One reason pet parents tend to cross the street to avoid confrontation when walking their dog is to avoid embarrassment. I know some of you are probably shaking your heads in agreement. I know this to be true because embarrassment is a huge part of avoidance. It is the anticipation of being judged by your neighbors as not being in control of your puppy/dog. Remember the first day your puppy came home, and all your neighbors wanted to meet and greet? Socializing a puppy is absolutely necessary, but it can lead to OVER SOCIALIZED behavior, which is a need for constant attention. Proper socialization is having your dog Sit/Stay next to you and wait to be pet without jumping up. Of course, all these skills take training, but by encouraging incorrect behavior, our puppy starts off on the wrong paw.
Here’s another example. You plan on having guests for dinner and put your dog in a crate, upstairs, outside, or wherever they cannot jump on, bark at, or annoy your family and friends. Subconsciously, we convince ourselves that this is the best solution for everyone, including making your dog more comfortable. Several different lessons are taught to dogs, including GREETING GUESTS, NO JUMPING, NO BARKING, NO BEGGING, and GO-TO-PLACE. These lessons are invaluable to a pet parent with a large family and many friends, kids who often have friends over, or include the family dog in outings like a school sports activity. Wouldn’t you love to take your dog on a family outing for the day or vacation?
So, how do we teach good manners? Let’s take one puppy step at a time. If you analyze each unwanted behavior, it is reactivity, lack of impulse control, and not knowing what the correct reaction should be. Jokingly, I often tell pet parents, “When in doubt, sit/stay!”
The most basic lesson in canine training and the best example of where to begin teaching impulse control is Sit/Stay. The first step is to teach your puppy to Sit, and the next step is to train your dog to stay.
STAY is the part of the training that teaches a dog to have impulse control. We use Sit/Stay for the following lessons, which is not a complete list.
- Sit/Stay to have a collar and leash put on your dog. That is called Sit to Dress.
- Sit/Stay at the door. With a collar and leash, your dog should Sit/Stay at the door before it opens and after it opens for 10 seconds, and then cross the threshold with the pet parent to go outside. No one goes first.
- Sit/Stay for at least 10 seconds before entering the house, especially if you clean your dog’s paws before entering the home.
- Sit/Stay before a food bowl is placed on the floor or in a food bowl stand and wait to be told it is Okay to go to the bowl to eat.
- Sit/Stay for at least 10 seconds before crossing the street whether a vehicle is coming or not.
- Sit/Stay for at least 10 seconds any time a vehicle passes if walking in the roadway.
- Sit/Stay before being pet by neighbors and friends.
- Sit/Stay to be brushed or examined.
- Sit/Stay to be given a treat or toy.
The next more advanced Sit/Stay is:
- Sit/Stay before you throw a ball or frisbee, and then allow your dog to get it.
- Sit/Stay when guests arrive to avoid charging at them or jumping on them.
- Sit/Stay in a vehicle before being allowed to get out.
- Sit/Stay in a public shopping center or store.
- Sit/Stay before getting into an elevator and then inside the elevator.
So, as you can see, Sit/Stay may not seem very important to you in your living room, but there are so many other applications. The most important reason is to help your dog control its impulse to react inappropriately. We always start with a count of 10 seconds for a Sit/Stay and work toward increasing that time to what is appropriate for the event. Every lesson is conducted with your dog wearing a collar and leash.
Following the Sit/Stay command, you can teach your dog the Down/Stay. This command is particularly favored by pet owners as it’s integral to the Go-To-Place training. Go-To-Place involves directing your dog to a specific bed or mat to Sit/Down/Stay until given permission to move. This command is incredibly useful during meals or when entertaining guests, allowing your dog to remain close without being intrusive. Remember, not every family member, including your dog, needs to be involved in all activities.
MORE TO COME–
