Staci Lemke 00:00:00 Have you ever heard someone say, my dog is so stubborn? He knows what I’m asking him to do because he does it all the time at home. He just doesn’t want to do it right now. Maybe you’ve even said this yourself about your own dog. Dogs are often labeled as stubborn, when in reality there are many reasons why a dog would not do what is asked of them. They may be distracted by something in the environment. They may be too stressed or worried to process information, or they may just be bored with the training. But the most likely reason a dog doesn’t do what you ask is because they don’t understand what you’re asking them to do. The term stubborn refers to someone or something like your dog that is determined not to change their mind, behavior, or attitude, even when there are good reasons to do so. So while dogs may appear stubborn, it is more accurate to say that they simply respond to their environment, experiences, or lack of motivation in certain situations rather than a deliberate desire to defy you.
Staci Lemke 00:01:03 If you’ve ever wondered how to make sure your dog truly understands a cue. No matter where you are or what’s going on around you, then today’s episode is for you. Especially if you’re kind of a sciency behavior geek like I am. Welcome to The Well-Mannered Mutt Podcast. I’m Staci Lemke, certified professional dog trainer, registered veterinary technician, and proud owner of manners for Mutts Dog Training. With over 20 years of experience, I’ve helped countless dog owners just like you build stronger, happier relationships with their furry friends from private lessons to online courses. I’m here to help make life with your dog easier and more rewarding. I believe in training that is kind, fun, and scientifically proven. Positive reinforcement is at the core of everything I do, because it’s the most effective way to teach your dog while strengthening your bond. Whether you’re tackling basic training, solving behavior challenges, or just looking for tips to keep your pup thriving. You’re in the right place. So let’s dive into today’s episode and take the first step toward having the well-mannered mutt you’ve always dreamed of.
Staci Lemke 00:02:14 Today, in The Well-Mannered Mutt Podcast, I’m going to bust the myth of the stubborn dog and share several things that will help you communicate more clearly with your dog. I’ll explain the four stages of dog training so you’ll understand how dogs learn and process information. And I’m also going to talk to you about the concepts of generalization and criteria setting, and how those fit into each stage, and why they’re so important for your long term success when training your dog. So you just got a new puppy. You’re excited to take them on their first adventures and start socializing. But maybe you’ve heard some conflicting information about vaccinations and you’re not sure what’s correct. It’s a common misconception that you have to wait until your puppy is fully vaccinated to start socializing. Unfortunately, that’s just not true. If you’d like to learn more about how to safely socialize your puppy before vaccines are finished without risking your puppy’s health, then check out my online course. But my puppy is not fully vaccinated. Head over to www.mannersformutts.com/socialization to learn more.
Staci Lemke 00:03:30 Before we move on, I’d like to take a minute to define what generalization and criteria setting means. Dogs have dozens of wonderful qualities, but unfortunately the ability to quickly generalize is not one of them. Dogs are contextual creatures. This means that dogs don’t naturally generalize behaviors. They tend to associate a cue with the exact environment or conditions under which they first learned it. Learning to sit for three seconds in the kitchen when the house is quiet is not the same as sitting in a in a crowded outdoor shopping center. Generalization refers to a dog’s ability to understand that a particular cue, like sit or stay. Applies across different settings, environments, or circumstances. It helps dogs recognize that the same behavior is expected regardless of the surrounding variables. So basically a sit is a sit is a sit no matter where you are or what else is going on around you. Setting criteria in dog training is essential for effective learning and long term success. Criteria refers to the specific standards a dog must meet during training in order to earn a reward.
Staci Lemke 00:04:43 Clear, consistent criteria helps dogs understand what is expected of them, making the training process more efficient and enjoyable. When you teach a behavior, it’s important to have a clear picture of what you want the finished behavior to look like. There are no right or wrong answers. As the dog’s owner and trainer, you get to decide what’s most important to you. But if you don’t have a clear idea of what you want, what your criteria is, how will your dog know, for example? And this one actually comes up frequently when I’m working with clients. So I like to teach. Go to your mat or go to your bed and it’s a cue. That means that your dog should run to their mat. Lay down and stay there until released. Criteria comes in when you begin to ask yourself things like how much should the dog’s body needs to be on the mat for the dog to be doing the behavior correctly? Does it have to be the dog’s whole body or just a toe? At some point, there has to be a line that defines correct from incorrect.
