Is Your Dog Learning What You Think?

While working with a client at a local park, another woman was working her rather large dog. This other dog was very reactive toward other dogs - lunging, barking, snapping, etc. My client knew this woman (a neighbor), and stated the problems this dog was displaying had been going on for some time. My client's dog sat calmly as this other dog was misbehaving only a few feet away. It was our 3rd session, and my client's dog had a similar history of reactivity.

The neighbor in this case kept telling her dog "NO" and repeating "Sit, Sit, Sit" as dogs passed by her reactive dog. After placing hands all over her dog for control, her dog would sit momentarily then be rewarded with a treat. While many would suggest this is a solid training methodology, my question is what do you think the neighbor dog was learning? From the dog's perspective I'd suggest it was learning that bad behavior (lunging, barking, snapping, etc.) results in 1) getting petted (touching for control), 2) getting a treat, and 3) having it's owner repeat commands ("sit") because they are optional.

Regardless of any process an owner may choose to teach their dog, every owner should have a clear idea of what a dog is learning each step of the way. Beyond that, they should also have a clear idea of how learning steps should be sequenced to strengthen skills, and a general road map to a destination. Too many conflicting pieces of information, are rarely helpful to a dog.

I often challenge my clients to focus on their teaching skills. When you're working with a dog, it's common to focus on the dog. But owners need to focus on each every piece of information they offer the dog. Simple things like repeating commands, bending, towing with a leash, letting a dog track your hands for food, and extraneous verbal commentary - these are things many people do naturally that are entirely problematic when training. A good trainer will be instructing owners on these types of details.

Those passing by that day didn't know the background of these two dogs, or care about differences in training approaches. They did notice one dog behaving nicely, and another mostly out of control. To me, my client's calm dog was an example of what happens when training makes sense to both owner and their pet. Is your dog learning what you think?