The first time I saw this video, I thought it was a set up.
Then I realized that it wasn’t, and I think I was even more horrified.
I mean we have all seen dogs steal food, or get in the trash, or counter surf.
But, most of us don’t have dogs that are so brazen, they will literally steal the food out of our mouths.
We Have Lost a Crucial Element in our Dog Training… Impulse Control!
This dog has zero impulse control.
Some people are too embarrassed to even take their dog in public.
Some people can’t have friends or family over to their house, because of their dog’s behavior…
It seems so extreme!
Imagine for a Moment
Imagine you are hungry one day. It feels like you are starving, so you wander into a buffet and begin bobbing your head in and out of people’s plates, eating everything you desire.
If you don’t want what is close to what you are eating, you shove the plate away, and move on to the next person or the next plate.
What a life, right?
I’d give you about 5 seconds before someone in the buffet punches you in the face and the police are called.
I mean, you can go into the buffet ready for a fight, fists clenched, and perhaps a weapon on your person. But eventually, someone who is bigger than you, with more firepower, is going to stop your rampage.
When you think about it, I am describing a “feral” human.
What keeps us from being “feral”, is learning rules for civilization.
When You Were a Toddler
When you were a toddler, you were probably a slightly cuter version of the above scenario.
You saw something, you wanted it… you tried to take it, but one or your parents probably stepped in and smacked your hand.
They didn’t hit you hard, they just basically hurt your feelings and let you know that “NO!”, in no uncertain terms, it wasn’t yours.
You probably tried to take things a few more times before you learned the lesson and some self-control.
This is what we are missing in dog training these days.
It seems we have forgotten to teach our puppies some basic control of their impulses, or self-control.
We, in essence, have terminally “feral” puppies that never grow up!
We are living with serial food snatchers.
And, there are no repercussions for it.
We are living with serial jumpers.
And, there are no repercussions for it.
We are living with serial biters and mouthers.
And, there are no repercussions for it.
We have lost the desire to, or the knowledge of how to, train the simple things…MANNERS!
Just Yesterday
Just yesterday, I was hard at work at the veterinary clinic, preparing furry clients to meet the doctor and getting their histories. (I love veterinary medicine, I just can’t stay away!)
A five year old, 82 pound dog with a gigantic prong collar around his neck, but absolutely no impulse control, came into the clinic.
Thankfully, he was mostly sweet.
But, when he didn’t want to do something, he would grab your hand with his very large, open mouth.
Or, he would jump on you and hurl you a foot or two away.
It was nearly impossible to convince him to be still long enough to look in his eyes, ears and mouth, much less palpate his joints.
We don’t want to body slam dogs at the vet hospital!
I would have figured he was a puppy; after all, who could live with a dog like that for over 5 years?
The owner was completely oblivious.
And, it wasn’t that he didn’t treat her that way, too! He mouthed her and jumped on her just as hard, if not harder.
It was like she was disembodied, or in a completely different room than my doctor and I were in that day.
He was a sweet boy, he had a lot of promise behaviorally, but he lacked even the simple ability to control any of his urges. I can’t imagine the things he steals at home, or the idea of walking him.
He was a monster!
Impulse control would soothe the savage beast.
She can’t even find anyone who wants to pet sit her dog in her home, because he is a furry monster!
Don’t Do It
Don’t do it! Don’t fall prey to letting your dog get away with being a monster.
Don’t let him steal food from your mouth.
Don’t let him pounce you or your family.
Don’t let him put his mouth on you!
Stop giving him everything, and start teaching him how to control his impulses.
Because, until he can control some of his basic impulses, he will be the monster dog that everyone avoids, instead of the great companion that you wanted when you picked him up and brought him home!
It Doesn’t Require Punishment.
It Doesn’t Even Require Months of Training.
It will just require some consistency, a little bit of time (30 minutes a day), and some patience!
Get Started Today!
via Whisker Therapy