Staci Lemke 00:05:40 So with those two definitions in mind, let’s explore how labeling dogs is stubborn can be detrimental to both your training success and the human dog relationship. First, when you call a dog stubborn, it implies that the issue is with the dog rather than the training approach. And this can prevent us from recognizing that the dog may be confused, unmotivated, or struggling to understand what’s expected Next. It can lead to frustration and the use of harsh training methods. If someone believes their dog is simply being defiant, they may resort to punishment based training, thinking that they need to show the dog who’s boss to make them obey. And this can harm the dog’s trust in the trainer and slow down learning. Effective training requires adjustments. If something isn’t working, you have to adapt. Instead of assuming a dog is willfully ignoring commands, a skilled trainer asks, does the dog understand what I’m asking? Is the environment too distracting? Am I using a reward that is motivating enough? By shifting our mindset from stubborn to needs, better communication or motivation? Training becomes more enjoyable and humane for both dog and trainer.
Staci Lemke 00:06:54 So now let’s put all this newfound knowledge into practice and look at the four stages of dog training and how generalization and criteria setting fit into each one. Stage one acquisition or learning a new skill. This is when your dog is first learning a new behavior or Q. If you’ve ever taught your dog anything, you’ve been in the acquisition stage. The main focus here is teaching your dog what you want them to do. And it’s all about making sure that they understand the basic idea of the cue. At this stage, we’re working on clarity and consistency. You might be repeating the cue multiple times paired with positive reinforcement like treats and praise. It’s important to keep the criteria simple in the beginning. For example, with sed you might reward your dog as soon as they get their bottom on the ground, even if it’s only for just a second. Then gradually raise your criteria and start to ask them to stay seated for longer periods of time. Generalization doesn’t yet come into play at this stage, because your dog is just learning the basic behavior.
Staci Lemke 00:08:03 Hopefully in a controlled and low stress environment. At this stage you are setting clear but low criteria so that your dog can thoroughly grasp behavior before introducing more challenges. Stage two is fluency or refining the skill. Once your dog understands what the behavior is, we move on to the next stage. Fluency. This is when your dog starts performing the behavior more consistently and reliably. They’re beginning to understand the cue. During this stage, you’ll continue to work on your criteria, gradually increasing the challenge. For example, you might extend the duration of the sit or add some kind of a distraction, or maybe you add in some distance. The key here is repetition and practice your dog repeating the behavior enough times that it becomes second nature to them. This is also when you might start adding some simple generalizations. You want your dog to be able to sit not just in your living room, but also in the yard, in the park, or when you have visitors over. The more your dog practises the behaviour in different settings, the more confident they will become.
Staci Lemke 00:09:14 Stage three is actually called generalization and this is implying the skill in new environments. And this is one of the most important stages of dog training, because it’s when your dog learns to perform the behavior in various environments with different distractions and around different people. The goal here is for the behavior to become consistent, no matter what the circumstances are. Think of it like this. Your dog may know how to sit in your kitchen, but can they actually do it in the park with other dogs running around, or while you’re in a busy pet store? Generalization is all about teaching your dog that the behavior means the same thing, no matter where they are and what’s going on around them. This stage takes time, patience, and a lot of practice in different environments. It’s important to gradually increase the distractions and challenges as your dog’s behavior becomes more solid. For example, you might first practice sit outside with just a few distractions, and then slowly add more like other dogs, bikes, or people. Each new challenge helps your dog generalize the behavior further.
Staci Lemke 00:10:19 Our fourth and final stage is maintenance or keeping the behavior consistent over time. This is the use it or lose it stage. This is where you make sure the behavior stays strong over time. No matter how much time has passed since the initial training, maintenance involves practicing the behavior regularly so it remains reliable even as your dog gets older or faces new challenges. The trick here is to make sure you’re still rewarding the behavior occasionally, and reinforcing the training over the long term. You don’t want to just stop practicing once your dog can sit on cue in a variety of environments. Maintenance is about keeping the behavior fresh, even if you’re not actively training every day. Additionally, as your dog matures or life circumstances change, it’s important to revisit and reinforce behaviors. This is especially true if you’re working on more advanced behaviors, as they can require ongoing reinforcement. Here’s something that most people don’t understand. It’s not the reinforcement, the treat, the toy, or the praise that is present at the time. You ask your dog for a behavior.
