Here are three tips on when to use Nothing In Life Is Free (NILIF) when training your dog.
1. Jumping
You get home from work and your dog is happy to see you. So happy, in fact, that he jumps up on you in greeting. You bend down to pet your dog, happy to see him. You might say down, but you aren't really upset. After all, how can you be upset with someone who is happy to greet you?Although we may love the greeting ritual, it is important to stop it. When your dog is jumping on you, she is asking for your attention. When you pet her, you are telling her that it is ok to jump on you. Even when you tell her no, you are still inviting her to jump up on you more. She is jumping on you for attention. Even negative attention counts.The best way to fix this problem is to ignore it. Let her jump until she is panting, just don't give in to her demands for attention. This is one of the hardest behaviors to overcome, because in the short term it is far easier to give into your dog to stop the current jumping than it is to hold out and break the habit altogether. If your dog jumps on you, turn your back to your dog.
2. Feeding
If you free feed your dog throughout the day, stop. Dogs should be fed twice a day. When you go to feed your dog, have him sit before you give him food. If he natural sits, have him lay down instead. It is not so important what your dog does as it is that your dog is following a command or working for the food.When the dog is done eating, take away the food bowl, even if your dog is not done eating. She will soon learn that she must eat when you provide her food and that she will not have food available at other times.Of course, if your dog has a health issue, that takes priority over NILIF.
3. Furniture
If you let your dog lay on the furniture with you, it might be better to stop that habit. A dog that is allowed on the couch knows that he is equal to all the other pack members. If you want to allow your dog on the furniture with you, make it by invitation only.
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