What job?
When you think of a working dog, you think of one out in the pasture, herding the cows back home. Or leading a blind person across the street. Or hanging with the police, waiting for a bad guy to corner. Doing search and rescue.
So when I say “give that dog a job” sometimes people get irked. “We don’t OWN any cows!”
Dogs need a job. They enjoy a job. They want things to do for their people. A job helps wear them out and keeps them out of trouble. It helps establish pack hierarchy in your house. A job will make them Tired. We like that.
Tired? I've heard of that....
So what is a job for your dog?
A job doesn’t have to be complex.
Start with something very simple. “Sit.” Most dogs know how to sit, and if they don’t, its time they learned. So – sit for their food. Three times. Hold the food bowl and ask for a sit. Yay! Okay, step back. “Come!” “Good dog, sit!” Repeat. Repeat again. Why not? Dog now has a job. He sits for his food. Later on you can add in “wait” and then “leave it”, until you say, “Chow time!” and let them enjoy their dinner in peace.
I think my food's over there. Lets go look!
Carry through on ‘sit’ in other ways. Sit to put their leash on at the door. Sit when they come inside and you remove it. Sit before they get petted or brushed. Sit when the doorbell rings. Anything you ask your dog to do is a job.
“Find it” is also a fun job for many dogs. They like to play games and ‘find it’ is a great one. I have a trainer friend who only feeds his dog through ‘find it’. He hides three large kong toys stuffed with food before he goes to work and dog finds them during the day. Food time!
Where do you think it is? Wanna come look with me?
Your dog can find things for you – go fetch the paper is ‘find’. “Bring me your leash.” “Go wake up your brother!” One little lab puppy in class learned ‘go wake brother’ quickly – now we are teaching him to turn the light on first, then wake brother. A job.
I can make the light go on, and I can make the light go off! I prefer ON.
“Shake hands with the company” is a job.
“Pick up your toys and put them in the basket”. Yup, a job.
Jobs don’t have to be hard and complicated. But dogs like to work. Well, most of them do. But just like with people, a job is good for them. Builds their self esteem and self confidence. Learning makes them tired. Structure helps calm them. Your consistency in asking them to do for you makes them respect you. We like all these things.
I need a little self-esteem building.
And you don’t even have to buy a herd of cows.
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Dog Training by Kate » What job? | doglore.net posted on February 26, 2010:
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