Opportunistic Dog Training - Priming the Pump

Sharing this method of training has been on my mind for a long time, but in a world of "1,2,3's" and "Top 10's", it is difficult to sell the idea of "lifestyle change", even for diets. The fact is that one of my favorite things to do in the whole world is train an animal to perform a behavior on a cue, especially if that behavior is something they would not ordinarily do.

I promise you, with 100% certainty, that using the method I am going to share in this blog, you will positively be able to train your dog, cat, parrot, rabbit, guinea pig, child or even husband, to perform amazing behaviors and feats upon your command, or your money back.

The first thing I want you to completely erase from you mind is the concept of a training time, lesson, class, or any other structured period of time for you to accomplish your goals. Once you go down that road, you will spend additional time trying to convince your pupil that you want the behavior during other times, and in other locations, with a variety of distractions. We've all seen our friend beg their furry friend to play dead with one shot from the smoking finger only to get the RCA dog look in response. If you follow my plan from the beginning, you will never have to go back and re-train for all of the additional variables. When I say never, I mean not nearly as much. I say "never" a lot for emphasis.

"Elizabeth," you say, "if I have no designated training times, how am I supposed to train my pet?" Aha! That is where the lifestyle change comes in. When you decide you are ready for the lifestyle change of a better behaved pet, I want you to start by leashing her to your hip for the first two weeks straight! What about work, you say? Take a vacation. The time you invest up front will save you tons of time down the road. Trust me. Later I will tell you why you SHOULD trust me.

So now that Rufus is leashed to your Levis, lets get on with it. At first, it is going to be difficult. Kind of like when you had to carry that raw egg around in high school, you will find that there are many inconveniences to having your pooched tied to your leg like a member of some chain gang. But wait until you see how easy training will be!

Before we get on with the opportunistic dog training we have to prime the pump. The pump being the pooches desire to learn. He may have a little desire, but we want him to have that desire in spades. By the time we are finished with this priming the pump he is going to be watching your every breath for an indication that you are going to ask something of him. For this you will need two things, and DO NOT try to fudge on this. I want you to lanyard a clicker around your neck, and wear a fanny pack filled to the brim with his favorite treats. Not dog food, not dry old training cookies, but stuff like freeze dried liver, cooked chicken, cheese squares, anything that make your pooch loose his mind for the treat. It has to be better than good. He has to LOVE it. I insist.

So there you are, lashed down with clicker, dog and pouch full of goodies. What next you say? Now is the best and most fun part! Click the clicker and give your dog a treat. Don't say anything, don't even look at him, don't fuss. Just be VERY nonchalant. Now sit back down and continue reading this blog. In a few minutes, when he looses interest in you...POW!!! Click and treat again. No eye contact, no fuss, like you have no clue what even happened.

Go to the fridge with your now more willing and eager caboose in tow and get yourself a glass of juice. BANG!!! Click and treat. Sit in your favorite chair and thumb through a magazine....POP!!!! Click and treat!

Do this at least 25 times a day for two days. Please make the treats crazy good, but fairly small, even very small if you have a toy breed perhaps the size of a pea.

"Why do I have to wear the clicker, the dog and a fanny pack?" Because if you don't you will forget and you will cram all 25 clicks and treats in before bed time and that will not work. You have to do it everywhere you go, and at random intervals. Sometimes twice in 10 minutes, sometimes twice in an hour. Even better if you start each day with closer intervals for the first couple of hours, then gradually increase. Do it at the mailbox, in the bathroom, on the patio, in the car. Take your dog everywhere with you and click and treat. You will see a dog go from happy to see you to watching your every move to see if you are going to touch that clicker.

Now when I say do this for at least three days.....oh I said two? Anyhoo, as I was saying. Do it for three days, then gradually decrease the frequency to perhaps 10-15 per day. Click treat! Do it now! Now that you are a graduate of priming the pump, or "loading the clicker" as we trainers like to call it, you must now try to be very, very sneaky. Try to only do it when Brutus is looking out the window, or licking his paw, or even lightly snoozing.

IF your pet does not start jumping out of his skin every time you click that clicker, one of two things is wrong. You did not listen when he told you what his favorite treat was, or he is deaf and you need to get him to the vet right away for a hearing test.

Next week we will begin to learn just how fun marking behaviors can be with your pets new and improved eagerness to learn.