In Dog Training as in Life, You Get What You Pay For
Dog trainers say that some behaviors are more "expensive” than others. It’s behavioral economics, and we do it instinctively all the time with each other, with our children, and in the workplace. Only we don’t always do it with dogs.
Listen to the Whisper
Fergus often puts his ears back and turns his head away when Olivia approaches him. If Olivia gets closer or reaches for him, he gets up to leave. If she pursues him, he will roll over, showing his belly and staring at Olivia with wide eyes.
And when Fergus can’t get away fast enough, he growls.
This is Your Dog's Brain on Cheese
I remember being that owner who had been told not to feed my dogs “people food” lest it reveal my weak moral fiber, and I remember the sneaky pleasure of finally getting permission from a bona fide dog trainer to just go ahead and pull out the cheese. What a crime it is that we’ve been told not to use our most powerful motivator when trying to train a dog to do a really difficult behavior.
Tripping the Light Fantastic
Instead of saying no to all of your dog's deepest desires, simply figure out when and where you can say yes.