How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend

by Monks of New Skete

  To Treat or Not to Treat

  Confusion over whether praise is just a reward for good behavior or an entire attitude toward the dog results in the substitution of food treats for physical and verbal praise. Food treats are an extremely effective motivator to help some dogs learn. They also help maintain attention and reinforce a correct response. However, they are not meant to replace sincere verbal and physical praise, which should characterize the whole of the relationship with a dog. These should always be your primary means of expressing affection. Good trainers who use treats in their programs equally advocate verbal and physical praise as vital elements in training, so it is never a question of either/or.

  Used in a system of conditioning during formal obedience training, treats can be powerful positive reinforcers that enhance the speed with which the dog learns an exercise as well as his willingness to perform it. However, once the skill is learned, you should gradually wean the dog from the treat, giving it more and more intermittently. This maintains the dog's level of interest (since she's hoping that a treat will come), until finally you are reinforcing with warm praise alone, and saves you from perpetually having to carry around treats and feed aprons. Using treats is outlawed in the obedience ring; anyway, it makes sense to train your dog to obey willingly for the sake of the relationship.

  Apart from formal training, there is nothing wrong with using a periodic treat on an informal basis (for example, a biscuit at night). Here at New Skete a monk will often give his dog one of our dog biscuits before retiring, but only after the dog complies to a sit or some other string of commands. Dogs that beg, jump on their handlers, steal, get up on counters, or in any way display bad behavior in connection with food should be put on a program of regular obedience training (with emphasis on the down-stay), a strict schedule that limits their freedom (e.g., alternating between periods with the owner, in the crate, in an outdoor pen, and back with the owner again), and set-up situations that allow the dog to "win" by earning warm praise and perhaps a treat. Neurotic dogs play games with their owners by nudging them for treats, getting the treat box and dropping it in the owner's lap, and refusing to obey unless treated. Don't cave in to "treat games"!

  One of our cardinal rules in handling behavioral transgressors is to limit the dog's freedom by adding positive structure to her life to help place the dog in proper relationship with the owner. This approach has to be grounded in regular obedience training. If treats are used, they should be used judiciously, only to motivate the dog toward appropriate behavior, and always accompanied by warm praise. Never use treats to reward behavior you have not specifically asked for. Never award treats from a false sentimentality that feels sorry for the dog or thinks he is being cute. That is harmful to the dog and is simply pandering to your own need to feel good about yourself. Though we are not against them, treats should always reinforce the dominant leadership of the human in the dog-human relationship and should always be accompanied by praise. The majority of serious problem-dog situations involve an unhealthy and unbalanced relationship between owner and dog, so if the dog understands the basic exercises and is still taking advantage of the owner, we suggest suspending treats until the dog's behavior is acceptable and the relationship more clearly balanced.

  Another suggestion: instead of commercial dog treats, try making your own. A relatively inexpensive and effective motivator is a hot dog. We slice it into very small portions and then use them as needed in a session. Most dogs also like liver sausage (rolled into small tidbits), chicken, ham pieces, and sometimes cheese kept in a training apron. For a treat outside of training sessions on a hot day, try an ice cube. Some gourmet types will simply let it melt on the floor, but many dogs love the crunchiness and coldness of an ice cube. It helps prevent dehydration. It's a treat that's considerably less expensive than commercial products, and your supply is usually unlimited.

  Antipraise Owners

  Some owners do not realize the value of praise or may even have a deep-seated prejudice against it. Occasionally we have a puritanical client who declares categorically, "Dogs do not need praise. It spoils them and makes them take advantage of their masters."

