WHILE cruising Facebook, I came across an article which I found absurd.
It discussed the high cost of pineapples and suggested a way to save money when purchasing one. The advice was: "Buy the whole pineapple and then cut it yourself, instead of buying it precut." Then it gave a step-by-step guide on how to cut a pineapple.
I looked at the story and said, "Really?"
Is this an example of the state of our society when we need advice on how to cut a pineapple?
I'm beginning to think that as we become more technologically advanced as human beings we are becoming less intelligent when it comes to common sense everyday tasks that require more effort than tapping the keys of a cellphone or computer.
This is not just specific to cutting pineapples. I see it with people and their dogs as well. People want their dogs to be well behaved and trained without putting the required effort in to achieve that goal.
I'm not sure if it's because of the high-paced, instant gratification lifestyle most people choose to live, or if it is a degree of naivety regarding how much effort is required to have a well-behaved dog thanks to the Hollywood-ized portrayal of dogs in media.
Training a dog takes time and effort, by you! You can't buy a perfectly trained dog at the dog training store like you can buy a precut pineapple from the grocery store!
Sure there are training facilities that will take your dog in and train it for you - which I do not condone, by the way - then give it back. It is expensive, like a pre-cut pineapple. But even in these circumstances, the owner still has to learn how to work with the dog and they have to practise or the training fails.
When I give a dog client homework, such as things to practice with their dog between my visits, the client's first response is, "So how much time do I have to devote to this?"
What I say is, "You will be doing this all the time. Whenever you are with your dog you will be doing some form of training with them. This is the only way you will be able to achieve the results you want in the quickest amount of time."
Yes, it does indeed take time out of your day to train your dog. But by incorporating training into your daily activities with your dog, you will see results faster and it will seem effortless.
Yet, if you fall into a routine where you devote 15 minutes to train your dog twice a day you may very well be at your training for months, if not years, and it will seem like a chore.
The sit command is an excellent way to practise your dog's training throughout the day. The command can be taught through repetition for five minutes, but also as part of your lifestyle to instill good behaviour.
When you are about to feed your dog, ask it to sit. This not only reinforces the command but teaches your dog to be polite and patient before feeding.
When it's time to go for a walk, have your dog sit when the leash goes on and off. The command is reinforced but the dog also learns self control. Going for a walk is great fun and can be used as a big reward for showing self control, through sitting, while the leash goes on and off.
The dog should also sit before it goes in and out of a door. This reinforces the sit command, but it also teaches the dog to mind its manners and not rush out an open door.
When done properly and incorporated into your lifestyle, training your dog can take little effort and the end result will be a well-behaved dog . faster!
Joan has been working with dogs for over 15 years in obedience, tracking and behavioural rehabilitation. Contact her at k9kinship.com
