Monday, August 29, 2011

Your Stealthy Dog

   Sometimes turn about IS fair play. If you are working on changing unwanted behaviors with a recalcitrant dog, give up.  Yes, I said give up. Not give up training, give up trying to win.
   Your dog is trying to hard to win the game of "Catch Me/Make Me". 
 
  A "Stealthy Dog" should get NO attention, unless the dog offers, unbidden, a behavior you would like to see again. That's when you work on a little bit of your acting skills. Act surprised. "Oh, nice SIT,  Rosie". Plenty of praise. Use her name each time.

  The tricky part is where you are going to have to learn to out smart your dog is when she is doing something you don't want her to do. Minimal attention, redirection or treats may work. Sometimes just walking away or leaving the room.

 "Stealthy Dog" practice should not continue longer than 10 days. Then it is time to move to the next level of leadership

 I am counting on you to be wily. Have some fun with it!
 

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