One of the most basic tenets of dog training is that behaviors which are rewarded are likely to be established, while behaviors which are ignored – or unrewarded- will disappear over time. Although this may be true in some cases, in many instances ignoring your dog’s bad behavior is not likely to work. There are several reasons for this, which need further explanation in order to avoid unnecessary frustration for both you and your pet.
If you are a positive trainer, you may think you have no choice but to ignore a misbehaving dog – after all, we don’t want to reward or punish bad behavior. So what can we do?
Ways to Deal with Your Dog’s Bad Behavior
Whether barking at passers-by, jumping up to get food from the dinner table, or whining when left in their crate – a dog which insists on bad behavior can quickly become a source of annoyance. Most owners will tell you it simply impossible to ignore this behavior. After all, you cannot ignore a dog jumping on a countertop and stealing tonight’s steak, can you? The problem is that the concept of ignoring your dog’s bad behavior works in a controlled training environment, but is very difficult to manage in the real world, day to day.
Imagine you are in a controlled environment, and trying to teach your dog to sit. When the dog sits on command, he is rewarded. When he does not, the trainer simply ignores the “disobedience”, withholds the treat, and tries again. But many of your dog’s behaviors in the real world are actually a reward unto themselves – for instance, if every time they jump up on the counter they manage to snag something to eat, they don’t need your feedback. They have learned that the behavior will be “rewarded”.
Another problem is consistency. If you are eating dinner and your dog wants some scraps, he may first start with the puppy-dog eyes. If you ignore him, he is likely to move on to whining, and then putting his head in your lap. If he gets really persistent, he may start pawing at you or pushing his way into your space. It is at this point that many dog owners give in – if only to get some peace while they eat their dinner. The problem is, the dog has not learned not to bother you at dinner – he has learned that the more he bothers you at dinner, the greater the chance he will get fed! If you cannot commit to ignoring the dog no matter how persistent he becomes, each and every time, ignoring him will not work as a method of training.
The better way to deal with your dog’s bad behavior is by redirecting them. For instance, you may give your dog his favorite food at dinner time, to keep him happily dining on his own meal. If a dog in a crate won’t stop whining, take him out for a short potty break, then return him to the crate with a peanut-butter-filled Kong toy. If your dog won’t stop jumping on guests when they arrive, try scattering some tasty treats around on the floor before opening the front door. In these ways, the dog learns that the behavior is not acceptable, but if he responds correctly, he will be rewarded.
Overall, the hardest part to ignoring a dog’s bad behavior is that every member of the household must be 100% committed to the process at all times, and never give in – which most families find to be unrealistic. Finding a way to divert and redirect the behavior allows you to still positively train your dog, without having to endure frustrating battles of will. If you live in Sarasota or Bradenton and are struggling with training your dog effectively, don’t feel you have to go it alone! Call the professionals at Gulf Coast Dog Training to learn more about our training methods, plans, and classes.