  One man who felt this way wanted to know if we could train his cocker spaniel to the down command in response to a cough. The gentleman explained that he wanted complete control over his dog and didn't want to have to bother giving the cocker a command, but he thought an "ahem-type" cough should do the trick. He then demonstrated by clearing his throat suggestively. He never praised the dog verbally or physically. "My family had plenty of dogs," he explained, "and none of them needed to be hugged every two seconds." The children in the family sat rigid throughout the interview, contributing little. The wife contradicted the husband at one point and he shot a silencing glance at her, clearing his throat in the same suggestive manner! We explained that dogs need vocal commands and hand signals in order to understand clearly what is asked of them. The cough idea was not possible, especially in a dog-owner relationship that was already faulty and plagued with chewing and house-soiling problems. Luckily for dogs, it's rare to find this type of autocratic owner.

  Behavioral and Genetic Difficulties

  Some dogs have behavioral or genetic troubles that make praise difficult. We mentioned earlier the dog that plays the "treat game," cajoling the owner into dishing out tidbits. Some leader-type dogs demand affection and praise constantly, nudging their owners, jumping, yodeling, and making life difficult until they get it. This type of dog always seems to want to be the center of attention. The minute the spotlight shifts elsewhere, as often happens when company arrives or if the owner is on the phone, this dog begins the "attention game." Visitors are also nudged and pummeled, sometimes in the genital areas, until they give in and pet the dog. The dog refuses to lie down and, if isolated, he does damage. Often the owner has emotionally overloaded the dog by going along with the attention game. The solution should include a consistent program of basic obedience, at least to the come, sit, and stay level, and reordering the relationship so that praise is given only in response to an obeyed command like sit, come, or stay.

  Genetic faults often complicate praise giving. Submissive urination in puppies and occasionally in older dogs often happens in response to physical praise. Ignore this type of wetting, and try to shift to lighter verbal praise rather than physical praise until the dog develops more bladder control. Do not discipline submissive urination. It is not the same as house soiling.

  Other dogs come from bloodlines that are so hyperactive that praise elicits excessive shaking and nervousness. Again, try to develop quiet and peaceful verbal praise with this type of dog. Such dogs are not hard of hearing and can respond well to praise given almost at a whisper. Some dogs practically have a nervous breakdown when physically praised. Warm, properly inflected verbal praise usually does not elicit the same response. Physical praise for nervous dogs should be given only when the dog has responded to the sit command and is anchored. Jumping up can then be controlled.

  Praise, then, is more than treats, more than an occasional physical pat, and more than a reward for good actions. Praise is an attitude, a stance. Dogs who live in an atmosphere of praise come to love the human voice. They are more trusting and accepting. They are approachable by strangers but not demanding. Dogs confident of praise from their owners do not live on the edge of an emotional abyss, always seeking out attention and sulking when they do not get it. If praise is part of your attitude toward your dog, you have a rich and exciting relationship ahead.

  10

  Discipline: The Taboo Topic

  Some dog-training books never mention discipline, whether in the context of training or for outright bad behavior. Yet questions about it are frequent in our consultations. Owners run the gamut of emotions and responses in their attitudes toward correcting their dogs. Here are some sample quotes we've collected over the years when we asked the questions "How do you correct your dog?" and "Do you discipline your dog for bad behavior, and if
so, how?"

  "I hit him on the rump with a rolled-up newspaper. Sometimes I have to chase him. He knows when he's done wrong."

  "I yell and say, 'No, no', and she slinks and hangs her head. But then she messes in the same place the very next day."

  "When I disciplined the dog, the children would scream and cry, so I gave up. I didn't want the kids to think I was hurting the dog."

  "I tell her to stop it and jerk the leash, but it doesn't seem to make a dent."

  "Even if I raise my hand to smack Queenie, she bares her teeth. It's like living with Hitler."

  "I never hit my children, and I never hit my dog."

  "One dog we had — we beat on him pretty hard. We broke his spirit, and he took off on us. I don't want that to happen again."

  "We discipline by hitting the dog over the head with a stick. It works."

  "From puppyhood on, I punished my dog by smacking her rear end. Then I went to obedience school when she was about eight months old. The instructor said to give the dog a light tap on the rear end to get her to sit. This didn't work with my dog. She would urinate when I touched her rear end. She thought she was being punished. I had to find another method of teaching the sit, and I fell behind in the class."

