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10-02-2006, 07:03 PM | #1 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Canada
Posts: 860
| Controlling food makes huge change in yorkie behavior! I had mentioned this on a couple of other posts but thought I'd start a separate thread to see if anyone else had tried it. We were having a bit of difficulty with Topher (will be one year old on the 12th of Oct)....he was showing signs that he thought he was the boss around here. We knew that if we didn't nip this in the bud that things wouldn't get better...only more difficult. We enrolled him in obedience classes, and that's going well...hubby and I are learning alot..lol...but the most important thing I think I gained from the classes is what the trainer told us the first night.... that it's imperative that we control the dog's food. Apparently in the pack, the alpha dog always controls the food. We'd always left Topher's food out in his dishes on the floor so he could eat anytime he wanted...well, we stopped doing that and now put the food down three times a day for 20 minute intervals. It took a bit for him to learn but he's caught on and the change that it's made in his personality is amazing. He no longer steals things as much as he used to. If he does by chance take something that he shouldn't, he drops it right away when I tell him to. There are subtle little changes...things I can't even put into words but it's like he knows now that I'm the alpha....just from controlling his food...and it's been wonderful. A real positive change. I honestly didn't think that doing something so small as controlling his food would make such a difference...well, I was wrong and boy, I'm glad I was! |
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10-02-2006, 07:10 PM | #2 |
Cosmo, Minnie, and Lillian Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New York
Posts: 3,107
| I definitaly have to try that. My dogs take everything they shouldn't and when I tell them to drop it they make me chase them in circles! it's so frustrating! I got a question though...what do I do the first day like if I pick up the food and they get hungry cause they didn't eat what should I do? ignore them? Thanks for my answering my annoying questions I appreciate it. |
10-02-2006, 07:11 PM | #3 |
YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Pennsauken , NJ
Posts: 4,068
| interesting |
10-02-2006, 08:03 PM | #4 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Canada
Posts: 860
| Topher learned that he'd better eat when the food was down. I didn't let him go hungry, though...I didn't want to do that. I have to lie down a few times a day to rest so when I did I would take his food and put it next to me. If he didn't eat it I would hand feed him...he would have to do something to get his food...ie: sit, down, etc. but he usually would finish off his food. By hand feeding, again, I'm in control so that worked, too. It's been such an amazing change...even in the first week I saw changes in his behavior. One example..I used to have to literally chase him down to put in his topknot every day. I haven't had to chase him in weeks. Even to pick him up to put him in his crate when I go out or to put his harness on for when we go out it was always a chase...now he just lets me do it. No 'argument' so to speak. I'm amazed. Hubby was the one who was sure this change in the food would work...I balked at it, thinking that it wouldn't make any difference. Hubby was right <sigh> |
10-02-2006, 11:55 PM | #5 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: American in London
Posts: 1,739
| Many believe that a leader controls all the resources. In other words, not only should you be in charge of when he eats, but you should also not give attention on demand and you should control other resources like toys and bones. Does this mean you limit attention, toys, food, etc? No, absolutely not. It means that you give them on your terms, not on the dogs. This is the basis of the NILIF program. I'll post it below.
__________________ FirstYorkie We Love Clicker-Training! |
10-02-2006, 11:58 PM | #6 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: American in London
Posts: 1,739
| Nothing In Life Is Free (NILIF) The NILIF program is remarkable because it's effective for such a wide variety of problems. A shy, timid dog becomes more relaxed knowing that he has nothing to worry about, his owner is in charge of all things. A dog that's pushing too hard to become "top dog" learns that the position is not available and that his life is far more enjoyable without the title. It is equally successful with dogs that fall anywhere between those two extremes. The program is not difficult to put into effect and it's not time consuming if the dog already knows a few basic obedience commands. I've never seen this technique fail to bring about a positive change in behavior, however, the change can be more profound in some dogs than others. Most owners use this program in conjunction with other behavior modification techniques such as coping with fear or treatment for aggression. It is a perfectly suitable technique for the dog with no major behavior problems that just needs some fine tuning. ATTENTION ON DEMAND The program begins by eliminating attention on demand. When your dog comes to you and nudges your hand, saying "pet me! pet me!" ignore him. Don't tell him "no", don't push him away. Simply pretend you don't notice him. This has worked for him before, so don't be surprised if he tries harder to get your attention. When he figures out that this no longer works, he'll stop. In a pack situation, the top ranking dogs can demand attention from the lower ranking ones, not the other way around. When you give your dog attention on demand you're telling him that he has more status in the pack than you do. Timid dogs become stressed by having this power and may become clingy. They're never sure when you'll be in charge so they can't relax. What if something scary happens, like a stranger coming in the house? Who will handle that? The timid dog that is demanding of attention can be on edge a lot of the time because he has more responsibility than he can handle. Some dogs see their ability to demand attention as confirmation that they are the "alpha", then become difficult to handle when told to "sit" or "down" or some other demand is placed on them. It is not their leadership status that stresses them out, it's the lack of consistency. They may or may not actually be alpha material, but having no one in the pack that is clearly the leader is a bigger problem than having the dog assume that role full time. Dogs are happiest when the pack order is stable. Tension is created by a constant fluctuation of pack leadership. EXTINCTION BURSTS Your dog already knows that he can demand your attention and he knows what works to get that to happen. As of today, it no longer works, but he doesn't know that yet. We all try harder at something we know works when it stops working. If I gave you a twenty dollar bill every time you clapped your hands together, you'd clap a lot. But, if I suddenly stopped handing you money, even though you were still clapping, you'd clap more and clap louder. You might even get closer to me to make sure I was noticing that you were clapping. You might even shout at me "Hey! I'm clapping