Dog Training's NILIF Principle

NILIF stands for “Nothing in Life is Free.” This practice  (also referred to by dog trainers as “The Deference Protocol”) teaches dogs that they must earn every good thing in life.

Pick up all the toys (and the toy basket if there is one) and put them in the closet.

Ask for a sit and give her one toy. Better yet, play with the toys with your dog - don’t leave her to occupy herself by finding things to do. Whenever you let a young dog move about your house and decide what to do next, she will usually make the wrong decision.

Even if she were to ONLY pick up her own toys, that’s still not a good habit to instill.  Leaving toys all over the floor teaches the dog to go looking for things to occupy herself. In contrast, having her sit and earn each toy from the owner, teaches her to look to the owner with interest instead.  Dogs who have toys scattered all over the floor – or who help themselves to toys from a basket or box – quickly learn to go exploring in order to find things to do. How is she supposed to understand that the shoe on the floor is not hers, but the rubber bone is ok?

But most importantly, the practice of helping herself to toys violates the NILIF principle. The dog should be deferring to the owner for every resource, including toys. She should never be helping herself to anything. She must earn all good things in life including toys, food, treats, petting etc. Nothing in life is free.

“Want a treat? Sit. Want to go out? Sit. Want your Kong? Sit.”  That’s what the dogs hear every day when their owners take leadership seriously.  In those homes, dogs are constantly deferring to their owners to earn everything they want, usually by performing obedience commands such as come, sit, down or stay.   

In contrast, some of the rudest dogs I’ve ever met help themselves to whatever they want in the home. The food bowl is full all day, toys and bones are everywhere and no area is off limits. These dogs are rude and ill-mannered - constantly demanding attention, counter surfing, object stealing and jumping on and barking at their owners.   They barge through doors and knock them down stairs.  They are rude because that’s the way their owners have trained them. Every day,  you are training your dog - whether you realize it or not.

Want to start teaching your dog some good manners?  Empty out the food bowl and make your dog sit for his food at mealtime.  Pick up the toy basket and put it in the closet. Ignore rude demands for attention and correct bad behavior when it occurs.  Implement some common sense rules and boundaries and make sure the whole family sticks with them. You’ll be amazed at the changes you begin to see in your dog’s behavior.  

 

Best Ways to Exercise Your Dog

Exercise means doing things with your dog, not just letting him run around alone in the yard. Dogs are social animals and require interactive play – they must play with you, their owner. Time spent alone running around in the yard will not solve your dog’s behavior problems. In fact, it may lead to more behavior problems, e.g. barking, digging, fence fighting.  It may actually increase, rather than decrease, a dog’s level of frustration.  An active, involved owner with a small back yard is a lot more fun for a dog than a detached, aloof owner who banishes the dog to “go play” in a big back yard. Steven Lindsay, in The Handbook of Applied Dog Training and Behavior concurs, “Putting a dog outside in a fenced yard is not enough to produce adequate exercise. The owner must become directly involved in the exercise activity, insuring that the exercise is done in a way that produces physiological and psychological benefit.” 

Dog parks and day care are not appropriate for every dog. But luckily, those are not the only ways to exercise your dog. Dogs enjoy fetch, jogging, long walks, swimming and playing games like tug-of-war and flirt pole.  

Tug-of-war is a great game to play with non-aggressive dogs, as long as you follow some basic rules. The owner should be the one to start and end the game, use only one object as the tug toy, put it away when you’re done and  teach the dog to drop the object on command.   

A flirt pole is simply a wooden pole with a length of rope and a toy tied to it.  Dogs with high prey drive love to chase and try to catch the toy. Dogs are not cats though, so be careful not to use the toy to make the dog jump up into the air, or your dog may be injured when he lands. Instead, make the toy “run” along the ground, simulating the movement of a running critter.  

Food games (like food puzzles or balls that dispense treats when hit a certain way by the dog) can be fun for dogs, providing much needed mental stimulation. While mental stimulation is not a substitute for exercise, don’t underestimate its impact on your dog’s overall well-being.  

Occupying your dog’s brain can be just as tiring as physical exercise. Take your dog with you wherever dogs are welcome.  Invest in a good obedience training program so that your dog will learn to be more pleasant and well-mannered, and he will be welcome in more places. (Plus the training itself is another great way to occupy your dog’s mind.)