  "I simply don't believe in discipline, physical or otherwise. Yes, I am my dog's maid. I don't like the arrangement, but I've seen other dogs who were hit, and they always look sad."

  "My dog cheats, steals, craps in the house, and has bitten three people. You tell me to discipline him. Okay, where do I start?"

  "If I even look at Buffy cross-eyed, that's enough discipline for her."

  "I lost control one day and smacked Butch under the chin for stealing a rib roast. He hasn't stolen anything for three months. I think I got through to him."

  "On the rear end, with a hair brush."

  "A good kick usually does the trick."

  "For housebreaking, I rub his nose in it, and for chewing, I cram it down his throat."

  "There's a great deal of inconsistency in my family. Some are pacifists who would sooner die than hit the dog. Others are bullies who would torture the thing if they got the chance."

  "A good night outside usually shapes them up. Out into the cold!"

  "Let me warn you: if a trainer ever hit my dog, I'd kill him."

  "I say, 'No', King looks away, and then I end it. I can't do anything else once I look at his face."

  "I want to understand when and how to discipline my dog, but the training books talk about everything but that, and I feel I might do something wrong. What exactly do you do?"

  "For the life of me, I don't know why Prince won't stop chewing. I beat him every night!"

  Perhaps one reason dog discipline is shrouded in mystery is that most owners are simply afraid of discussing the subject. Many find the idea of disciplining their dogs threatening and one that too easily invites feelings of guilt. Since dogs can't talk back to us, it is easy for well-meaning owners to project all sorts of negative, human feelings onto their dogs when occasions of discipline arise. Add to this the periodic flurry of horror stories about dog-beaters, irresponsible trainers, and gross incidents of generally inhumane treatment of dogs, and it is little wonder that simple and effective discipline for disobedience and bad behavior then gets confused with cruelty.

  And it doesn't stop there. Further complicating the issue is the division of opinion within the training profession itself. Among dog trainers and animal behaviorists today, perhaps there is no more contentious issue than the place of discipline (and by extension, punishment) in the relationship with a dog. Opinions about its appropriateness run the gamut from harsh, physical corrections, to electronic corrections, to physical corrections of a lesser nature (simple leash corrections or verbal reprimands), to no corrections whatsoever. Owners are understandably perplexed about what exactly to do when a dog misbehaves. Who's right, anyway? Which approach is effective and truly compassionate; which has the dog's best interest at heart?

  One current line of thinking suggests never using corrections at all. For example, an increasing number of training methods market themselves on the premise that the only humane way to train a dog is with purely positive reinforcement, that is, rewarding desired behavior with food and praise while ignoring bad behavior. This perspective deems any sort of discipline or correction to be abusive. Yet others wonder how realistic and humane such an approach really is for the majority of dogs.

  Though it is understandable that most owners would prefer to use no force whatsoever if they could change an undesirable behavior in their dogs, it is fair to ask whether such an approach is reasonably possible and in harmony with the natural dynamics of pack existence. In a wolf pack, discipline (a penetrating look, a growl, pinning down, or a nip) is given regularly by the alpha, and pack members learn limits and expectations very quickly. The same is true in a litter of puppies: the mother uses just enough discipline to get her point across. She has no scruples about slamming an offending pup to the ground, and (wonder of wonders) the pup learns quickly. We do our dogs a disservice if we do not include as part of our relationships with them equivalent limits and appropriate social training. The question is, how do we do so in a skillful and precise way, using a consistent and fair approach to discipline? Should owners feel guilty for using appropriate discipline when their dogs misbehave? Given the nature of dogs, discipline seems to be as much a part of a relationship as companionship, play, work, and affection.