like crazy over here, where's the money?". If I didn't respond at all, in any way, you'd stop. It wasn't working anymore. That last try -- that loud, frequent clapping is an extinction burst. If, however, during that extinction burst, I gave you another twenty dollar bill you'd be right back in it. It would take a lot longer to get you to stop clapping because you just learned that if you try hard enough, it will work. When your dog learns that the behaviors that used to get him your attention don't work any more he's going to try harder and he's going to have an extinction burst. If you give him attention during that time you will have to work that much harder to get him turned around again. Telling him "no" or pushing him away is not the kind of attention he's after, but it's still attention. Completely ignoring him will work faster and better. YOU HAVE THE POWER As the human and as his owner you have control of all things that are wonderful in his life. This is the backbone of the NILIF program. You control all of the resources. Playing, attention, food, walks, going in and out of the door, going for a ride in the car, going to the dog park. Anything and everything that your dog wants comes from you. If he's been getting most of these things for free there is no real reason for him to respect your leadership or your ownership of these things. Again, a timid dog is going to be stressed by this situation, a pushy dog is going to be difficult to handle. Both of them would prefer to have you in charge. To implement the NILIF program you simply have to have your dog earn his use of your resources. He's hungry? No problem, he simply has to sit before his bowl is put down. He wants to play fetch? Great! He has to "down" before you throw the ball. Want to go for a walk or a ride? He has to sit to get his lead snapped on and has to sit while the front door is opened. He has to sit and wait while the car door is opened and listen for the word (I use "OK") that means "get into the car". When you return he has to wait for the word that means "get out of the car" even if the door is wide open. Don't be too hard on him. He's already learned that he can make all of these decisions on his own. He has a strong history of being in control of when he gets these resources. Enforce the new rules, but keep in mind that he's only doing what he's been taught to do and he's going to need some time to get the hang of it all. You're going to have to pay attention to things that you probably haven't noticed before. If you feed your dog from your plate do you just toss him a green bean? No more. He has to earn it. You don't have to use standard obedience commands, any kind of action will do. If your dog knows "shake" or "spin around" or "speak" use those commands. Does your dog sleep on your bed? Teach him that he has to wait for you to say "OK" to get on the bed and he has to get down when you say "off". Teach him to go to his bed, or other designated spot, on command. When he goes to his spot and lays down tell him "stay" and then release him with a treat reward. Having a particular spot where he stays is very helpful for when you have guests or otherwise need him out of the way for a while. It also teaches him that free run of the house is a resource that you control. There are probably many things that your dog sees as valuable resources that I haven't mentioned here. The NILIF program should not be a long, drawn out process. All you need to do is enforce a simple command before allowing him access to what he wants. Dinner, for example, should be a two or three second encounter that consists of nothing more than saying "sit", then "good dog!", then putting the bowl down and walking away. ATTENTION AND PLAY Now that your dog is no longer calling the shots you will have to make an extra effort to provide him with attention and play time. Call him to you, have him "sit" and then lavish him with as much attention as you want. Have him go get his favorite toy and play as long as you both have the energy. The difference is that now you will be the one initiating the attention and beginning the play time. He's going to depend on you now, a lot more than before, to see that he gets what he needs. What he needs most is quality time with you. This would be a good time to enroll in a group obedience class. If his basic obedience is top notch, see about joining an agility class or fly ball team. NILIF DOES *NOT* MEAN THAT YOU HAVE TO RESTRICT THE AMOUNT OF ATTENTION YOU GIVE TO YOUR DOG. The NILIF concept speaks to who initiates the attention (you!), not the amount of attention. Go ahead and call your dog to you 100 times a day for hugs and kisses!! You can demand his attention, he can no longer demand yours! Within a day or two your dog will see you in a whole new light and will be eager to learn more. Use this time to teach new things, such as 'roll over' or learn the specific names of different toys. If you have a shy dog, you'll see a more relaxed dog. There is no longer any reason to worry about much of anything. He now has complete faith in you as his protector and guide. If you have a pushy dog he'll be glad that the fight for leadership is over and his new role is that of devoted and adored pet. ©1999 Deb McKean
__________________ FirstYorkie We Love Clicker-Training! |
10-03-2006, 04:27 AM | #7 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Canada
Posts: 860
| Wow...that's totally fascinating! And it makes sense. With the changes we've made in the way we handle things with Topher...the food being one...plus other things we're learning in obedience (some relating to what's in this article), he IS a much more relaxed dog. He doesn't bark nearly as much as he did before. (not that he was a huge barker) When someone came to the door before, he'd bark a bit and get little agitated...now, he looks to me to see what I'm going to do...whether or not I'm going to get up to answer the door. Like I said, the changes are so subtle sometimes it's hard to remember them all. It's been an amazing journey and a real education for me. Hubby has understood this 'pack mentality' far more than me....I've been more of the hesitant one thinking that this stuff wouldn't work. lol All I know is that I hope to learn more about this. Thanks for posting that article, FirstYorkie..do you use these methods? |
10-03-2006, 04:42 AM | #8 |
Owned by 3 furballs Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Texas
Posts: 6,581
| Very interesting..........thanks for sharing.
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10-03-2006, 05:10 AM | #9 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 149
| Fascinating article~really makes sense. Will be putting this information into action. Thank you for sharing as well!!! |
10-03-2006, 09:08 AM | #10 |
Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Georgia
Posts: 213
| Thanks for that post. It is very interesting! I think we're ging to give it a try!
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10-03-2006, 09:23 AM | #11 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Midwest
Posts: 1,194
| [ Wow! This is fascinating reading! I'm glad you emphasized that you don't have to withhold attention or affection....I was getting worried during the middle of the article! Francie |
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