I think we should collectively agree about something. Here it is; relationships are not actually the way they are portrayed in the movies. If you attempt to smack your significant other across the face during an argument, don’t count on it ending up in some mushy romantic scene on the closest sofa. Likewise, while playing a game of touch football the chances are slim that you will somehow get tangled up with some gorgeous guy that you’ve never met before and have him end up on top of you staring longingly into your eyes before he helps you to your feet. Slim chances I say.

Got it?

Likewise, dogs don’t arrive into people’s homes understanding full sentences of English and having a built-in desire to do exactly what every member of the family wants him to do.

That also is fiction.

The kind of fiction that is reserved for animated cartoons and 2 hour Disney movies. However, it doesn’t mean we can’t have our happily ever after with our dogs.

Today I’m going to share with you how it can happen… even with the dog you currently own. Even if you think your dog is “stubborn” or “stupid” or “lazy.”

It all comes down to recognizing and utilizing what your dog “values”.

That is, what he LOVES more than anything else in the world. The BEST training (in my books that is training without the physical or mental intimidation of the dog) … the best training takes the value of what the dog loves most of all and transfers it into whatever it is you want.

In this video I am teaching a group of students how to effectively transfer the value of something your dog loves into the dog LOVING his crate.

 

Transfer of value is what is missing in many dog training programs. Some rely on “luring” the dog…having the dog follow a tidbit of food or a favourite toy in order to get the dog to do something. The fallout of that is the value stays with the food or toy. When the dog realizes you don’t have it… he is far less likely to comply with your wishes.

That’s where the next methodology of training comes in and students are told to “make” the dog do what you want. We are bigger, stronger and smarter so we should be able to do that right? Of course we “can”…but that doesn’t make it the right choice for the dog’s education or well being.

Effective dog training should be filled with joy for both the dog and the student. It’s about balancing “values” and transferring it where you need it. As my mentor Bob Bailey has often said, good training is simple…but it isn’t always easy.

In the video above I used Crate Games as model for explaining transfer of value. We now have Crate Games available online due to popular request.

Today I am grateful for Simona, Lynda, Sharon, Lisa, Phil, Khorshed and Joy from team Say Yes, for giving our blog a much needed and long overdue facelift! Lovely to have a fresh look with brand new functionality!