Catch me doing something right!

The engaged dog was sitting behind the baby gate, quietly alert and gently present.

The human was at her kitchen counter focusing on the list of transgressions "Oliver" had performed which had caused her to call a trainer in the first place.

"Chews on the leash ... jumps up on people ... won't come when I call ..." 

"Wait, wait wait!" I interrupted her with a shake of my hand over her list and poked her to turn and look at Oliver. "Look at what he is doing right, right now!"

She turned and looked and chuckled, and said, "He's so cute." Turning back to her list, she continued: "He also ...."

I wouldn't let her go there, and I poked her again with my elbow. "The essence of conscious training is catching our puppers doing something right, whether intentionally or inadvertantly!"

I brought her attention to Oliver again and went over and gave him a treat and said, "Good Wait!" He was quite pleased with himself, and even more pleased that I had caught his goodness in action.

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Everything about Conscious Dog Training seems antithesis to what we know about relating to others. 

When we ascribe human qualities on to our dogs, we do them and us a disservice. 

They are sentient beings, but they are a different species and they learn more through association rather than connectivity. (Yes, they can connect outcomes to behaviors and conditions but in a different way than we do.)

So when we interact with our dogs in a conscious way, understanding as best as we can how THEY see the world, we can gain a little more rapport, cooperation, and fun with them!

So we train "backwards," -- what goes with what -- beginning at the end.

When you go intereact with your dog after reading this, notice when your pup is already in a sit, and reward it with a delicious treat and say, "Good sit!"

When your pup is already laying down, reward her with a piece of cheese and say, "Good down!"

When your dog is walking by your side on the way to the back yard, bring a treat down to his mouth (don't make him lurch upwards for it), and say, "Good With Me!")

And then, finally, try it with yourself!  This is something both humans and canines have in common: We respond much better when we catch ourselves doing something right than by trying to berate ourselves into doing better. I did a good job showing up today; how about you?