Baker's Dozen
Here is a mixed Bakers Dozen of suggestions:
1). Put your dog on a leash. Train yourself to stop enabling your dog to remain an untrained ruffian by jumping on visitors. Put him on a leash. Prevent the behavior of an untrained guest petting your jumping dog and thus enabling him to remain an untrained rowdy. Put the leash on BEFORE opening the door. Once your dog and the visitor are calm, release them both to greet politely.
2). Meet visitors outside. If your dog turns into a unruly socialpath [sic] when receiving visitors, meet them outside before bringing them into the yard or house. Side-step the split second acceleration from 0 to 160 on the bonkers scale by avoiding the sound of a knock or the doorbell. Communicate to know of arrivals. This will start your visit well under the arousal level triggered by the bell or knock. Later, work on calm introductions at the door.
3). Practice a behavior when you don’t need your dog to do it. Don’t wait until you are at Costco on a Saturday afternoon with your arms full of stuff to worry about the dog jumping out of the car. Practice at home when you have the time and inclination. Practice building a solid Sit and build time before adding a big load of distraction as in 2). Don’t train only when the distraction level is on overload! If a new dog or a puppy’s recall is a work n progress do not call them from the back yard only when you are late for work. Cycle Come when called to the top of the list of what to train when you are not stressed and pressed for time. See 9), the DMRR.
4). One minute training sessions. If pressed for time or better yet as a developed habit, do some training in one minute increments. This could be one of the 57 Axioms Of Impeccably Adept Trainers (1), a riff on Seven Habits Of Highly Effective People © (2). The original “Seven Habits” is a great read, not just because the principles apply so well to dog training but it teaches how to make better use of time. After reading this book, there is no excuse for not finding time for at least several one minute daily training sessions. And it has Quadrants! (See blog Nun For All Quadrants). At any rate, one minute sessions add up to a trained puppy.
5). Get a grooming table. For those of us a bit long in the tooth, it helps to not have to bend over so much. A grooming table or any raised surface or a piece of furniture is a good place to work on a number of behaviors. The bond of many people and dogs would benefit from more hands on activity in the form of regular brushing, vet checks and massage. An owner can learn what is normal and more easily spot something out of the ordinary. A table can be an easy place to leash up or harness an excitable dog. A dog can be taught to leap on and off a table on cue, to go to and jump on it from a distance, put two paws up on it, crawl under (some tables), to Sit, Down, Stand and Sit, Down, Stand from a Distance. And more…
6). Take it on the road. It always brought forth a smile to see a pair of pointy ears in the back of the car reflected in the rear view mirror. Most dogs happily launch into your car, eager for whatever adventure unfolds. Spend a good percentage of time training and/or hanging out with your dog in public. This will expand her world view and make her much more comfortable in novel situations. She will be more relaxed at home as well. Don’t get her in over her head with too much distraction. Go at a pace so that she is comfortable and relaxed. But do train her to a level that people who don’t like dogs will be forced to comment, “Dang, I can’t complain one bloody whit about that dog!”
7). Use real life rewards. Tired of being accused by “serious” trainers of being a“cookie pusher?” Expand your repertoire of motivators. Add a game of tug, a ball or toy to the mix of rewards for good behavior. Require a Sit before greeting people or other dogs. Cut back on treats on walks by using sniffing as a reward. Eventually, you will not need treats on the walk. Use petting and sincere praise to make you the best of all rewards.
8). Teach the Touch. The Touch is a versatile behavior, useful for a wide variety occasions, ranging from Agility, ringing a bell to go outside (or for room service), turning a light on and off, redirecting a reactive or jumping dog, finding positions such as heel (stationary and moving) and introducing a Stand. The Touch can be used to monitor a dog’s body language to gauge its comfort level. It will not approach a person’s hand at all, approach with hesitancy and caution or whip right up and Touch the hand with confidence. A very important use of Touch is to supplement the Recall. Often the Touch is taught with more consistency than the Come. There is no doubt that after watching the video below (3), many of you will be investing in a Winnebago and heading out on the doggie dancing circuit.
