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Be Objective about Training (Jan. 1, 2008 Newsletter)

Many students tell me their dog "knows" how to sit (on command). When asked to demonstrate this, we see that the dog does not sit on command. The dog may just stand there, or start pulling on the leash, or mouthing the leash or any of a multitude of other activities. It is probable that the event(s) that the student remembered did indeed have the dog sitting on command. The stumbling block here is that the student thinks the dog understands "sit" in all situations, based on a few examples, and doesn't realize how limited the dog's experience and understanding is. "He did it yesterday" seems to translate into "he knows it."

However, without realizing it, the student has probably generalized from the fact that the dog did indeed sit on command, under a few certain circumstances, to the dog knowing and understanding sit, under all circumstances. This is true of the other "commands" as well, the "come" or recall, being probably the worst for unfortunate or even tragic outcomes, due to this generalization or misunderstanding. Far too many people start off-leash/uncontrolled setting work, before their dog has a solid foundation in the exercise, on the basis of one or two correct responses.

One needs to appreciate the fact that when any part of the cue (command) word is different (sights, sounds, smell and more) it is a new and different exercise to the dog, and therefore not necessarily the same response is required. If your body position is in any way different, if your clothes are different, your voice or inflection is not exactly the same, if there is someone talking in the next room or yard...all of the variables affect the whole, complete picture of what your dog is taking in, in response to "sit". If you change ANY part of it (whether you realize it or not), to your dog, the exercise is different, and might need a different response. (If you repeated your cue word "sit", did you say it exactly the same way each time, or did your intonation change?) It is much less likely that your dog is being "stubborn" or deliberately trying to sabatoge your efforts, than that he has noticed something different about your behavior, and is responding accordingly.

So reassess your powers of observation. Be honest with yourself about what your dog really observes, does and understands, not what you want to believe or hope your dog knows. Be aware of the whole picture (including yourself) that your dog sees and senses, so you know what may be causing the confusion (and hence, not achieving the behavior you desire). Without objectivity, you will be guessing at what it is you are trying to change. Your "target" behavior might be a supposition on your part, rather than an actual behavior, if you are not careful.