The philosophy of Lucid Dog Training is largely rooted in the belief that all dogs, working dogs or pets, are happiest when they feel they have a purpose, or a job to do, in life.
In a sense, a dog’s instinct pushes them to seek consistent and directed work in a similar way that humans naturally desire purpose. This is one of the reasons why, as two completely different species, dogs and people have repeatedly accomplished amazing things together. From tackling the world’s most wanted terrorist to innovating breast cancer research, dogs have been present for many of humanities most amazing accomplishments and moments.
With these instincts in mind, we ask, “What is your dog’s job? What does he or she get to accomplish to feel they have earned a place in your life?” Remember, “accomplish” is the operative word here. Taking naps, getting fed, and chewing bones, while fun for the dog, aren’t accomplishments. Accomplishments start and end with you. Everything from improving basic obedience to politely joining you on a daily run in the park or doing sport and trick training have the base ingredients to create accomplishments. They all require you to engage your dog, keep your dog’s attention, and for you to end the engagement leaving the dog happy and wanting more. Imperative to this is the concept of the event being regular – something that the dog gets to look forward to or at least recognize and get excited over when it is about to begin.
If you’re just trying to figure this out, start by asking a few simple questions:
– What would I like to do?
– What would my dog like to do if he had a say in the matter?
Then, juxtapose the answers to these questions against each other, search for the patterns between them, and go make it happen.
To ensure success, find a combination of training rewards that kick-up your dog’s motivation a notch or ten. Usually, the best options are high value foods or a favorite interactive toy such as a rope for tug, and treat this time as a focused and rewarding endeavor to look forward to because there is a payoff for both of you waiting at the end. You get the joy of training and having a trained dog, and your dog gets the pleasure of having a job along with the benefits of a hard day’s work – time with you and a paycheck in the form of awesome food or their favorite toy. Either way, the job for your dog should also come with benefits including encouraging verbal and physical praise.
From there, make it a point to scheduling time and make the activity a habit or practice. This always seems to be the tough part of training. Remember, keeping sessions short and sweet, while easier on you, is also ideal for your dog’s ability to learn and engage. Five minutes per session three times a day goes a long way.
Finally, celebrate your successes, and share them to inspire others to do the same. Your dog will thank you for it in ways you can’t even imagine. Lastly, be creative. Jaxson (pictured above) is a master at turning lights on and off and opening and closing his family’s refrigerator – both of which come in handy when carrying in groceries. Nice work, Jaxson.