Obligated to Obedience

I’ve never quite been able to wrap my brain around the idea that my dogs owe me obedience. In fact, I never felt that way about kids either. I guess it’s because in either case, they didn’t choose to be where they are.

I’ve heard dog owners suggest that their dog should do as they’re told because the owner has provided a home, food and everything else the dog needs. So, I guess the dog owes them payment in the form of obedience.

I see it differently. My dogs didn’t choose to live with me. In fact, they have very few choices when it comes to their life. I want them to behave a certain way in order for MY life with them to be easier and more enjoyable.

That’s why I feel responsible for making what I want them to do as beneficial to them as it is to me. Of course, I can make it beneficial to them because it helps them avoid punishment, but then I don’t get to have the kind of relationship I’m looking for with my dogs.

So, if I would happier with a dog who doesn’t pee in the house, I feel it’s incumbent upon ME to make it beneficial to the dog to pee outside. I do that by managing things inside so there is no chance for "accidents", and by richly rewarding peeing outside. This way, both of us can get what we want and we can still feel really good about each other.

I spent a lot of years in corporate sales and used to listen to motivational tapes by the very famous Zig Zigler. One thing he repeated often still rings in my head when I am training dogs. Zig said, “If you help enough people get what they want, you’ll get what you want.” This applies to dog training, I think, because if you show your dog how to get what he wants, you can get the behavior that you want.