BKLN Manners
Ratings1
Average rating4.5
An easy to follow guide to addressing common behavioral issues (Barking, Knocking people over, Leash-walking issues, and 'Naughty' when home alone), using positive reinforcement. It clearly makes a point of when it may be time to contact a trainer (and what qualifications to look for, as it’s an unregulated profession) by explaining the signs of reactivity and separation anxiety.
I love the rescue dog profiles and anecdotes that were included, that the author made a point that no dog is untrainable. Honestly, it’s a 4.5 instead of a 5 for me only because the main teaching method is luring (where I usually prefer to work with shaping).
Leave It is a preventative measure that tells the dog, “Stop approaching that forbidden thing and stick with me.” It is different from Drop It, which means, “Spit out what you already have in your mouth.” It is easier to use Leave It to prevent the dog from approaching an object than to do damage control once the dog has gotten an object in his mouth, so I encourage you to make Leave It part of your daily practice. When you see a discarded bagel up ahead, tell your dog to “Leave it” the moment he sees it; don’t wait for him to dash toward the forbidden snack. Let’s put it in perspective with a human example. Like any respectable New Yorker, I love a good slice of pizza, so let’s imagine I decided to cut pizza out of my diet. As I walk down the street with my friend, the smell of pizza lures me towards a shop. Before I get to the pizza shop, my friend warns, “Don’t you dare go in there! You’re on a diet.” OK, fine. I keep walking and treat myself to a healthy snack later instead. But imagine if I go in there, buy a slice, and am taking my first bite when my friend yells, “Spit that out!” My response will likely be, “Ha, make me!” as I wolf down the slice before she can grab it out of my hands. When your dog is faced with garbage on the street, he is undergoing the same decision-making process. The most humane approach is to tell him well ahead of time that the garbage is off-limits and then reward his self-control with something even yummier. If you wait until the garbage is nearly in his mouth, it will be much harder for him to resist.
“Sit” Actually Means “Stay” When we teach our dogs to sit, we’re really asking them to sit and then stay there for at least a few moments. This version of Sit will reward the dog not just for putting his rear on the ground, but for keeping it there. Finally, we will add a release word so he knows when it’s OK to get up.