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Originally Posted by Brendajoyce  Working here on the NILIF. It's hard work especially as I just instinctively reach to pet and such. Also realize that I need to work with both dogs. There are a lot of things they do and have been free to do like getting on couch to sleep or get in my bed when I am in it. How do I handle them? Do I take them down and say anything? That would be punishment to them. The kong is a great idea. It may work for him. Definitely not for Taz, I think this NILIF requires more discipline from me than dogs. But, they say it will become second nature.
yorkietalkjilly I allow barking it's just that he gets going and will not stop.. Also it seems like he is demanding I do something, or talking to me with looking at me and barking. This bark is different and almost like he's communicating to me. I will refuse to do what he wants and ignore him. |
Oh, believe me, I get it. I'm sure we all allow our dogs to bark to a healthy degree and even more as we're all died-in-the-wool doglovers and hate to deny them anything but it's important we teach them to go "quiet" on command and that they do it so just teach him to bark on command and in time, add the quiet and he'll comply. That barking will get better as you train him and he becomes a calmer, less impulsive dog, trust me. As he becomes older and calmer with trainer and self-restraint, he'll find barking less rewarding than pleasing you is.
Just deny the dogs jumping on the couch by instantly saying "uh oh" in a matter-of-fact voice when they spontaneously jump up on their own. Later, show them the secret to getting up on the couch: Ask them to "sit" or "lie down" of whatever you want them to do and once they have done that, pat the couch and say "Jump up!" in an upbeat voice and they will in time learn that you control when and who jumps up onto the couch and each and every time they jump up without stopping to "ask" you(by looking at you or going in circles or putting their paws up on the side of the couch), that you will take them back off immediately and the only entre to the couch is you asking them to perform a command and their doing it. The NILIF program allows you to teach your dog to ask or otherwise delay his impulses until he is allowed to do something and in time, he's right on board with the program, happily showing you have fast he can get his command right so he can get what he wants.
Yes!!! Training a dog involves the will and dedication of the dog trainer far more than it does the dog! And furthermore, we have to make them want to train and learn, keep it fun and interesting and re-engage them should their mind wander. That's the secret of dog training! You have to more more determined than the dog! Not for the faint-hearted or dilettante, believe me. Once you get into though and your dog begins to learn, to love working, learns how to control his impulses and do what you ask and enjoys the process so much, your pride in his accomplishments and he changing good behavior begins to grow somewhat addicting and at the very least, fun and interesting. It's not easy but, oh, the rewards of training last a lifetime and make living with a happy, spunky dog who is quick to obey you, almost never disobeys and is a joy to live with it really worth it.