Resist the temptation to “help” your dog figure stuff out!
One of our best dog-training mentors said “The more you help, the more helpless you make your dog.”
Remember when you were a little kid and you were practising a new skill (maybe tying your shoes)? And your mom or sibling jumped in and interrupted? You forgot where you were and you had to start all over again.
Your dog needs time to think things through and practise his/her thinking and decision-making skills.
If your dog is frustrated, he/she may look at you for help. Bark, fuss, make eye contact, and try to get you to help, Don’t do it! As long as he/she is trying – resist the temptation!
If your dog turns away and gives up, then you can move on to something else and try again another time.
Hope’s Teddy (French Bulldog) wasn’t the brightest bulb in the chandelier. He heard a noise in the alley and dashed underneath and around some yard equipment to get down a narrow path to check it out. When he was ready to come back, he couldn’t figure out how he’d gotten there.
He started fussing and looking for some help. Instead of clearing the way, Hope just waited for him to figure it out – as noisy and difficult as that was. In time (it was only a few minutes), he did figure out a path back and was proud of himself for the rest of the day!
So – don’t be so quick to help. Encourage your dog’s problem-solving ability.