Have you ever noticed your dog DOESN'T chase the mailbox but he DOES chase squirrels?
Every thought about how your dog does not sit in front of the fridge and BEG for food even though he KNOWS that is where the food lives?
Why? Because dogs do behavior that works. Only. Always. ALL THE TIME. It's evolution guys, it is wasteful to spend energy you don't have to - in "the wild" this could mean death, so living organisms have developed the ability to fade out behaviors that don't "work" and rely on those that do.
Mailboxes don't run, it doesn't work to chase them. Squirrels do. Do what works.
The fridge may be full of food but it is impervious to sad puppy dog eyes, you know who isn't? Most every human on earth. So dogs beg from people!
Here is what the SCIENCE of behavior tells us:
----> If a behavior persists and repeats it is because it WORKS for the dog. It serves a purpose. It is REWARDED, or REWARDING. Period. If it didn't, they WOULD NOT DO IT. <-----
Are there exceptions to this? Sure! But there is usually an underlying pathology there, a dog with cognitive issues such as an ailing senior, or dogs who have experienced trauma severe enough that it has mutated the way they learn. But in 99.9% of cases, it is true.
If there is a behavior you DON'T like - the first step is to figure out how it is working, so you can stop it! What does the dog get out of it, what is the reward? Does your dog end up with attention - in the form of people talking to him, laughing at his antics, or even angrily chasing him around the house? Does your dog end up self rewarded - does he end up accessing something he enjoys playing with or chewing on? Or is it self-rewarding in and of itself - does he just LOVE the act of CHASING?
Dogs May Be Smart But They Are Still Just Dogs
This picture might make for a funny meme, but the message behind it is an important one.
It is important to have a well-trained dog, I will be the first to tell you that! But there is a big difference between a well-trained dog and a "perfect" dog. Dog's are not robots and when we strive too much for perfection we can lose sight of our dog along the way.
I can't tell you how many times I am asked how to correct a behavior, when the answer inside my mind is "why?" Now of course for many things, even most of them, training is the solution and problem behaviors should be eliminated, but sometimes I feel people want to train the dog right out of their dog! How do I get my dog to stop sniffing on a walk? How do I get my dog to stop barking? How do I get my dog to stop digging? How do I get it so my dog listens to me every time, all the time, every second of the day - how do I get them to OBEY?
Dogs sniff. Dogs bark. Dogs love to smell disgusting things. Dogs dig and roll and root and run. Dogs get muddy. Dogs have good days. Dogs have bad days. Dogs are DOGS - not robots. Honestly, it breaks my heart to see a dog who isn't allowed to be a dog.
"stop that!"
"come here!"
"don't chew that!"
"leave that! Stop sniffing that!"
"don't LOOK at that"
"Stop!"
"No"
"NO!"
To watch some poor dog who is just trying to enjoy a moment to roll on the grass instead of marching at their owners side endlessly be berated and chastised for their "misbehavior" or their "disrespect" is a tough thing to watch.
One of the most frustratingly pervasive myths in the dog training world is that your dog is in a constant struggle with you for "dominance". That a dog's misbehaviors are personal attacks on us - our dog's way of being dominant over us, seeking a higher status in their never-ending quest for world domination, or even a vindictive ploy to get back at us for something.
The truth of the matter is dogs may be smart but they are still just dogs, it is in fact their most admirable quality. I love them BECAUSE they don't spend their lives contemplating how to rule the world. Most dog behavior problems having nothing to do with status but are the result of a dog who is confused, frustrated or fearful.
I don't mean to say your dogs should run wild, I am a dog trainer after all. Anyone who has met my border collie knows EXACTLY what an impeccably trained dog looks like. Ready to work pretty much any time, laser beam focus and response, reliable, dependent and yes, obedient. But she also has been known to steal my snack when I turn my back and hop up onto the counter to take her toys out of "toy jail" when I am not looking. It is that persistence and willful spirit that makes her such a fun dog to live with and I would rather loose ALL of my snacks than to "train out" the spirit from my little dog.
Training your dog broadens their life and opens up a world of oppurtunities, it provides structure that gives you the control you need to keep them safe and happy, it enhances the human animal bond and it is a BEAUTIFUL thing. But there is such thing as too much of a good thing, and balance is good for us all. There are many behavior problems that are critical to resolve, there are many behaviors that a dog MUST be conditioned to respond to promptly (recall!) and there are many situations where it is important that your dog listens the FIRST time - but you can train a dog to do all of those things and still enjoy their pranks and foolishness, where they can have a chance to say "no thanks" sometimes and that is ok.
Life is short - remember to ENJOY your dog.
One day the little annoying things they do that drive you crazy will be a memory you would give anything to experience just one more time.
See the Dog
It seems to be in our very nature to focus on the problem at hand. We are a goal oriented species. When it comes to our dogs this is both GOOD and BAD news. Having clear goals to reach helps to keep your training on track and keeps you and your dog moving in the right direction, but fixating on the problems alone is a dangerous thing.
Your dog is not a robot, or a computer with a code to follow, a "fix" for every "bug". Remember the big picture, remember to SEE THE DOG.
"How do I stop my dog from jumping on people?"
My answer is a question, "Why does your dog jump?"
Jumping On People is the problem. But to "fix" it we need to know the state of mind of the animal, what need is he meeting with that behavior? What is the motivation in that interaction and what is the reward?
Is your dog scared, and jumping as a way to offer puppy-like appeasement behaviors that are designed to ward off conflict (and often mistaken by humans as a request for attention)? If your dog excited and lacks the impulse control needed to keep his paws on the floor when he meets a new friend? Is he practicing a learned behavior he enjoys by jumping and causing a "fun" response from the human such (laughing, petting, talking to the dog)?
Three different reasons for jumping on people. Three different dogs. When you understand the motivation and reason behind the behavior, when you SEE THE DOG you can choose the right training method to solve your problem most effectively. There are many ways to "fix" dogs jumping on people, but not all ways will fix all types of jumping. Trying to train without seeing the dog can lead to mixed results and less success overall!