Pulling Weeds and Training Dogs
As I was pulling weeds in my garden, I was thinking about what to write for this week’s blog post. That’s when I began to wax poetic about the similarities between pulling weeds and dog training. Bob Bailey’s mantra, “Think Plan Do” works for both gardening and training!
Think
Think about what you want your garden to look like. Think about how you want your dog to behave. Have a dog who jumps on people? Have a dog who pulls when on leash? What would you like your dog to do instead? Saying, “Not jump on people” and “Not pull” isn’t good enough. Think of a behavior you would like your dog to offer that is incompatible with the behavior you don’t like.
Plan
Check the weather before pulling weeds in the garden. Gather a spade and gardening gloves. Feed your dog less/no breakfast before training. Fill up a treat bag. Make a training plan to teach your dog to sit when he’s approached by people. Make a training plan to teach your dog to look at you instead of pulling ahead on leash.
Do
Sit down and pull those weeds! With pulling weeds, less pressure can yield better results. Gentle pressure removes the weeds, roots and all. Pull too hard and you only break off the top of the weed leaving the roots behind. Kneeing your dog in the chest when he jumps may stop the jumping in the moment, but it will unlikely stop future jumping. From your dog’s point of view, a knee to the chest may be an invitation to wrestlemania. Jerking the leash when your dog is pulling may get her attention in the moment. However, she’s likely to go right back to pulling with the next distraction.
Start teaching your dog to sit with distractions. Feed your dog for remaining in a sit while you squeak a toy, bounce a ball, and jump around. Repeat the same type of exercise to reinforce attention with distractions. Teach your dog that a tight leash is a cue to look at you! Teach your dog to look at you when her name is called, even with distractions.
Need help with the Think Plan Do of dog training? Contact a force-free trainer. Behavior United is offering online group workshops addressing jumping, walking on leash, coming when called, leave it, and stay. Sign up for the skills you want to train and pay-as-you-go.
For more information and schedule, check out Skills Solutions Series. Jump School is this Sunday, see you in the classZoom!