DIY Dog Training
Some tips on helping your dog become a Model (Singapore) Citizen
One myth I would like to bust for my fellow Singaporeans is that basic obedience dog training can only be done by dog trainers. I am a huge proponent of responsible dog ownership, and that means dog owners need to understand basic dog needs and wants, and to respond appropriately in order to foster the best behavior you want in your dog. Don’t be afraid to embark on DIY dog training, even if you work 9 hours a day. My husband and I trained Chowbox entirely on our own while we both held full-time jobs, and we have received praises for how well-trained Chowbox is when he is around other dogs. Of course, all training must be supported by adequate exercise and love showered on your dog for this to work. If you love your dog, then you shall be determined enough to spend quality training time with your dog every day. The key is to be completely consistent, and to follow through.
Before I begin I have to add that having a dog is really like having a kid. A bullying, disruptive and disobedient dog is akin to a Primary 2 Singaporean child that screams, kicks and shouts to get what she wants. You know, those kids we love to hate back in school. The same way that we have to respect these children’s parents, we are not allowed to discipline other owners’ dogs unless requested to. Do know however that it is highly annoying to be around a spoilt dog, so it is our responsibility to teach our own dog the guidelines to living in a packed city like Singapore, and to coexist with other dogs — and people — in the best way possible.
If you have the financial resources to attend basic obedience training classes with your dog, then by all means do go for it! However, if you send your dog to a trainer and then never follow up with daily reinforcements, then your dog will never learn basic obedience. Dog training isn’t a magic formula. Provide consistent leadership for your dog to follow and you will have an excellent companion for life. For starters, here are some tips and ideas on how you can use positive reinforcement to train your dog on the daily little things. Use a clicker if you can find one, as it’s more accurate and effective for training. If you can’t find a clicker, then simply use precise praise and encouragement. Always praise (or click) and treat your dog at the precise moment you want to reinforce.
Jumping on People: This is dangerous, especially in our multi-cultural and multi-religious Singapore. The next time you stop to talk to a neighbour, if your dog jumps up onto your neighbour’s leg, get him to turn around or step away and ignore your dog until she is calm, or sitting down. By doing this, you are rewarding her calm behavior with your neighbour’s love and attention (and praise), while withholding the reward if she jumps up. Dogs who are used to getting full-on attention will tend to pause for a moment (I call this ‘shock’), and it is this precise ‘pause’ you want to encourage. At the pause, immediately get your dog to ‘sit’, and once she is sitting down, get your neighbour to give her a big hug. We practised this on Chowbox with most of my friends (it got pretty hilarious) when he was a puppy, and now he never jumps on anyone. This is good because he weighs a hefty 23 kilograms, and would probably give you a rude shock if he jumped up and landed on you.
Sit-Stay as the definitive “Please”: Having your dog sit and stay before getting anything is wonderfully helpful for the both of you. For your dog, she learns patience and that good things will come when she waits patiently. For you, things are now manageable around the house without her rushing around and causing chaos. To start off, teach your dog to Sit and Stay, and once she has recognized these commands, then request for a Sit-Stay before she receives anything, for example a meal, a toy, to go out, or even to receive a hug. After a few consistent times, she will internalize it. Now, all I have to do is look at Chowbox and he will perform a Sit-Stay for me.
Chowbox, the model Sit-Stayer with the protruding lower teeth
Wipe My Paws, Please: Here’s a neat trick we taught Chowbox to perform for us every single time before he enters the house. Chowbox would lie on his side (or a ‘Bang’ position) and wait for his paws to be wiped with a cloth. He patiently tolerates our wet cloth as we wipe him down, and only gets up when we say “Okay, go play!” This is miraculous for curing dirty paw prints on your wonderful floor, and doubles up as a desensitization to any future vet touching your dog’s paws.
Our client, Jojo, getting his feet wiped and massaged before entering the house!
There are more daily occurrences that you can turn into fun training and learning for your dog. Think of the ideal dog that you want, and begin by introducing these ideal behaviors to your dog. Trust me, having a wonderful dog that listens to you is definitely achievable, even in tiny, compact, noisy, hot and humid Singapore. Your dog has an inherent need to please and love you, so why not tap into that to reinforce some positive behavior?
Jun Yeo is the owner of Up For Paws, a dog daycare that believes in positive reinforcement, responsible dog ownership, and a dog-friendly Singapore city for the win! She can be contacted at woof@upforpaws.com.
Image by Marvin Lowe Photography
