Bad trianing teaches nagging.

What is nagging? Put simply, it is the act of repeatedly asking for something to be done in order to obtain the desired result.

Many people are good at it, some more than others. The question really is whether nagging is a quality or a learnt behaviour.

If I want something done and it doesn’t after I ask for it once, depending on how badly I want it, I’ll ask again and maybe this time I will get a result.

Next time, I will ask once, twice, maybe even a third time. Next time round, I might even have to ask a fourth time. I’ve learnt that asking repeatedly eventually gets me what I want. The other person is also learning that they don’t have to listen to me the first time.

Using this model, it’s easy to understand why begging for food and attention and barking to get a door opened are behaviours people very often train their dogs to do.

You might think nothing of slipping something under the table to your pooch. The next time you forget to do it, he will assertively remind you, so that you’ll slip him a bite or two.

Next thing you know, he will beg for longer and more assertively until you give in.

Does this sound familiar?

As with all other behaviours, if you do not wish for it to happen, it is better not to let it start.

Think long and hard before you slip that bite or open the door

Think long and hard before you slip that bite, open the door after the second bark or give in to attention-seeking habits. Many dog owners are naggers too. “Sit! Sit! Sit!” they say before their dog’s behind finally connects with the floor, or even worse, they continue asking for a sit when the dog has already sat. As a result, the dog will learn that the word ‘sit’ has no meaning.

What the owner is learning is that repeated requests eventually produce a result. Bad training teaches nagging at both ends of the lead. Fear not though, as all it takes is better understanding and self-discipline and you could be on your way to a better relationship with your canine.

Just remember that behaviour that gets rewarded persists and behaviour that does not get rewarded is less likely to be repeated. If there is something your dog does that annoys you, do not forget to teach him what you want him to do instead.

Visit www.dogtrainingmadeeasy.org for some great ideas on what to teach your dog to do.