REGALWISE SHEPHERDS
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Copyright 2000. Dumb Friends League. All rights reserved.
Does your dog: Get on the
furniture and refuse to get off? Nudge your hand, insisting on being
petted or played with? Refuse to come when called? Defend its food bowl
or toys from you? "Nothing in life is free" can help.
"Nothing in life is free" is not a magic pill that will solve
a specific behavior problem; rather it’s a way of living with your dog
that will help it behave better because it trusts and accepts you as its
leader and is confident knowing its place in your family.
How To Practice "Nothing In Life
Is Free:"
Using positive
reinforcement methods, teach your dog a few commands and/or tricks.
"Sit," "Down" and "Stay" are useful
commands and "Shake," "Speak" and
"Rollover" are fun tricks to teach your dog.Once your dog
knows a few commands, you can begin to practice "nothing in life is
free." Before you give your dog anything (food, a treat, a walk, a
pat on the head) it must first perform one of the commands it has
learned. For example:
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YOU:
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YOUR DOG:
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Put your dog’s leash on to go
for a walk
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Must sit until you’ve put the
leash on
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Feed your dog
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Must lie down and stay until
you’ve put the bowl down
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Play a game of fetch after work
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Must sit and shake hands each
time you throw the toy
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Rub your dog’s belly while
watching TV
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Must lie down and rollover before
being petted
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- Once you’ve given the
command, don’t give your dog what it wants until it does what you
want. If it refuses to perform the command, walk away, come back a
few minutes later and start again. If your dog refuses to obey the
command, be patient and remember that eventually it will have to
obey your command in order to get what it wants.
- Make sure your dog knows the
command well and understands what you want before you begin
practicing "nothing in life is free."
The Benefits Of This Technique
- Most dogs assume a neutral or
submissive role toward people, but some dogs will challenge their
owners for dominance. Requiring a dominant dog to work for
everything it wants is a safe and non-confrontational way to
establish control.
- Dogs who may never display
aggressive behavior such as growling, snarling, or snapping, may
still manage to manipulate you. These dogs may display affectionate,
though "pushy" behavior, such as nudging your hand to be
petted or "worming" its way on to the furniture in order
to be close to you. This technique gently reminds the
"pushy" dog that it must abide by your rules.
- Obeying commands helps build
a fearful dog’s confidence; having a strong leader and knowing its
place in the hierarchy helps to make the submissive dog feel more
secure.
Why This Technique Works
Animals that live in
groups, like dogs, establish a social structure within the group called
a dominance hierarchy. This dominance hierarchy serves to maintain
order, reduce conflict and promote cooperation among pack members. In
order for your home to be a safe and happy place for pets and people,
it’s best that the humans in the household assume the highest
positions in the dominance hierarchy. Practicing "nothing in life
is free" effectively and gently communicates to your dog that its
position in the hierarchy is subordinate to yours. From your dog’s
point of view, children also have a place in this hierarchy. Because
children are small and can get down on the dog’s level to play, dogs
often consider them to be playmates, rather than superiors. With the
supervision of an adult, it’s a good idea to encourage children in the
household (aged eight and over) to also practice "nothing in life
is free" with your dog.
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