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Nothing In Life Is Free
Program:
(NILF)
This program has been very useful in training dogs that have decided they
will do as they please, regardless of your wishes. If you find yourself with a
dog that continually gets on your couch or bed and refuses to get off, or
insists on being petted when IT wishes to be petted, rather than when you decide
to pet it. This program may very well help you greatly! Same goes for those
"headstrong dogs," that flat our refuse to come when you call, defend their food
dish and toys from you and other humans in your household. "Nothing in
life is free" can help. "Nothing in life is free" is not a cure-all, that
will solve every behavior problem but it will help your canine companion to
behave better in your family "pack," because it trusts and accepts you as "the
pack leader," and is confident knowing its place in your family.
How to practice "nothing in life is free:"
- Using positive reinforcement methods, teach your dog a few commands
and/or tricks. "Sit," "Down" and "Stay" are important commands and of
course you can add "Shake," "Speak" and "Rollover" which are fun tricks to
teach your dog. Training your dog also has the pleasant side effect of
creating a stronger bond between canine and master.
- Once your dog knows a few commands, you can begin to practice "nothing in
life is free." Before you give your dog anything (food, a treat, a walk, a pat
on the head) it must first perform one of the commands it has learned.
For
example:
|
YOU |
YOUR DOG |
| Put your dog's lead on to go for a walk |
Must sit until you've put the lead on |
| Feed your dog |
Must sit and stay until you've put the bowl down and said "OK" |
| Wish to play a game of fetch or tug-o-war |
Must sit and shake hands each time you throw the toy |
| Wish to give the dog a treat |
Must sit, and perform one of the fun tricks you've taught him |
| Rub your dog's belly |
Must lie down and rollover before being petted |
- Once you've given the command, don't give your dog what it wants until it
does what you want. Being consistent is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT! If he refuses to
perform the command, walk away, come back a few minutes later and start the
process over again. If your dog refuses to obey the command, be patient
and remember that eventually it will have to obey your command in order to get
what it wants. (Think of the dog as a headstrong Teen, rebelling. Eventually
their desire for whatever it is they want, will outweigh their desire to
rebel, and they'll bend to your will.)
- Make sure your dog knows the commands well and understands what you want
before you begin practicing "nothing in life is free."
The benefits of this program:
- Most dogs assume a neutral (Omega) or submissive role toward people, but
some dogs will challenge their owners for dominance. Requiring a dominant dog
to work for everything it wants is a safe and non-confrontational way to
establish control. This in understood by the canine brain because it's desire
to understand it's "pack status," is ingrained.
- Dogs who may never display aggressive behavior such as growling, snarling,
or snapping, or otherwise acting out in a physical manner, may still manage to
attempt to subtly manipulate you. These dogs may display affectionate, though
"pushy" behavior, such as nudging your hand to be petted or "worming" its way
on to the furniture in order to be close to you. This technique gently reminds
even the subtly "pushy" dog that it must abide by your rules.
- Obeying commands helps build a fearful dog's confidence; having a strong
leader and knowing its place in the "pack," helps to make the submissive dog
feel more secure.
Why this technique works:
Animals that naturally live in packs, like dogs, establish a social structure
within the pack, commonly called a dominance hierarchy. This dominance hierarchy
serves to maintain order, reduce conflict and promote cooperation among pack
members. In order for your home to be a safe and happy place for pets and
people, it's best that the humans in the household (ALL the humans, young and
old) assume the highest positions in the dominance hierarchy. Practicing
"nothing in life is free" effectively and gently communicates to your dog that
its position in the hierarchy is subordinate to yours and the rest of your human
family as well. From your dog's point of view, children also have a place in
this hierarchy. Because children are small and can get down on the dog's level
to play, dogs often consider them to be playmates, rather than superiors. With
the supervision of an adult, it's a good idea to encourage children in the
household to also practice "nothing in life is free" with your dog.
*Undesirable behavior can be a result of
many things, including certain undetected illnesses. If your dog has suddenly
begun acting out of character, or you have ANY reason to believe their actions
may be health related, SEE YOUR VET. The NILF program is an accepted standard in
dog training/behavior but it is not intended to be a substitute for an
in-person, professional evaluation of your dog's behavior. This technique is
intended for dogs in good health and of sound mind and stable temperament.
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