Ask The TRAINER: Does your dog think he is entitled?

JOE DESIMONE

 

Almost every training session I see it: entitlement. The dog that crashes into guests to greet them, barks constantly for attention, growls when a child approaches him while he’s chewing a bone, elevates above the owner by jumping up on the back of the couch or refusing to move away from the door as the owner is walking through it.

Small dogs may become even more entitled because many owners carry them around all day, bend over them and put them in strollers, elevated above the other dogs in the neighborhood. In the canine world, the higher the height, the higher the status. That’s why you often see the little Caesar barking at the four-legged subjects below him.

Dogs who feel they are entitled to their owners’ constant attention, rewards, space and food lose motivation to become Canine Good Citizens. You must always let your dog know that living under your roof is not an entitlement, it is a privilege. He must earn this privilege every day by showing you calm behavior in order to earn the resources you control. That’s why smart owners teach their dogs the Canine Golden Rule: You will receive the things you like only if you are obedient. Resources are privileges and privileges must be earned.

Joe De Simone is an Animal Behavior Certified Trainer who owns Canine Command Dog Training. He can be reached at Askthetrainer@swspotlight.com

Joe De Simone is an Animal Behavior Certified Trainer who owns Canine Command Dog Training. He can be reached at Askthetrainer@swspotlight.com

How does a dog earn his privileges? He must show you calm behavior, such as sit stays, stand stays or down stays, before receiving your affection, space, food, playtime, treats, walking or other reward. This way, being obedient becomes way more rewarding than any alternative reactive behavior. Obviously, each time your dog shows you the calm behavior you must reward him immediately and generously with petting, praise and/or treats. This is training with positive reinforcement.

Here are a few simple examples for putting this into practice. Ask your dog to sit before putting his leash on to take him out for a walk. Command your dog to stay until you walk through the threshold and release him. Command your dog to sit stay until you put his food bowl down on the ground and release him. Command your dog to sit stay after fetching and releasing the fetch to you upon your drop it command. Command your dog sit stay in front of you, perform a watch (he looks directly to your face) and then, on your cue, comes up to snuggle with you on the couch.

Dogs are hardwired to live in a pack with leaders controlling the resources. When dogs have this structure, they become calm and secure knowing that leaders will supply security and resources they need to thrive. Therefore, owners and their children/relatives must become good pack leaders for their four-legged companions.