Back to the Very Basics (part 4)

Have you ever baked a cake that came out lumpy or didn’t rise like it was supposed to, or just came out tasting awful?  Any baker can tell you when baking a cake it is very important to get all of your ingredients portioned correctly.  The miscalculation or absence of just one ingredient can make a perfect cake go terribly wrong.  You don’t have to be a baker or Einstein to realize that too much of anything is never good.  So why do we often forget that with our dogs? 

Riverside resident Carmen Gutierrez shares her experience with her Chihuahua who has become possessive of her in the two years they have had her. “Bella, my baby, was a rescue.  She was so tiny and scared when we brought her home we just wanted her to feel safe and loved.  Now she has to be with me 24/7 and she doesn’t really like anyone else around me.  I know I’ve spoiled her but I can’t help it. She’s so fragile.”  

As Cesar Millan would tell you, the ingredients for a well-balanced dog consists of 1 part exercise, 1 part discipline, and 1 part affection – in that order.  That is a pretty simple formula.  But why is it that when we bring a pup home, the first thing we give is an overabundance of affection?  This tends to give us a lumpy cake (an unbalanced dog).  With the New Year underway and the recent symbolic fresh start exercise (covered in Back to the Very Basics part 3), this is the time to quit that bad habit and start over, with good habits. 

First, Exercise.  Every dog needs it in one form or another.  Depending on your dog’s age, size and energy level, she needs at least 30 – 60 minutes of exercise per day.  Not only does exercise benefit your dog’s health but it also helps release her energy which leads to more successful training sessions.  Get in the habit of walking your dog daily.  If walking every day is too much to ask right away, set goals to work up to walking daily.  Start with twice a week, then three days a week, then every other day, and then daily.  If you need, ask someone to walk with you to help keep you motivated and accountable.  

Second, Discipline.  This is where training comes into play.  Just like children, dogs need boundaries and limitations.  If you let your dog make the rules or break your rules then all training goes out the window.  Starting over means it’s time to practice and master the base commands for all training. Come, Sit, Stay.  Those 3 basic commands set the foundation for all other obedience, and if your foundation is weak then you will never have consistent obedience.  It’s also important to remember that training is an ongoing thing.  It’s something you should work on every day and continue working on, even after your dog has mastered the command.

Third, Affection.  Give your affection out like it is a treat.  It is a reward for good behavior, a way to tell your dog she is doing what you want.  It should be given when she is calm and relaxed or when she has accomplished a task you set out for her.  You can give affection to a dog relaxing next to you, as you would be rewarding good behavior.  But if the dog is jumping on you, climbing you, or standing on you, that is dominant behavior and should be discouraged.  Also avoid giving your dog attention when she is hyper, that will only reinforce her hyper activity.   Overall, start taking notice of how your dog interacts with you.  We often make the mistake of mislabeling dominant and unbalanced behavior as the dog giving us affection or wanting to play, when in her mind she is telling us that she is in charge.    

Remember, it takes 21 consecutive days to form a new habit.  If you really want to see a change in your life and a change in your dog’s behavior, give yourself a true chance by working on these new challenges until you accomplish your goals.  Training can be very frustrating at times but it gets easier as you work on it.  The hardest part is starting.