CAPITAL HUMANE SOCIETY
2320
Nothing In Life
Is Free
Copyright Denver Dumb Friends League and Humane
Society of the
Does
your dog: Get on the furniture and refuse to get off? Nudge your hand,
insisting on being petted or played with? Refuse to come when called? Defend
its food bowl or toys from you? “Nothing in life is free” can help. “Nothing in
life is free” is not a magic pill that will solve a specific behavior problem;
rather it’s a way of living with your dog that will help it behave better
because it trusts and accepts you as its leader and is confident knowing its
place in your family.
How
to practice “nothing in life is free:”
·
Using positive reinforcement methods,
teach your dog a few commands and/or tricks. “Sit,” “Down” and “Stay” are
useful commands and “Shake,” “Speak” and “Rollover” are
fun tricks to teach your dog.
·
Once your dog knows a few commands, you
can begin to practice “nothing in life is free.” Before you give your dog
anything (food, a treat, a walk, a pat on the head) it must first perform one
of the commands it has learned.
For
example:
YOU:
YOUR DOG:
Put
your dog’s leash on to go for a walk Must sit until
you’ve put the leash on
Feed
your dog Must lie down and stay until you’ve put the
bowl down
Play
a game of fetch after work Must sit and shake hands
each time you throw the toy
Rub
your dog’s belly while watching TV Must lie down and rollover before being
petted
·
Once you’ve given the command, don’t
give your dog what it wants until it does what you want. If it refuses to perform
the command, walk away, come back a few minutes later and start again. If your
dog refuses to obey the command, be patient and remember that eventually it
will have to obey your command in order to get what it wants.
·
Make sure your dog knows the command
well and understands what you want before you begin practicing “nothing in life
is free.”
The
benefits of this technique:
·
Most dogs assume a neutral or submissive
role toward people, but some dogs will challenge their owners for dominance.
Requiring a dominant dog to work for everything it wants is a safe and
non-confrontational way to establish control.
·
Dogs who may never display aggressive
behavior such as growling, snarling,or
snapping, may still manage to manipulate you. These dogs may display
affectionate, though “pushy” behavior, such as nudging your hand to be petted
or “worming” its way on to the furniture in order to be close to you. This
technique gently reminds the “pushy” dog that it must abide by your rules.
·
Obeying commands helps build a fearful
dog’s confidence; having a strong leader and knowing its place in the hierarchy
helps to make the submissive dog feel more secure.
Why
this technique works:
Animals that live in groups, like dogs, establish a social structure within the group called a dominance hierarchy. This dominance hierarchy serves to maintain order, reduce conflict and promote cooperation among pack members. In order for your home to be a safe and happy place for pets and people, it’s best that the humans in the household assume the highest positions in the dominance hierarchy. Practicing “nothing in life is free” effectively and gently communicates to your dog that its position in the hierarchy is subordinate to yours. From your dog’s point of view, children also have a place in this hierarchy. Because children are small and can get down on the dog’s level to play, dogs often consider them to be playmates, rather than superiors. With the supervision of an adult, it’s a good idea to encourage children in the household (aged eight and over) to also practice “nothing in life is free” with your dog.