My Sidekick and Me: Behaviors

By Lisa Desatnik, CPDT-KA, FFCP, FDM, CPBC

Greeting visitors. Attaching a leash. What do all these events have in common? For one, they all are valuable activities for your dog. For two, they can cause you a lot of frustration.

Let’s reframe your seeing those activities as the enemy because the opportunity to do all those things can help you teach behaviors YOU would like to see.

First, ask yourself, what is it that your dog does to cause your feelings of frustration?

I am guessing…it could be that your dog jumps on your visitors and barks/runs around you when you take out your dog’s leash.

It is your dog’s behaviors that are causing you frustration.

Why is your dog doing those behaviors? I can assure you, it is NOT to irritate you. To understand the WHY, you must look at the consequences.

From your dog’s perspective, jumping on visitors GETS social stimulation/energy release/attention/possibly play or food. Barking and running around GETS leashed to be attached and attached leashes usually mean exciting outdoor time is ahead.

Consequences are the teachers of behavior. If you want to understand why a behavior is continuing, look at what is happening AFTER the behavior.

If you want to change behaviors like these, you’ve got to think about two things: how can you manage the environment to prevent practice of unwanted behavior and teach what behaviors you would rather your dog do instead.

The Premack Principle states that a high probability behavior will reinforce the less probable behavior, and this does not always have to be positive, just more probable. As an example, going out to train animals or play pickleball are higher probability for me than writing this column. I know that when I finish this, I can leave for pickleball. Therefore, I am going to finish quicker in order to get ready to leave.

How does this relate to training?

Teaching a dog to do a wanted behavior in the most positive and least intrusive way, do it more, and do it precisely as you would like for it to look is not about forcing or controlling your dog or pet. It is about knowing what YOUR pet values in life. Then setting things up so that access to what your pet values comes from doing what you value.  It is not about you being the awesomeness police, barricading your pet from dirt, grass, toys and other people. It is about teaching your pet that the opportunity to dig, smell, chase, play, and be petted by strangers is gained by first listening to and doing something you ask him to do.

Do you want to go outside?
Awesome! Ask your dog to do a behavior he knows first.

Can you walk a step or two by my side?
Super! Let’s go sniff the fire hydrant!

Do you want to play a game of fetch?
Can you sit in front of me and give me eye contact? Terrific, chase the ball!

The list can go on and on.

Remember to teach your dog the skills or behaviors that you want to see FIRST outside of the context of the situation in which you want to play with the Premack Principle.

What is so cool about this is that, teaching like this sure does make the lesson fun AND important to your student!

Lisa Desatnik, CPDT-KA, FFCP, FDM, CPBC, with So Much PETential was voted 2024 Cincinnati’s Best Community Choice Award winner in pet training. She is a certified dog trainer, a certified Family Dog Mediator, and the first trainer in Hamilton County to earn Fear Free certification. She is also a licensed Family Paws Parent Educator. She is committed to using and teaching the most positive, science-based approaches to changing behavior. For more information, visit SoMuchPETential.com.