As dog trainers, we often meet our clients because their dogs repeat a behavior that is annoying and/or dangerous, and they’d like it to stop. “Our dog does X, so can you train her not to do that?” is a common beginning to conversations with training prospects.
While the answer is most always “yes” (whether through training or management, it is very rare that a solution can’t be reached), before you call a trainer (and before you even get a dog) it is helpful to ask yourself two important questions that might actually change the context of how you view life with a dog and ultimately improve your chances at being a good pet owner while also improving your dog’s chances at success in life.
Question 1: What would I like my dog to do?
If your first attempt at answering this question begins with, “I would like her to not…” then take a step back. Your answer here needs to be an affirmative. The key to a happy and well-trained dog isn’t simply an animal that knows that she shouldn’t jump on people, pull on the leash, or beg for food. The key to a happy and well-trained dog is actually having an animal that knows what she should/can do and, equally as important, what she can expect from you as her owner/leader/family.
Teaching desirable and fun behaviors is at the foundation of the great relationship most people want with their dog. This, of course, should include the obedience standards: sit, down, come, and heel as well as useful behaviors such as wait at the door without jumping on guests or sit patiently for food.
That said, be sure to also train fun behaviors that give you something to look forward to teaching and your dog something to look forward to learning. Classic tricks such as sit pretty and play dead may seem useless on the surface, but they’re the secret to having an engaged and happy pet. Beyond being fun to do, they build interest in you, offer opportunities for creativity, and make everyone involved better and more prepared for training the important and necessary behaviors.
Try writing a script and making a movie with your dog. Show her how to turn the lights on and off when you enter your room, or even shape her to fetch you a beer from the fridge. There is a lot of room for creativity.
There is, of course, more to life than obedience and tricks. Perhaps you really want a dog that will play fetch all day (competitively or not) or that will be your running partner each morning in Forest Park or coffee buddy on Sunday afternoons at the St. Honoré patio.
Regardless, it’s the little things that you do with your dog that are going to make some of these bigger “dream behaviors” possible.
Question 2: What would my dog like to do?
Your answers here may surprise you, but it’s an important question to ask since dogs don’t speak English, and great collaborative relationships are the cornerstone to the most enjoyable and engaging canine experiences.
For instance, a big request we receive is to help “socialize” dogs that don’t like going to the dog park. If you’re wondering about this yourself, could it be that your dog is essentially an introvert? Like people, dogs are social creatures, but some are certainly more social than others. While some dogs love romping with their type, others would much rather hang out with their people – free of social expectations and pressure. Truthfully, these dogs are often the most trainable and easiest to own – enjoy the experience. Don’t push your dog into dog parks or doggy day cares if it just isn’t their cup of tea.
Perhaps you have no interest in throwing a ball – you never played a sport and were even teased for your awkward release during high school PE. But if you don’t ask this question, now irrelevant experiences you had several years ago may inhibit you from finding the greatest opportunity you have to connect with a dog that possesses exceptional ball drive. To many dogs, especially herding dogs such as German Shepherds and Australian Cattle Dogs or hunting dogs such as Labs, playing fetch is the greatest reward in the world and the #1 way to their heart. Best of all, they won’t tease you for your form. Forget what Mr. Skinner said to you in 1986, and get out there and try tossing the ball or disc with your dog. If she is already showing a natural proclivity for the game, it’s one of the best things you can do for your relationship with her.
Again, these questions are important to ask during training. But they’re even more important to ask when rescuing or buying your pet. If you know what you want to do and if you consider what you think they want to do, everything else comes together much easier.
Regarding the above video, use it as inspiration. The great collaboration between Igor (who clearly loves mountain biking) and his dog (who clearly wants to pull) does a great job of exemplifying the results of considering both human and dog desires in building a great relationship. While these two have found mutual enjoyment in bikejoring, just remember, not all of these activities need to be athletic or extreme. Teaching your dog to recognize objects, precision heeling, or simply relaxing together over coffee in public spaces (think of this as a great long-stay combined with fantastic environmental stability) count when they’re mutually enjoyed.