3 Keys to Shape or Change your dog’s behavior - How To Create Successful Canine Cooperation!

Whether you’re just starting or struggling during or after training your dog needs guidance, clear rules and expectations of what they can/should do vs what they can’t/shouldn’t do. 

From creating those expectations of manners to simple obedience commands and cues, building and maintaining reliable behaviors and habits or stopping unwanted behaviors comes down to 3 key components.

1. TIMING

2. MOTIVATION

3. CONSISTENCY

TIMING

Timing is important to give your dog feedback about whether they’re doing the right thing or the wrong thing; you like what they’re doing or you don’t like what they are doing. 

And you really only have 1 -3 seconds to give it, depending on the behavior. 

A common challenge folks have is the dog had an accident in the house or destroys your things, clothing, furniture, game controller, usually something expensive!

And you come home or around the corner and your dog who greets you at the door all extra excited to see you! 

You see the damage or the accident and you punish your dog for it…

They’ll know you’re upset, they may run into their crate (a great option for management in your absence!!) or the corner or sit there looking remorseful

Unfortunately it's not going to work to stop them in the future because you didn’t catch them in the act and any correction will be associated with what they’re doing in that moment you correct them.

If they’re greeting you excitedly at the door, your dog will connect your correction to them being excited and near you and not the damage across the room.

Timing is crucial and most folks struggle with this because they’re not ready when things happen, they don’t have the tools or protocols available to give appropriate feedback to their dog. 

This is where your markers and intentionally setting your dog up and roleplaying a learning scenario comes into play!

MARKERS

A common marker is the clicker and while they’re great for getting precise timing, I prefer to use the verbal markers Good, Nope and Break! 

Markers help you by taking a snapshot of what your dog is doing in that 1 - 3 seconds moment to precisely mark the behavior or mindset letting your dog know that, right there is what I want you to do, or whoops! that is a mistake!

 Check out this detailed post for more about Markers

MOTIVATION

Motivation uses consequences to either get more of a behavior or to stop/ lessen a behavior. 

There are 2 types of motivation - Positive Motivation & Negative Motivation 

Motivation changes for every dog because each dog is different and each dog has a different list of what they like and what they don't like - being open to letting your dog tell you what motivates them is crucial!

Positive can be - their food, treats, going for a walk, bones, that yellow fluffy squeaker, butt scratches… whatever gets your dog excited we can use to our advantage to teach them, to pattern and strengthen behaviors. 

All dogs have to eat, and using your dog’s daily meal is powerful in helping train, motivate and encourage your dog to work with you. 

Negative uses anything your dog doesn’t like - removing or withholding food, affection or play, sounds and sources of pressure (leash/collars, spatial, spray bottle etc.) to help your dog stop fixating, refocus on us or interrupt and stop unwanted behaviors. 

We start in lower distractions where positive motivation is king, once we get out into the real world, there are all of the much cooler than you competing motivators that will distract and challenge your dog. 

Oh!  I’m going to check out that great smelling thing in the grass - 

OOO! Squirrel…

Dooooog!!

Arousal shoots up, instincts kick in, your dog stops thinking straight when their system is flooded with neurotransmitters and hormones like dopamine, adrenaline and cortisol and this is where that positive motivator loses its value and your dog doesn’t care about that hot dog you’re waving in their face.  

When our positive motivation fails we still need to be able to educate and give our dogs guidance through these exciting moments, so we add a bit of negative motivation via pressure sources.

Your body/ spatial pressure and leash/ collar pressure are common ways we get our dog refocused and reconnected to us so we can continue to get our reps in and help our dogs practice in the real world. 

CONSISTENCY

There are 3 ways consistency plays a role in shaping, changing and maintaining your dog’s behavior. 

1. Consistent boundaries limit challenges and conflict -

 I don’t mind if my dog jumps on me, but not when I’m wearing my white pants!

My dog is allowed on that blue chair, but not my purple sofa!

My dog can give me hugs, but not my spouse, the kids, guests, grandma…

Inconsistency from you or between you and family with what your dog is or is not allowed to do creates confusion or, for pushy/ gambling dogs, a complete disregard for any rules because they got away with it before. 

Dogs can learn to discriminate, but this takes time and some dogs don’t fully get it, so, make it easy for you and your dog by making your House Rules very black and white for your dog (after you have great stuff from your dog you can experiment with discrimination - bending/ changing some rules 😉).

Have a family meeting, decide on the rules and make sure everyone is on board and consistent in enforcing those rules. 

2. Consistent feedback creates clarity -

To Encourage and strengthen what we want, to build habits and influence our dogs behavior we need to consistently provide feedback about whether your dog is on the right track or the wrong track, whether their behavior is acceptable or not acceptable.

Like with timing, being ready, willing and able to apply the motivation

the consequence

the payment or punishment 

Every time is critical in getting the behaviors and habits you need from your dog. 

Simply put - Mark Yes/Good & Pay what you want, 

Or No and Punish what you don't want Every Single Time.

3. Consistency is what develops a belief in you -

Allowing your dog to negotiate, to blow you off or push boundaries, teaches your dog that you do not follow through, in the small moments or the big moments.  

In higher stakes situations we need our dogs to take our direction, to listen to us and that willingness to follow, to agree with our guidance/ leadership, is built (usually in the smaller moments) by us consistently following through with the feedback and the appropriate consequence.  

Encouragement!

If anytime during or after training that you find yourself frustrated and you're struggling to get or maintain a behavior…

Arrgh!

Why does my dog keep doing this… why can’t I stop this behavior?!

Why aren’t they doing the thing!

If you’re struggling to get where you want, if your dog is backsliding, most likely you’re missing one, a combination or all of Timing, Motivation or Consistency. 

No Worries!

Look back on your training or routine and bring these key processes back on board.

Give your dog the feedback they need to be successful -

Mark the behavior and consistently follow through with the appropriate consequence.

Be patient and give yourself and your dog grace. 

Timing and coordination takes time and practice.  

Prepare to be not so great at first.

Keep rocking it and you’ll soon get it!

xo

-J