Sit Ubu sit!....Good Dog!

If I could pick one suggestion for dog owners, whether they have dogs who are driving them nuts, or they have pooches who just need a little tweaking. I'd start with "Sit for Everything." *

It's just like it sounds: Your dog doesn't receive anything until he does the basic command "sit." And I ain't talkin' about, "Sit....sit....Sparky, siiiiit....SIT!" I'm talkin' about, "Sit." And if you don't get a nice sit within 3 Mississippi's, you walk away. No second chance. No getting frustrated. No, "UGH! Bad Sparky! I'm trading you in for a CAT!" Just turn and walk away, cooler than Bogart strutting away in the Casablancan fog.

In the world of psychology this is called Negative Punishment. It's not negative because it's bad, it's negative because you're taking away something that has value. For example, you have a bowl of dog food in hand and you say, "Sit," nice and firmly. Sparky looks at you and doesn't do anything.

(1 Mississippi.....2 Mississippi....3 Mississippi...).

So you simply take away the food that has value to him by putting it on the counter and walk away ("Louie, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful...leadership.").

If Sparky were a ten year old child, this would be like saying, "You didn't clean your room so I'm taking away your Xbox." Those of you who have kids near this age know that Xbox has HUGE value and the room will be cleaned faster than they can finish their Halloween candy.

If Sparky follows you around whining, or barks protesting--no food until Sparky is calm for quite some time. No feeling bad for bad behavior! Once back in the kitchen, at least 20 minutes later--hold the bowl, look at Sparky and firmly say, "Sit." Recycle above if Sparky doesn't sit.

Before Sparky can go outside, whether leashed or going out in the back yard, he needs to "sit." Ask once and make him think about it. This makes an overly excited dog really have to calm down and think, a dominant dog feel the shift in leadership, an anxious dog calmer because someone is in control. If after 3 Mississippi's he's not sitting--you walk away.

***I find it's a lot easier for people who are frustrated with their dog's behavior to stay calm when they can just walk away instead of demanding a behavior. However, consistency is the only way to make this work.

Sparky walks up and wants to get some attention? "Sit." Sparky wants to get into the car? "Sit." Before the car door closes? "Sit." After the doorbell rings Sparky wants to see who's there? "Sit." Sparky wants a treat? "Sit." Sparky wants to watch The Bachelor on TV? We need to have a consultation about what you are allowing your dog to watch.....

Once Sparky's sitting for everything, hold the sit. Make Sparky wait and calm down. Make sure to give him calm praise when he does sit.

REMIX:

• Sparky has to sit before getting anything.
  
• Walk away if Sparky doesn't sit after 3 Mississippi's. No reward for no sit.
  
• When Sparky does sit he gets rewarded by getting what he wants--and make sure to give him lots of verbal and praise when he does get the hang of "Sit for Everything" (positive reinforcement).

*If your dog doesn't know the command "sit" you have to train that behavior before this method works. Otherwise you'll merely be barking a command like, "Cartwright!" and your dog has no clue that the word is associated with an action.