As a dog owner, taking a basic obedience class is an essential part of having a well-trained dog.
But simply participating in the class is not what it takes to have a nicely mannered pooch. Applying what you have learned in that class to your everyday life is exactly what it takes.
In a basic obedience class, dogs are taught these commands: sit, down, come when called, heel and stay. If you are lucky, the trainer will teach other ones too. Once you and your dog have started to learn the basic commands, you can begin to practise throughout your day.
When giving students homework, I tell them to concentrate on one command a day and choose quality over quantity. Don't go out in the backyard and take 30 minutes to run through the entire class repertoire with your dog. That's not any fun for you or your dog. Instead, use one command productively.
Let's use "sit" as the first example of productive practical training time with your dog. Sit has many applications throughout your day with your dog - the first being to go outside. Whether Fido is going for a walk or going out into the backyard to do his business, he should sit before going out any door. At the back door, ask your dog to sit. If you are in the beginning of your obedience training classes, chances are you still need a treat lure to get your dog into a sit. If this is the case, then practise that way at home. Lure your dog into a sit, reward it, and before you open the door, use your release command to free your dog from the sit position and out the back door. The same rules apply when your dog comes inside.
If your dog no longer needs a treat lure, which means you can say "sit" and your dog does it without hesitation, then say the command, reward your dog with praise, open the door and release it into the backyard.
Sitting at the front door is where the command really makes a behavioural impact. Many times I get emails from people who say that as soon as the front door opens, the dog bolts out the door. My reply is, "Have you taught your dog how to sit at the front door and only go out with the leash on? Obviously not!" A practical application of the sit command to prevent a dog from bolting out the front door would be to bring Fido to a closed front door. Have a handful of treats ready. Ask Fido to sit. When he does, give a reward. Give a few more if he remains sitting.
Practise the stay aspect of the sit command, which means building on the length of time your dog remains sitting at the front door without breaking the command (you should be learning this in your obedience class). If your dog remains in the sit, place the leash on our dog. Then take the leash off. Put it back on again, then take it off. By doing this, you are adding functional distractions to your practical training scenario. After your dog does this successfully, take your dog out the front door (leash on) for a walk as a reward. Once your dog masters this with the door closed, you can practise it again with the door partially open, or you can open it and close it back and forth as part of the functional distraction.
While on a leashed walk, you should stop and tell your dog to sit at all corners/intersections. The practical training results in a dog that sits before it crosses a street instead of bolting into an intersection ahead of you.
I like teaching all dogs - my own and my clients' - to sit when a person approaches, with or without a dog. This prevents the dog from jumping on the person, rushing at the other dog or otherwise acting inappropriately.
Manners matter! Next week I will discuss the productive practical training of the "down" command.
Joan Klucha has been working with dogs for more than 15 years in obedience, tracking and behavioural rehabilitation. Contact her via her website k9kinship.com.
