Dog Training Consistency: The Key to Success & A Happy Dog
In today’s show, we emphasize the critical role of consistency in dog training, explaining that it's not just a concept but an absolute necessity for a dog to understand and adopt desired behaviors. They argue that inconsistency is the biggest barrier to successful training, leading to confusion and a lack of clear understanding for the dog.
Here's a breakdown of our key points:
Defining Desired Behavior: A major cause of inconsistency is the owner's lack of a clear picture of the behavior they want the dog to exhibit, rather than just knowing what they don't want. If you don't define it, the dog can't learn it.
All or Nothing: Consistency is an "all or nothing" proposition. Being consistent only some of the time is not conducive to learning and leaves the dog perpetually "lukewarm" in understanding.
Dog's Perspective: Dogs don't adopt human sensibilities. They learn rules based on consistent patterns. Inconsistency makes it incredibly difficult for them to grasp what is expected because the "rules" constantly change.
Common Denominator: Dogs are always trying to find the "common denominator" in situations. Consistent actions and cues from the owner help the dog identify what is desired and what works in any given situation.
Owner's Responsibility: Inconsistency often stems from owners placing the blame on the dog rather than acknowledging their own role in providing clear messages. Accepting that the dog's behavior is a byproduct of the owner's actions is crucial for becoming consistent.
Management for Consistency: Since it's impossible to actively train 24/7, management strategies are essential to prevent the dog from practicing undesired behaviors when the owner isn't actively training. This includes planning for situations where the dog might encounter triggers (e.g., jumping on guests when arriving home with hands full) and ensuring everyone who interacts with the dog (family members, dog sitters) follows the same protocols.
Sacrifice and Foresight: Consistency requires sacrifice, forethought, and ensuring everyone involved with the dog is on the same page. If a family has differing rules, the dog will gravitate towards the most reinforcing (often undesired) behavior.
Distinguishing Consistency: Having different rules for different dogs based on their individual needs (e.g., one dog allowed on the couch, another not) is not inconsistent. Inconsistency arises when the rules for a single dog change arbitrarily.
Trust and Leadership: Dogs gravitate towards and trust consistent owners because they provide clear, predictable boundaries. Inconsistent owners are perceived as unreliable and confusing, leading dogs to walk on eggshells.
Lifetime Commitment: Consistency isn't just for initial training; it should be maintained throughout a dog's life for their well-being and clear understanding.
Avoiding "Muddy" Cues: Repeating cues unnecessarily (e.g., "Good sit, good sit") or using them after the dog has already performed the behavior can confuse the dog and dilute the meaning of the verbal cue. Cues should be given before the desired action.
Dog's Interpretation: What an owner thinks they are teaching might not be what the dog is learning. Laura tells a story about teaching "heel" to illustrate how a dog can interpret a cue differently based on its own perspective, highlighting the need for trainers to consider the dog's point of view.
Ultimately, the message is that "clean training" through consistent application of clear rules and expectations is paramount for a dog's success and understanding.
Do you have any specific training challenges you're experiencing with your dog, or would you like to explore any of these points in more detail?