Does your dog need training or management

By Brad Waggoner
Columnist

Does your dog have behavior problems?  There are two solutions to problem behaviors, training and management and sometimes both are needed.

Management is keeping the dog from practicing unwanted behaviors. You’re not teaching the dog anything with management, but management is important to prevent the dog from practicing (thus getting better at it) the unwanted behavior. Management can also be important for the dog’s safety.

Management involves things such as having the dog on leash when guests arrive so you can prevent jumping, it means putting a lid on the trash can to prevent him from pulling out used tissues, using baby gates to keep your dog from counter surfing in the kitchen, and a solid fence to prevent him from roaming.

Training on the other hand teaches the dog what TO DO, by training alternative behaviors that are incompatible with the ones you don’t want. This might involve training the dog to sit politely to greet your guests vs. jumping on them. It could be training the dog look at you instead of barking at the dog walking down the road.  Of course this all works well if you’re there to reinforce those new behaviors, but what about when you’re not there? He may well stay out of the kitchen while you’re there letting him know what a good job he’s doing, but when you leave, and leave the roast on the counter, chances are he will practice the old habit of counter surfing. The answer seems simple, but often we miss the obvious, which is: don’t leave food out where the dog can get at it. Sometimes it’s our own habits that need to be modified to set the dog up for success.

Training your dog to let him know what is expected in your home, and managing the dog for his safety and success when you’re not training, along with giving him plenty of exercise will help insure a well behaved dog and a happy household.

Brad Waggoner is co-owner and trainer with Cold Nose College,  who enjoys bringing reward based training methods to pet dog owners in the tri-state area.  www.coldnosecollege.com