Training your pet is about building consistency around a habit, a cue or a command and it’s reward. Building those habits takes time, sometimes more time than we’d like to admit or stay committed to! I know - I struggle with it myself sometimes with training Radar, completing things with the twins, or even building my own habits for myself! You’re not alone! The more animal behaviour and training courses I take, the more I’m finding ways to apply it to all the toes and tails in the house!
Consistency is usually the biggest culprit when I sit down with clients to discuss what our goals are when we work together. “I want him to {insert a command such as come, sit, stay} when I ask!” or “ I don’t want them jumping on the {counters, neighbours, kids, other animals...}!” As we look deeper into the offending behaviours, it is revealed that we’re not being as consistent about our requests, requirements or our rewards. We may be using multiple commands for the same behaviour, or we’re having different standards for the same behaviour depending on who is cuing that behaviour.
“Do it again and again.
Consistency makes the raindrops to create holes in the rock.
Whatever is difficult can be done easily
with regular attendance, attention and action.”
– Israelmore Ayivor
The power of a raindrop doesn’t seem like much on its own, same as a little trickle of water running down a slope, but we all know that the rain will erode away stones, or that that little stream of water can shape entire canyons as it grows and flows. If the raindrop analogy doesn’t work for you, think about how small, repetitive scratches at the door slowly create a hole, or how persistent chewing on a toy slowly destroys it. Those analogies might be closer to some of our personal experiences recently. Choosing to be consistent, even with just one or two commands, habits or methods can change how you and your pet build your bond! That consistency will build up those habits, ingrain those responses, and build up the trust between you and your pet so that you can do more!
So what are some of the consistency tips you can work on to unlock the potential in the behaviours of you and your pet?
Tip #1: Consistent Cues/Commands
This sometimes surprises clients. We don’t always realize that we may have more than one word we are using to prompt a behaviour. One of the first things I discuss with clients is creating a list of all the commands they use, as often there are some behaviours that are being cued in multiple ways, or one word being used for multiple behaviours. An example is DOWN. We often use this word to have our dog lay down, or to get off when they jump up. This is where isolating that command to one specific behaviour helps! I like to encourage using DOWN to ask your pet to lay down, and use the command OFF when they’re jumping up.
My favourite example is from one of my training clients who was concerned about how her French Bulldog pup didn’t seem to know his name. It was one of the first things she brought up when we discussed her concerns and goals. So I asked her, “What name do you use to call him?” As we talked, we realized she used a variety of nicknames to get his attention. She rarely used his actual name! This was also the case for everyone else in the house. First thing we worked on was the Name Game, and she had to have a chat with her pack about using just his name.
The more consistent the cue/command, the more consistent the behaviour! It decreases the confusion about what you are asking your pet to do! Creating that list helps us specify which words we want to use and when. Your list doesn’t have to be fancy but I have a cute little printout for clients to fill out and hang on their fridge. This makes the list visible as a reminder for them, and also everyone else in the house.
Tip #2: Consistency within the Pack
The more people involved in living with your pet, the more likely there will be various cues and commands being used. Who knows, maybe you have one of your children aspiring to be a dog trainer! Unbeknownst to you, they go practice by themselves behind the grain bins on the farm, developing a completely different set of cues for the poor confused family dog! I did that with Rebel, our family’s black lab, when I was little. I imagined we were in dog shows, in the circus performing tricks, exploring new lands or doing daring rescues over mud puddles! Looking back, Rebel had so much patience with me, and so did my parents!
Our pets get confused when there are too many different cues for the same behaviour! It's similar to the confusion we experience, when we’re instructed to do something in different ways by different people. Having everyone agree to use the same commands for the same behaviour, increases the probability that the behaviour will be rewarded consistently! This means your pet will consistently want to do that behaviour when you ask! This makes everyone happier!
When I’m sitting down for that first chat with my clients, I like to have everyone involved as much as possible while we discuss training goals, this includes the kids! Having the kids help create this list encourages them to be consistent with the commands and be more involved with your pet, boosting their confidence and relationship with your pet! Identifying those various cue words between family members reduces the confusion for everyone!