By the way, if you’re thinking about getting a second dog to keep the first one company, think again. You just might wind up with 2 bored dogs instead of one. There is no substitute for human attention, love, guidance and companionship.

Adopting a Rescue Dog who came from a “Puppy Mill"

Adopting a dog or puppy who was rescued from a “puppy mill” is a very rewarding experience! Many of these dogs have never lived in a home before, so you’ll need extra patience and kindness as you help them adjust.

What is a puppy mill?

A puppy mill is a large-scale commercial dog breeding operation where profit is given priority over the well-being of the dogs. Puppy mill puppies are typically sold to pet shops.

Dogs are often rescued from puppy mills by the SPCA, Animal Control officers and/or other local authorities when unsafe or inhumane conditions are reported. Puppies may have lived stacked in cages and adult dogs used for breeding may have lived their lives in kennels. As a result, many of the dogs lack appropriate early socialization and may need special attention in helping them learn good manners, appropriate “in home” behavior and good housebreaking skills.

Puppy mills usually house dogs in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, without adequate veterinary care, food, water and socialization. Puppy mill dogs do not get to experience treats, toys, exercise or basic grooming. To minimize waste cleanup, dogs are often kept in cages with wire flooring that injures their paws and legs. Breeder dogs at mills might spend their entire lives outdoors, exposed to the elements, or crammed inside filthy cages.

Fearful behavior, territorial marking and lack of social skills with humans and other animals are common characteristics of dogs from puppy mills. But with a little time and patience, they will quickly adjust to life in the home.

What can I do to help the dog feel at home?

Give the dog its own safe, secure place - a kennel crate. A kennel crate is a necessity for two reasons. First, the dog is used to living in an enclosure and will feel safe and secure inside the crate. Second, the fastest way to housetrain your dog is through supervision when you’re home and confinement when you’re away. This also helps prevent destructive behavior due to boredom and curiosity. Remember, most of these dogs have never seen the inside of a home before! Don’t allow “free run” of the house too soon – keep the dog nearby when he’s not resting in his crate. How long can the dog be crated without a break? Except for overnight, the rule of thumb is no more than 4 to 5 hours in a row for adult dogs and no more than 3 to 4 hours in a row for young puppies.

How to housebreak a dog rescued from a puppy mill:

• The proper use of a kennel crate as mentioned above.

• Frequent trips outside for potty breaks.

• Constant supervision, including keeping the dog on leash inside the home for a while.

• If the dog does have an occasional accident, there must be NO physical punishment. NEVER take a dog back to an accident and scold him – it doesn’t work and it only creates other more serious behavior problems.

How can I help a shy dog gain confidence?

Don’t coddle a shy dog; instead be a good leader. This will help a shy or fearful dog feel more secure. Dogs are pack animals, continually attempting to define their place within the social order. Contrary to what some people think, establishing leadership has nothing to do with “dominance”. Don’t confuse leadership with bullying. You can show calm and benevolent leadership by following a few simple rules:

• Be a leader by controlling access to resources. Nothing in life is free. Basically this means that the dog should do something for you before you do something for him. For example, “Want a treat? Sit.” “Want your ball? Sit.” “Want to go out? Sit.” Also, ignore “demands” for attention made by the dog. Give lots of love but always make sure that you are the one initiating all pleasurable interaction with the dog.

• Many puppy mill dogs have never been trained to walk on a leash. Introducing a frightened dog to a leash requires patience. Introduce the dog to the leash slowly, in stages. Never tug or pull on the leash. Instead, teach the dog to focus on the handler and make each walk fun! Most dogs can easily learn to enjoy going for a walk on a leash without pulling, lagging or protesting, but this can be an area that requires training assistance so if you need help, please call.

• Remember, when bringing a dog home from the shelter, in your dog’s mind he has just been separated from his pack. When he first arrives in his new home he needs to spend a days learning that your family is his new pack.

• Except for a visit to the vet, don’t take him anywhere during the first week. Instead, let him take some time to settle in and learn that this is his new home.

• During this critical introductory period, be patient and kind but DO NOT lavish the dog with praise and attention.  

• Do not invite friends and neighbors over during the first week. Give your dog some time to get to know his new family first.

Adopting a rescued dog is an exciting, rewarding experience. Most dogs adjust very quickly, but if you need additional help, consider hiring  a professional dog trainer.