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Welcome To Responsible Pet Owners Month, Now Take Responsibility | Positive Pet Training Blog Hop

2/2/2015

17 Comments

 
Typist: Bethany
In all honesty, I sometimes get mad at my pets. I'
m not perfect. I am not a perfect companion to my pets, a perfect pet trainer or a perfect person. My pets aren't perfect either. However, when the dogs, cat or cockatoo exhibit a behavior that annoys me or makes me angry, I know that I am always responsible for my pets behavior. Anything undesirable that the pets do is, in fact, my fault. As their trainer, it is my responsibility to teach them how to behave in a way that fits in society and our lifestyle. I should also train away behaviors the pets have that make me mad. So when I get mad at them, I am actually mad at myself. Such is the life of a truly responsible pet owner. I see my responsibility as a positive pet trainer to take the negative, like a behavior I don't like, and turn it into a constructive bonding experience for the pets and I. This is the wonder of positive reinforcement training.
There is a long list of reasons why my pets exhibit undesirable behavior but it always comes down to being my responsibility. Eighty-five pound Huxley continuing to jump on people is a great example of an anti-social behavior that continues to occur because of my imperfections. I like Huxley to jump on me, when invited for a "hug." However, I am definitely guilty of laughing or otherwise encouraging many a Huxley jump it was not invited. I know better. I am horrified every time he attempts to jump on a stranger. I am responsible for this annoying and often dangerous bad dog habit. Accepting that Huxley's jumping on people is my fault is the first step in fixing it. Now all I need to do is perfect my own constancy in counter conditioning his jump. I make it sound so easy!
Rough collie Huxley's innocent face: Responsible Pet Owners Month means accepting responsiblity for pet behavior, good and bad.
Who wouldn't want an uninvited hug from Huxley?
Training away a bad habit with positive reinforcement can actually be that simple. Fixing a negative behavior is just a matter of knowing how to train it away using a positive reinforcement method that will work for both trainer and pet. Resources abound: books, DVD's, classes and, of course, the internet. There isn't a single negative pet behavior I can think of that I can't also name at least three different ways of solving the problem. Sometimes it takes trial and error to find the positive reinforcement training method that works for each pet or each behavior. Beginning with accepting responsibility and trying something is always better than living with frustration. Best of all, there is no better feeling than being responsible for wonderfully behaved pets.
A cat and three dogs chilling on the shore during a neighborhood walk: Responsible Pet Owners Month means accepting responsiblity for pet behavior, good and bad.
How cool is it that Amelia, Brychwyn, Huxley and Wilhelm can do this? Their trainer is also responsible for that.
I learned a fabulous positive pet training lesson with Wilhelm and his all important, yet often ignored by him, recall. My skirting responsibility excuse list of why Wilhelm had a terrible recall was very long. When I finally accepted that a dachshund ignoring a recall is not exclusively because he of his instincts as a hound or that he is just stubborn, I started to actively work on solving the problem. With surprising haste, Wilhelm's recall improved. I firmly believe that a huge element in enhancing recall training with Wilhelm was simply that in taking responsibility for my dogs bad habit, I became notciably confident in doing better at training more desirable skills. I am in charge of whether Wilhelm or any of my pets, fail or succeed. Me and me alone. If what I do with any of my pets doesn't work, it's my fault and I have to fix it. This is my responsibility to my pets and in the end, to myself. If I consistently accept responsibility for the bad pet behaviors as well as the good, maybe I can get closer to being perfect after all.
What good and bad pet behaviors are you responsible for?
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Welcome to First Mondays Positive Pet Training Blog Hop hosted by Cascadian Nomads, Tenacious Little Terrier and Rubicon Days. Please share your responsible pet owner positive pet training tips by linking a blog post or leaving a comment below. Any positive reinforcement training posts or comments are also always welcome. The Positive Pet Training Blog Hop goes all week long. Our next hop will begin Monday, March 2nd.
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17 Comments
Michelle link
2/1/2015 06:05:02 pm

This is so true about owners of pets being responsible for their pets behaviour. Fab post.

Reply
Bethany
2/1/2015 07:26:17 pm

Thank you Michelle. I am SO guilty of making up excuses when my pets misbehave but deep down I know I am responsible and, best of all, I can fix it!

Reply
Molly The Wally link
2/1/2015 09:26:15 pm

Can't think of any at the moment. Mostly things are OK so no real reason to fix anything but definitely positive reinforcement would be the route we'd take. Have a marvellous Monday.
Best wishes Molly

Reply
Bethany
2/6/2015 11:15:28 am

Taking responsibility doesn't have to be just about things that are bad or need to be fixed. It can be about how awesome, funny and talented you are too, Molly (and you are!)

Reply
Rebecca link
2/2/2015 06:01:53 am

I'm currently mad at myself for my pet's behavior and its neither of our faults. I think frustrated is the proper term. I am in the process of getting over the flu and haven't been able to fully interact and engage them in activities that work their minds and keep them out of trouble (and the weather outside with all the snow doesn't help). Tucker is at the age where he is ALWAYS wanting to do something and I just don't have the energy, so instead of getting angry they went to their crates with treats and I went to the couch to think of new ways to get their minds working so we don't kill each other ... LOL! Then I read this great post and realized that you are so right ... people need to take responsibility for their pet's actions ... good or bad!

