The Key to Training Success

Over the past years I have made numerous posts regarding the benefits of training a dog. I find it interesting that the number of online searches for "dog training" (and derivatives) far outnumber those for some form of "behavioral" help - last time I checked more than 10:1. Still, of the phone calls I receive, over 80% are for behavioral problems. So it appears most people having an issue with a dog typically search out a trainer.

I often consider training similar to an aspirin. An aspirin can help with a lot of things - headaches, fevers, muscle aches, etc. The way the aspirin works may vary in different cases, but it's a very diverse and useful prescription.

Likewise, training can help many problem behaviors in dogs. Training helps anxious dogs feel more secure as they develop a language with their owner which hastens trust. Training can provide guidance and mental challenges to hyper or unruly dogs. And training can help controlling dogs learn a subordinate and healthy role in home.

So the point for discussion today is that training, while important in helping a dog to be its best, is not a cure. For training to be most effective it has to become part of life. This is especially true when dogs have problem behaviors. Teaching a dog commands is a great start, but that alone will not lead to long term changes in behavior. I believe the best outcomes are found when owners understand their role in living with a trained dog.

The first responsibility for an owner is to practice, practice, practice! Probably 80% of the dogs I see know how to sit or lie down, but most owners don't push that obedience foundation forward in a manner that improves reliability around distractions. Does your dog jump on guest at the door? Does it know how to lay down? Then let's teach it to lay down even when someone is at the door. Is that easy? NO. But it is the difference between teaching "positions" and teaching commands. A command needs to be taught as non-negotiable - down means down every time, regardless of distractions.

The other responsibility for an owner is to know and read their dog. If you have a dog that likes chasing and eating rabbits, training probably won't remove what may be a "hard-wired" behavior. However, thorough training can be used to have a dog to heel, sit, or lie down when he/she sees a rabbit. An owner must understand their dog, and not leave it alone in a challenging situation (near a rabbit) to make its own decisions (chase). Doing so would be ill advised, and not realistic in terms of understanding the dog needs help from its owner in such situations to guide behavior. The best owners understand and read their dogs, ready to help them succeed with supervision and guidance in all challenging situations.

I understand that families are tremendously busy, and not everyone has time to work on training for 4 hours a day. But putting some time into the process when starting can provide much improved life-long benefits for your dog and you. Almost all dogs can learn, and most want to please - they just need encouragement and practice to reach their best potential. Once there, they need an owner that will be a reliable partner in guiding them through the daily situations of life, while using obedience daily in daily life to keep those skills sharp.