Remember that list I discussed in the first key? It should be used here too! Have everyone build the list together, agree on it, and then hold them accountable by signing it. Next, display that list where everyone can see. This is how I have my Training Commitment List set up. I also took some time to make it look nice.
Tip #3: Focus on a couple commands at a time.
Our pets can be so smart! Some of them learn so quickly, we want to add more cues to their repertoire! The confidence gained when you can show off all the tricks is empowering! Without consistency, this impressive list of commands can become overwhelming and confusing - for both you and your pet! Focus on a couple key commands, ensuring that your pet has them understood completely, and you are confident with it too, before progressing to another command. This tip works in partnership with tip #4!
Key #4: Break it down and build it up!
It’s so easy to expect our pets (our kids, or ourselves) to be able to accomplish what we’re asking right away. We have so much faith in their abilities! Sometimes it works, but most of the time we need to break it down into smaller steps or progressions, which we can reward, build upon, or add onto! Almost every behaviour/command can be broken down into smaller steps, but this means taking a moment to stop and think about how you would do each step. We are so experienced in the pattern it can be hard to break it down. Consider the effect of a slow motion video to help visualize it, if that helps.
A basic example is SIT! Our pets are not going to sit for extended periods of time right away. Young puppies don’t understand immediately what you are asking when you say “SIT!” You can visualize exactly how they should move to make this happen, but at this time your pup is just staring at you adoringly, with no behaviour to associate to that funny sound you just said. So, break it down:
You need to start by guiding their head up and gently pushing their bum down, prompting SIT and rewarding when their bum contacts the ground.This will need to happen a few times, and then the SIT happens when you prompt! (I’m trying to keep the example short; we all know it doesn’t always happen this fast!)
You move to standing up and prompting SIT and rewarding.
Next is taking a step or two away, coming back and rewarding when their bum stays on the ground.
You slowly increase the distance, move around your pet in a circle, go around a corner; progressing when you get a consistent response!
It takes time, and you may have to go back a step to have a positive YES to celebrate and stop on!
Tip #5: Know when to reward!
This is where working with your trainer or behaviour consultant helps! You only have seconds to reward the behaviour! Sometimes, we are physically not fast enough or near enough to do it! That’s when being able to discuss methods of rewarding like clicker training,praise, and other positive reinforcement cues can make it easier. Knowing how you want the behaviour to look is important as well! Did you want a nice straight sit, or are you okay with a flop over to one side?
Knowing when to reward also means not allowing ourselves to be lazy and ignoring the correct behaviour. Take that moment to reward and praise, building on the consistency and also on your bond! LOL, this may mean that you have treats in every pocket of every piece of clothing you have! (Bonus tip: Remember to take them out before washing, as wet treats are not fun to scrape out of those pockets when you do laundry!)
Of course, there is still one thing that supports all of these tips: Practice makes perfect! Scheduling time to practice the behaviours is the biggest part! Having a set time to do drills is recommended, ideally 10-15 minutes a day or a few times a day! Keep those sessions short and sweet, and end on a positive win! Also, incorporating the commands you want to practice into your everyday routine helps you practice too! This can be as simple as asking for SIT or DOWN before feeding, going out doors or gates together, and before meeting people while on a walk. Rewarding a calm DOWN while lying on their mat while preparing dinner or waiting for the kids at school pickup (this situation is harder because of all of the distractions). These situations are great opportunities to build upon, and you’ll get praise for such polite pet!
I hope these tips help you look at your training and behaviour goals in a new way.
Combining my career as a Registered Veterinary Technician, my passion for animal behaviour and training, and my desire to support the wellness of all the toes and tails in my family, has led me to discover how the relationship we have with our pets can inspire our goals of healthier, happier lives.
Amidst today’s busy and complex world, bond-centered practices encourage you to look deeper into your habits and the habits of your pets. Utilizing that bond empowers you both to improve energy levels, emotional balance, and physical fitness together! Of course, if you want to chat or book a session with me to work on your goals together, please send me a message! You can contact me through my website, www.toesandtailswellness.com, or you can find me on Instagram and Facebook too!
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