Staci Lemke 00:11:25 It’s the history of reinforcement for that behavior over time that keeps dogs motivated. In other words, dogs don’t just work for the immediately available treat, but for the overall pattern of rewards and successes that they’ve experienced in the past. And there you have it. The four stages of dog training acquisition, fluency, generalization, and maintenance. It’s also important to understand that these stages aren’t linear. Dog training is never a linear progression. You will find that you move back and forth between the stages as you work with your dog, but they give you a clear framework to follow for more consistent results. Remember, training isn’t just about getting the behavior right write once. It’s about making it stick. In all situations and for the long term. So whether you’re teaching your dog a new behavior or working on maintaining an old one. Don’t forget to incorporate each of these four stages into your training routine. And let’s drop that label. Stubborn, shall we? Valentine’s day is coming soon. February 14th. And what better time to celebrate the human animal bond than by doing it on a day created to observe romantic love, friendship, and admiration.
Staci Lemke 00:12:45 Dogs and humans share a unique connection. This is backed by science. When you gaze into your dog’s eyes, both of you experience an oxytocin boost, the same hormone responsible for human bonding. This deep rooted companionship has existed for thousands of years, evolving from working partnerships into emotional connections. Valentine’s day is all about love. And what better way to celebrate than to appreciate the unconditional love between humans and their dogs. Unlike romantic relationships, which can be complicated. The bond with the dog is built on trust, companionship, and pure devotion. So let’s talk about why dogs make the best valentines. Unconditional love. Dogs don’t care how you look, what mistakes you’ve made, or whether you remembered to buy flowers. They love you for who you are every single day. Emotional support. Studies show that dogs help reduce stress, anxiety and loneliness, making them the perfect companions for Valentine’s Day or really any day. Quality time is enough. Unlike human partners who may expect grand gestures, dogs are happy just to be by your side.
Staci Lemke 00:13:56 Whether you’re going for a walk or snuggling on the couch. So with that in mind, here are some fun and heartwarming activities to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your dog. Bake some homemade, dog friendly heart shaped treats using peanut butter, pumpkin, or apples. Or you can visit a pet bakery. Take your dog on a scenic walk or hike at a new location. Visit a dog friendly cafe and share a special moment together. Have a picnic in the park with dog safe snacks. Dress your pup up in a cute Valentine’s Day bandana or outfit. Set up a DIY backdrop with hearts and take adorable photos. Snuggle up with your dog and watch a dog themed movie like lady in the tramp, The Secret Life of Pets, or Homeward Bound. Cuddle up with your pup and their favorite blanket. Hide treats around the house for a Valentine’s Day treasure hunt, or play interactive games like hide and seek or nose work. You can attend a dog friendly event. Check out local Valentine’s Day dog parties or fundraisers. Join with some friends for a puppy love meetup at the park.
Staci Lemke 00:15:02 Donate to a local animal shelter in your dog’s name. Volunteer at rescue or foster a pup for the weekend. Try a new activity together. Take a dog friendly yoga or agility class. Learn a new trick or skill together using positive reinforcement dog training. Valentine’s day doesn’t just have to be about romantic love. It can be a day to honor the love we share with family, friends, and of course, our four legged companions. Dogs remind us that love is about presence, loyalty, and small everyday moments. How are you celebrating Valentine’s Day with your dog this year? Thank you for joining me today and taking the time to help your dog become a more well-mannered mutt. If you’ve got questions about today’s episode or an idea for a topic you’d love to hear about. Let’s connect. You can find me on Facebook and Instagram at @mannersformutts. Also, be sure to visit www.mannerformutts.com for links, resources and more. If this episode helped you and your pup, I’d be thrilled if you left a review on Apple Podcasts.
Staci Lemke 00:16:05 Your feedback helps me create even more content to support you and your furry friend. Talk to you next time.
