, and needs to be trained carefully. So the expectation in the above scenario is quite simply unrealistic.
So what are the options?
- If you take your dog, you need to set yourself up for training. That is, have your rewards ready, and plan what your (realistic) goal is, such as having the dog sit for a reasonable time for him (how long will depend on how much training on this you have already done). Then, intersperse sit/attention training with a brisk walk around the footy oval, preferably on a head or body halter (more on this under "managing loose leash walking" soon), so you don't have to worry about training for loose leash walking as well, unless of course your dog is already really good at that. Remember that most dogs don't cope well with training for one hour, and you probably don't either.
- If you don't have the time or patience to train your dog on that day, then leaving the dog at home with a well stuffed kong or other entertaining toys, in a well managed space, is the better solution than taking her and leaving her no choice but to be "naughty". Spend some time playing and training when you get home, and the overall outcome for everyone is a better one.
Learn more about how DeltaDogz can help you enjoy your life with your dog!