There are no problems in dog training, only solutions. When you are looking to change an unwanted behaviour or to create a new one, here is a simple way to start working through the process:

A) First think, "What is my dog doing that I don't like?"
B) Then establish, "What would I rather he do instead?"** <- This is the key!!! If you don't know, your dog certainly won't!
C) Now decide, "What steps do I need to take to accomplish that?" 
OR 
D) How can I effectively change or manage the environment so that the dog can be successful?

A) Identify the behaviour you want to change.

What is your dog doing that you don't like? This part's easy! As humans, we tend to focus on what's going wrong, so identifying the problem behaviour is never an issue.

Ex. peeing on the carpet, pulling on the leash, jumping on house guests as they arrive

B) What behaviour do you want them to do instead?

It's hard to work towards a goal that you haven't identified. Simply saying "I don't want him to pull on the leash" or "I don't want him to pee on my carpet" leaves it open ended as to what the dog is supposed to do and it's only your dogs best guest as to what that might be. He isn't going to know what you want if you don't.

Using the examples from above, let's look at possible alternatives:

Unwanted: Peeing on the carpet

Preferred: Peeing in a designated spot outside in the yard

Unwanted: Pulling on the leash

Preferred: Walking beside you at a slower pace, following your directional changes, giving you periodic eye contact

Unwanted: Jumping on houseguests as they arrive

Preferred: Lying quietly on a mat near the door, allowing guests to come in and move freely around the house, staying on the mat until they have calmed and someone has realeased them

C) What steps need to be taken to train the preferred behaviour?

Every dog and every behaviour is unique, so the steps you take for one dog may vary drastically from another. In some cases, management rather than training is the best solution. Here is where working with a trainer can by handy, since there are as many ways to train a dog as there are dogs and it can be challenging to sort through it all.

Let's work with the example of peeing on the carpet. Because I am not a "one method only" trainer, there are many possible solutions to any problem. Here are a few of mine:

1) Take the dog outside more often.

2) Set the timer so that you remember to take the dog outside more often!

3) Each time you go outside, take the dog to the same designated spot. 

4) Reward him as soon as he's finished the job (ie. the moment he stands back up).

5) Teach him to ring a bell at the door so he can let you know when he needs to go out

6) Only allow him supervised access to the part of the house that you are in with him.

Can you think of others you would add to this list? 

Here is a video example of me using the ABC's to work towards teaching my puppy how to lie quietly to wait for her meals instead of jumping up and barking at me while I prepare them like she normally does. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iK_hfX8auCE&feature=plcp

Identifying a problem is easy. The part that requires some effort is figuring out what you want him to do and training that instead.  

Today I encourage you to start envisioning your dog as the well trained companion you are working to create. Find success in each step you take and be patient with him and yourself when things don't always go as planned. 

Until next time, happy training.

Darcie

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