Does your dog get underfoot as you move through the house or yard? Is walking on a leash difficult because your dog is criss-crossing dangerously in front of your path? Is it difficult to work with your performance dog who always wants to swing in front of you and look you straight in the eye?
From day one of adopting a dog we humans want to connect with our dogs face to face. We talk to them when they are in front of us. We call them to us and reward them for being in front of us. We initiate play by bringing a toy in front of us. We set the bowl of food down in front of us. We train them to sit, lie down, shake hands, stack in the show ring, retrieve to hand in front of us. Being in front of us is very rewarding.
But could you change that by convincing your dog that being at your side is equally rewarding? Can each of you turn your heads in such a fashion that you can easily have eye contact with your dog at your side? Can you talk to and pet your dog when they are at your side, or when YOU have moved to THEIR side? Can you initiate tug with a toy at your side? Can you place the food bowl down at your side? Can you give all food rewards and treats by moving to your dog’s side (instead of demanding that they move to YOUR side) and feeding there instead of feeding from the front?
This type of default behavior at your side has no effect on performance Sit In Front when the Sit In Front has been appropriately taught and reinforced only when the cue has been given.
From day one of adopting a dog we humans want to connect with our dogs face to face. We talk to them when they are in front of us. We call them to us and reward them for being in front of us. We initiate play by bringing a toy in front of us. We set the bowl of food down in front of us. We train them to sit, lie down, shake hands, stack in the show ring, retrieve to hand in front of us. Being in front of us is very rewarding.
But could you change that by convincing your dog that being at your side is equally rewarding? Can each of you turn your heads in such a fashion that you can easily have eye contact with your dog at your side? Can you talk to and pet your dog when they are at your side, or when YOU have moved to THEIR side? Can you initiate tug with a toy at your side? Can you place the food bowl down at your side? Can you give all food rewards and treats by moving to your dog’s side (instead of demanding that they move to YOUR side) and feeding there instead of feeding from the front?
This type of default behavior at your side has no effect on performance Sit In Front when the Sit In Front has been appropriately taught and reinforced only when the cue has been given.
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