  Though training and prevention are essential tools to raising a dog properly and are always preferable to remedial action, one cannot possibly foresee all the situations that arise with a dog. Your dog's respect for you and his acceptance of your role as leader will shepherd you through many a potential problem if he understands that not paying attention to you in a given situation will have serious, unpleasant consequences. A record of fair discipline makes your role as alpha believable. Let's not mince words: through the years we have seen many, many

  The mother teaches pups how to play safely and disciplines them when they cross the bounds of respect.

  good dogs become problem dogs simply because owners were unwilling to teach and enforce limits. Part of this means disciplining dogs when they behave inappropriately. If one timely, effective correction is able to teach your young pooch never to growl at a stranger he is being introduced to (and we have seen this happen often), we feel no need to apologize for exercising such authority. It may ultimately save a dog's life.

  A Sane Approach

  First, let's be clear about exactly what we mean by discipline. People are often uncomfortable with the word discipline because they immediately think exclusively of punishment, which is never emotionally neutral. But discipline has a far broader scope of meanings. The word has a definite positive connotation as well, especially when we look at its etymology. Discipline is related to the word disciple, "one who follows," which in turn comes from the Latin word discere, which means "to learn." This implies that good discipline flows from good teaching and good leadership; responsible owners, like good teachers and leaders, tailor their discipline to the needs of their own dogs.

  Good discipline takes place on a number of different levels. In a program of regular obedience training, discipline occurs naturally as you begin to refine, repeat, and reinforce the basic exercises already learned in a general way. In such a context, "serious punishment" is rare. Though any "aversive" (no matter how slight) can be and is technically described as "punishment" in behavioral science, the reality is that such so-called punishment also covers a broad spectrum. There is a vast difference between a clipped "nah" and a sharp cuff under the chin. Strictly speaking, both are positive punishments: they are given so that the dog will not repeat a particular behavior in the future. Situation and context determine which and when such "punishments" are appropriate. The rule we follow is always to use the least amount of force to change the behavior and firmly embed the lesson in the dog's mind.

  Unfortunately, th
e word punishment has such a checkered pedigree that it is difficult to use in a clear, emotionally neutral way. Say "punishment" and most of us wince. We also tend to think of it as a consequence for bad behavior that can happen well after the fact. Criminals are punished for what they did in the past. In a relationship with a dog (a creature that lives almost entirely in the present), punishment after the fact is not only utterly unhelpful but destructive. For these reasons, we prefer to distinguish mild aversive actions from much stronger ones. For example, we use "corrections" to describe the light discipline that occurs in ordinary obedience training and everyday life. "Punishment" describes more forceful verbal and physical discipline associated with various behavioral problems. Not only is such terminology easier for people to accept, but we believe it is faithful to ordinary experience. Hopefully, the number of occasions you will need to take serious action with your dog will be very few, and only for major infractions. More typically, the discipline you rely on involves well-timed verbal and leash corrections that refocus and guide your dog, refining her understanding and reinforcing her perception of your leadership.

  Notice that such corrections take place as an organic part of obedience training. Enlightened discipline is never divorced from the context of training. The problem with the approaches listed at the beginning of the chapter is that disciplinary action comes out of the blue; it is unrelated to a dedicated program of obedience training. We cannot count the number of times an owner has said something like "I'm not interested in his heeling or sitting, I just want him to stop growling," expecting us to provide a magic disciplinary technique. This is foolish. It is also ineffective — it doesn't solve the problem, and it hurts the relationship. Unless an owner is actively rearing a pup or older dog in a climate of positive training appropriate to the dog's age, any use of discipline tends to be imbalanced. Training is the way. The Royal Air Force Dog Training School has a saying that any aspiring trainer should keep well in mind: a handler always ends up with the dog he deserves. When divorced from training, corrections are harmful because they do not give the dog an understanding of what you want him to do. Discipline always needs to be followed by some sort of positive training command that reestablishes your leadership while also clarifying your intent to your dog. The traditional exercises themselves are a humane way of reinforcing your leadership and enhancing discipline. Putting a dog on a long down-stay, for example, not only gives you the control you may need at the moment but also reinforces in the dog's mind the fact that you are in charge.