We've all heard that statement. The more we do something,
the better we tend to get at doing it, whatever "it" is.
Want to run faster? Don't go out and run slow for hours,
throw in some interval training to work those fast twitch muscles.
Want to learn to play piano? What's the way to Carnegie Hall?
Practice, practice...
There's even research to help explain why this is
Our brain neurons are continually rewiring themselves, and
what we do most of the time becomes the path of least resistance.
In dog training, most of what we want to accomplish with our dogs is NOT what they naturally want to do. Jumping up, sniffing, barking, stealing food and items, these are all behaviors that come naturally and are precisely the types of behaviors we want to change. That's one reason why it's easier to start with a puppy IF you start from the beginning to teach the puppy what behaviors you want and reward the pup for doing those rather than doing other behaviors. It's very important to show a dog what you *want* rather than just punish what you don't want. I always tell people, that if you just stop the behavior, even momentarily, there's often 10 other obnoxious behaviors your dog can do instead that you don't want either. Rather than try to punish all of them, it's better to show and reward some behaviors that you do want.
If you acquire an older dog who may already have some bad habits, this doesn't mean that you're out of luck. Dogs are situational, and don't generalize easily in most cases, so use this to your advantage. The dog doesn't know what rules apply at *your* house, so take time to show the dog from the beginning what you want. You may have to overcome more "baggage" than with a puppy, but the principle is the same. Instead of lunging and grabbing something, teach sit. Same with greeting behavior. In fact, if your dog learns only one thing, a default SIT tops the list.
In working with an older dog, think about how many times that dog has probably jumped up in his life. Probably 1000's of times. So, you want this new behavior to become a habit. It's going to take practice. Lots of practice. Muscle memory takes time to become automatic. There is some research to suggest that it can take at least 66 days for people to form new habits.: http://www.spring.org.uk/2009/09/how-long-to-form-a-habit.php I'd argue that it takes longer for dogs, and even the article above admits people vary in how long it takes to form new habits. Don't despair, though, if you're dealing with an out-of-control dog. Once you begin to work with your dog, and the two of you develop a system for communicating, you'll find your dog becoming a willing partner rather than seeming to always be at cross purposes. And if you need some help, call in a trainer! Trainers can often show you how to get what you want quicker and with less frustration than when you're going it alone.
After taking a prolonged summer vacation, the blog is back! Stay tuned for more...
