Changing Unwanted Behavior: Beyond “Because I Said So”

We love our dogs. We find so much of their behavior charming and brilliant. Look how fast they learned to sit, lie down, and fetch for us! But what about the stuff that’s annoying, exasperating, or just downright disgusting? The jumping on people, the squirrel chasing, the rolling in dead stuff, the poop eating...need I go on? Why do they DO these things, especially when they know how much we hate it? And how do we make them stop?

The most logical answer is this: They do it because it’s normal dog behavior, they don’t see why we object (or may not even notice that we do!), and it’s going to take more than a command--or a loud protest--to change their ways.

Some commands (also called “cues”) are easy for our dogs. “Sit” and “down” are simple because they’re comfortable, and part of everyday life. “Fetch” is a no-brainer--it’s a fun game! But “don’t jump!”, “don’t chase!”,  “don’t roll!”, “don’t eat poop!” just don’t compute. We’re up against instinct here. Deeply ingrained, highly self-reinforcing drives and habits. Things that have been part of dogs’ behavioral repertoire throughout the course of their evolution. These behaviors are hard-wired, part of our dogs’ essential nature. We just don’t like them.

My old devil dog, Sachem. 

To talk our dogs out of doing what comes naturally, we need to do more than talk--or scold, or say “NO!”. We need a little creativity, a lot of patience, time, and a ton of really high value treats. We’re going to replace that crazy-making behavior with an acceptable alternative that, over time, will become even more rewarding to your dog. If she jumps on people, teach her to sit calmly for delicious treats instead. If he lunges at squirrels, teach him to look at you, then toss a treat he can chase instead. If she’s about to roll in dead stuff or eat poop, teach her a rock solid recall, shower her with treats when she comes, and throw her ball.

Start with baby steps. Let go of your fantasy of an overnight transformation. Set your dog up for success and reward it; don’t push him till he fails. Reinforce the heck out of her with treats when she makes good choices. Use the good stuff--hot dogs, cheese, meatballs, liver, whatever your dog truly craves; make it worth his hard work to break that well-loved habit. Keep track of your progress so you can see what’s working. Tolerate occasional setbacks; ask yourself how you can make training easier, clearer, and more rewarding for your dog.

And be a little humble. When I get irked with my own dog’s lapses of self control, I reflect sheepishly on the time I ate that forbidden second piece of chocolate cake, spent a fortune on those gorgeous boots I couldn’t afford, or skipped a workout so I could sleep late. No matter how well-trained ;) we are, we’ve all faced temptations that are too powerful to ignore. But persistent positive reinforcement training will motivate your dog to control her impulses and do the “right” thing--at least as often as you do!