Reply
Jan K link
2/2/2015 06:17:51 am

I have learned so much since starting the clicker training with Luke. The biggest thing is that, yes, I can change and manage the behaviors that we don't like, and that it is my responsibility to do so for my pets' safety and well being.

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Tenacious Little Terrier link
2/2/2015 07:48:16 am

Mr. N's recall is pretty good. I put a lot of work into it. His food manners are excellent but I really can't take much credit for that. They've always been good but I make sure to reinforce that. We're working on his separation anxiety now.

Reply
KB link
2/2/2015 10:05:33 am

I'm sorry that I forgot about this date until too late. I've been doing all sorts of fun training with my dogs. I'm teaching Shyla to identify her toys by name, and it's working!

I'll be interested in hearing how you deal with jumping up. It's a very common Lab problem, and despite our best efforts, we've not been 100% successful in preventing it in *any* of our Labs. We don't let them jump on us but that's not enough with a Lab. And, they are too excited to meet people to be able to hold a "sit". It's a tough problem.

But, you seem like such a great trainer that I am excited to hear about what your approach is! Maybe next month!

Oh, I just saw that the hop is open all week. Maybe I'll write a post for it later this week.

Reply
Lauren Miller link
2/2/2015 10:31:35 am

I think we all get mad at our pets sometimes!! I'm not perfect, either!! I recently had a very humbling experience at the park when Zoe decided she'd rather have zoomies and chase ducks than do heelwork. It was SO embarrassing and I was really mad but I think it's important to remember that dogs will be dogs sometimes, even when we spend so much time training! I collected my naughty girl and she went back on the leash and I did manage to get some work out of her but not much. It was my fault. She was cooped up with the rain and then the paw infections and the first opportunity she had she did a very dog thing. I just need to work harder next time!

Reply
Lara Elizabeth link
2/2/2015 11:55:54 pm

I'm guilty of allowing some undesirable behaviors, too - jumping up in particular. You are so right that taking responsibility increases confidence!

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Reilly & Denny
2/3/2015 12:56:38 am

I think we all fall into bad habits from time to time but yes it up to us to step up and reinforce the good behaviors again

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Kitty Cat Chronicles link
2/3/2015 02:00:44 am

Great post! I am guilty of getting mad at my cats sometimes too. However, I can't ever stay mad at them! MOL! I think their most annoying habit is begging for food. Human food. It's so bad that we have to put them up in the office whenever we eat because they will jump on the table and steal the food right off our plates. I admit that I am not a great trainer - for the life of me I can't figure out how to train them to stop this behavior. And like you, sometimes I find their bad behavior amusing! So I just deal with it by putting them up when we eat. That's the best I can come up with...

Reply
M. K. Clinton link
2/3/2015 03:05:48 am

Oh my gosh. Where do I begin? I am working on Bentley's behavior so he will be a good boy at BlogPaws. I have three more months to teach him to be a gentleman! Haha!

Reply
Mari link
2/3/2015 03:49:27 pm

I am guilty that i did not know about R+ for so long time. Thank you for your great post, it gave me much courage to carry on and learn

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Kari link
2/4/2015 03:59:42 am

Go Seahawks! I need to get some of those jackets for next year for "Richard German (shepherd)" and "Miashawn Lynch."

I completely relate. Every time Leo has a reaction on a walk, I blame myself for not catching it in time. Rob sometimes says, "Leo's at least partially at fault." Nope, it's all on me.

The other day, I was visiting a friend with a pit bull. The pit bull jumped up on me, and my friend was apologetic. I said, "I know, I know. I'm the worst, because I LIKE it!" It's hard not to reinforce other people's dogs' bad habits too!

Reply
Leah link
2/6/2015 03:14:02 am

Oh boy. Recall. The most basic of training elements and I've been making excuses forever, too. All the while knowing life would be easier and our bond would be stronger ... ok, you talked me into it. I'm going to focus on this one very basic of commands ...

Reply
tj at any given moment link
2/8/2015 10:05:51 pm

Hi! Just followed you over from the blog hop link even though I'm not even associated with the hop (yet!). I read your comment over on Rubicon Days and wanted to visit your space because those words were perfect for me to read. I've visited a few others from this hop because you all seem like kindred spirits to me! Your talking about the attitude shift when on walks and knowing you are the responsible dog owner was spot on. recently that's where I'm at. I do all the responsible things with my dogs, but still fear walking my neighborhood because of "what will they think?" . So stupid because here's the deal- my dogs are on leash, listen to commands, and one is even muzzled because there are a bunch of loose dogs in the neighborhood who come flying toward us and my dogs hates that. And yet because of the muzzle, because of breed prejudices, because of other irresponsible dog owners I'm the one feeling guilty! why do I beat myself up like that?! so thanks for sharing :)

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