Training

Inadvertent Training

By Paulette Bethel

I would like to address the issue of "inadvertent" training.  Webster defines inadvertent as:  1. not attentive or observant, 2. due to oversight

Many times I have seen people in a public setting who, upset with their dog's barking or whining, reach down and pet or stroke the dog and tell it lovingly to be quiet.  They will usually have to repeat this several times over the course of the event because the dog continues the objectionable behavior.  What this person has done is told their dog inadvertently that it is okay to bark or whine.  How?  They have rewarded the behavior of barking or whining by petting.

Do any of you have dogs that lick whenever they are introduced to someone new?  Could you have possibly rewarded that dog as a puppy who licked, by petting and sweet-talking him?

Or what about the male dog who lifts his leg on every upright object you pass.  Do you believe it is necessary for him to act in this way because he is a male?  It is possible to teach him to urinate on command and in an appropriate time and place.

There are many more incidences of behavior that have been inadvertently trained into dogs.  Do any of you know of a dog who has trained his handler to do certain things on command?  This is another type of inadvertent training that occurs.

Our male dog has learned he can bark at his dish and my husband will get up and move it.  From this he has progressed to barking at a biscuit piece that falls outside his pen; again, my husband will get up and move the crumb back into the dogs; area.  Now the dog will bark if he wants my  husband to come outside, or let him into the house, or play with him, or pet him or ... !  Most of the time this cute.  Once in a while it is extremely annoying.

What do you do about your dog who barks or whines when you are with him at a function where dogs are best seen but not heard?  (Does this remind you of another old maxim?)  With a dog who vocalizes inappropriately I would suggest a clear message that it is acting in a way you don't like:  take the dog's muzzle firmly in your hand, give it a brief shake and speak a command that you can remember to use every time in a neutral tone of voice like "No Bark".  It is extremely important to remain neutral whenever you are commanding the dog to do, or not to do some behavior.

Don't expect to do this three times and have a dog who no longer embarrasses you in public.  It just won't happen.  If the action has gone on for a long time, it may take a very long time indeed to change the behavior.

When the dog vocalizes again, speak the command that says to stop it and, wonder of wonders, if it does, praise it in a neutral tone of voice, reiterating the command and combining it with good.  For example:  "No bark, good no bark".  Be patient, because the next time the dog will not hear you at all and you will have to repeat the muzzle shake frequently and consistently.  Especially consistently.

What to do with that licking dog who greets all your friends with a quick face wash whether they want it or not?  Try a little Bitter Apple on your hand, offer it to the dog, say your command - the one you can remember to say the same way each and every time - and when he draws back, praise him with the initial command preceded by "good".  In fact, you could have a dog training party and all your friends can spray Bitter Apple on their hands and offer Fido a hand to lick and calmly praise him when he doesn't. 

Mostly, be aware of what is going on when you're are with your four-footed friend.  Remember Webster's definition, "not attentive or observant".  It works with spouses and children, too.  Oh, the male who lifts his leg?  See me privately and we'll talk about that.