#1 Freedom After the No

Highfives Insights #1: Say No. Stop the bad behavior, and then enjoy the freedom of a happy dog. 

Giving your dog clear ‘Yes and No’ feedback is the way to gain a dog who trusts and respects you. Many people just say the Yes’s and ignore saying the No's. Guess what that creates? A dog who might know exactly what to do but thinks he has options, because the motivation for him to make the right choice relies only on giving him what he wants. What happens if he is more motivated to want something else such as a distraction or follow his own instinct? He’ll decide against being obedient and begin making his own decisions which could get you and him in trouble, even becoming fatal. 
It could start as simple as a dog who steals items for fun, who then becomes a dog who bites a child over a stolen item. It could start as a dog who doesn't obey commands who then becomes a dog who gets hit by a car when running across the road. Or a dog who doesn't have rules in the house and ends up stealing something dangerous off the countertop. Or even a dog who has anxiety issues and then becomes majorly reactive to the point of aggression. These issues simply CANNOT be fixed with only treats and pleading. 

There are a lot of different methods of training out there. The newest trend is taking a stand against any training that is 'not purely positive'. Saying No is viewed as borderline abusive these days. Let me break it to you... Nothing is completely positive in life. The 'positive' training itself implements intimidation, withholding reward, putting others in dangerous situations, restraint in way of a leash, isolation in way of timeouts, and the biggest factor: a prolonged training regimen which keeps the dog and/or the owner in a state of suffering when the situation could actually be changed in a moment. 
I believe the ownership of dogs comes with major responsibility, not just for the public who we come in contact with but also to our dogs' state of minds. That means sometimes we do have to tell our dogs they aren't in a good state of mind. Wouldn't you like if someone could snap you out of a negative state of mind and replace it with relaxation? To me, that's much more positive and humane even though it does require correction. 

Saying No or disagreeing with a behavior/energy is not abusive or detrimental. On the contrary, it actually opens up the door for you to give a lot more praise, freedom, and encouragement to your dog for the right things he chooses to do afterwards. Also REMEMBER saying No shouldn’t take up more than 3 minutes a day... The rest of the day is all about using proper guidance, reinforcement, and activity to work with your dog. If you are constantly nagging your dog to the point of frustration, it might be time to review your approach in delivering consistent feedback.

So don't nag but also don't ignore bad behavior or it will never get resolved. Instead, make your rules clear, your feedback consistent, and you'll be able to enjoy the dog you've always wanted!

No train no gain!

Jenna