9). DMRR. Introduce a Daily Minimum Recall Requirement.This consists of 20- 30 repetitions every day. Call the dog back and forth between family members, play hide and seek, teach your dog to find family members by name. Call the dog from distractions like food and toys, on leash at first, then off leash. On walks, back up and call your dog to you periodically. Also, on walks, after releasing (holding the leash) your dog and allowing the dog to sniff, call him to you, reward lavishly with praise, treats and petting. Then send him back to sniff some more. Use a long line in public. Introduce the Touch, see 8). One use of the Touch is to supplement recall training. Every Touch 3’ or more counts toward your DMRR. Once, a famous golfer said, or perhaps it was said by all famous golfers, “The more you practice, the luckier you get.” (4).
10). Hand feed your dog’s meals. Experiment for a few days by hand feeding your dog. Working when hungry adds a bit of motivation. You were going to feed him anyway. Why not have him earn his keep, too? Working for kibble is getting your dog to work for minimum wage. Raise the value of rewards to union wages for more challenging situations in public. Hand feeding is a great way to get and keep your dog’s attention. You can generate a lot of repetitions from a measured out meal. You want so many repetitions that the behavior becomes automatic.
11). Plays well with others. Play dates are a great opportunity to teach your dog to to respond properly in a most distracting environment. Unlike a dog park, you have control of the variables. This requires a like minded accomplice, willing to train with you. Before play, at the first session go for a walk together to settle the dogs in. To begin, have your two dogs Sit and Release them to play. As long as the play is reciprocal and both dogs are going back for more, let it continue. If the energy level escalates and one or both dogs are getting too revved up or you are uncomfortable, halt the proceedings. Separate the dogs and let them decompress a while. Then have them Sit and return to play. After a time, put the dogs on leash or work off leash at a distance. Practice several minutes of basic obedience exercises. Have the dogs Sit and Release to play. When the energy wanes or there is a lull in the action, if your dog looks at you, praise him up to high heaven. Say his name, if he responds, lay on effusive praise. If he comes to you, reward him with praise, lots of petting and treats, a ball, a game of Tug, several Touches or whatever else he enjoys. Send him back to the fray. Over a number of play dates add your Come after he responds to his Name and work to call him at any point in the session. When the play date is over, find a comfortable chair and relax. Have a glass of wine or a cup of tea or what suits you. This is one of the most important parts of the training. Your dog can learn to chill out and relax in the presence of another dog. He begins to understand that life is not all party hearty.
12). Sociable Puppy. Lack of socialization with dogs and people is a major concern at present with Covid. What can one do to rectify this situation? Setting up playdates with appropriate dogs is ideal but often it is difficult to find even a single accomplice willing to train with you. See 11). A day care is another option. A facility approved by you will monitor the play with other dogs and introduce your dog to a few new humans. Dog parks can be very iffy places to venture. If you meet the same people and the same dogs at a regular time, a dog park could work well. Perhaps here you will find a person who would also like to set up playdates. How about a dog walker? Make sure the person is qualified. Take your dog to pet stores and home improvement centers. Many of these stores are spacious enough to keep your dog at a safe distance in the presence of people and dogs. This is second best to hands or paws on interaction but it is the best to be done presently. Work outside the store and make sure your pup is comfortable before venturing inside. Keep it short and sweet as your pup gets used to a new environment. Train and/or just hang out on a bench at parks, downtown or shopping centers. If going to the store, have one person go in while another works the dog outside. Hang out in the backyard of friends, relatives or good neighbors. Later, have these people play with and train your dog, under your supervision. The goal, eventually, is to leave your dog with them for short and then longer periods of time. Perhaps your dog may work her many charms and you discover a dog sitter! At any rate, this will broaden her horizons, build confidence and help avoid separation issues. She will always greet your return with a wagging tail. We want a dog to be happy coming and going.
13). Take A Nap With Your Dog. It feels great to get down at the same level with the old or young pup. He will teach you how to take a proper nap. You deserve it if you have read this far.
(1). This work is not likely to exist now or ever.
(2). The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Wikipedia
(3. (118) Touch - target training - Dog Training - YouTube Can be taught without a clicker
(4). The Harder I Practice, the Luckier I Get – Quote Investigator