No is not a 4 letter word

I don't know about other parents, but I did not raise my 3 children on cookies and M&M's. Just ask them, we were strict parents. Our children needed to earn their freedoms. They probably heard the word No more than the word Yes. I also believe we, Matt and I, made many mistakes. Just ask my kids! But all in all, they survived and now we are the proud parents of three amazing adults who are making their own mark on the world.

Why is the standard today, that you should never say No to a dog?

I do not view my dog, Daisy, as a fur-kid. Or maybe I do, because like my kids, she has not been raised only on Cookies. Daisy has a clear understanding of the word NO.

In my opinion No is definitely needed in our vocabulary and is an essential part of the conversation when raising a puppy and  living with a dog. Without NO, how will the puppy know what is Right or Wrong?

Hearing No is their first clue that they need to make another choice. Hearing Yes or Good tells them they got it right. Because each word is significant, dogs learn what to expect from the choices they make. I certainly want my dog to make the best choice (mine) and will happily reward them for doing so. What happens if they don't listen? Consequence! First of all, they will not be getting a reward. Secondly, they will be doing what I ask regardless because commands are followed through till completion. After completion there can be praise for finishing the task. Yup! I want my dog to know that I am happy with their final choice.

In my training, I will help dogs understand what they are doing along with the expectation and outcome of their actions and choices. How do I do this? Classic Conditioning: Good old Pavlov. YUP! Yes, Good and No are very special words that can lead a dog into a World of Liberty and Freedom.

Make the most of your conversation with your dog. Make it a full conversation that includes Yes, Good and No. Remember, No is not a bad word.

Out of the DogHouse LLC www.ohiodogtrainer.net
Contact Dru Therrian 440.286.9070