We humans take Sitting for granted.
After all, most of us Sit all day. At school, in our cars, at the office, in the movies, at restaurants and bars.
Butt on chair is a pretty natural – even effortless – position for the majority of humans.
Dogs, on the other hand, seem to prefer walking, trotting, flat out running, or sprawling in a heaving furry mass on the floor.
Yet people are compelled to ask our dogs to Sit for us. For a treat or a meal, a game or a toy, entry or exit, for petting and for greeting.
The way we figure it, Sitting is so much more civilized than leaping in our faces, tongue poised to swipe our lips.
Sitting is what dog trainers call an “incompatible behavior” meaning dogs can’t jump/bark/moisten our chins if they Sit instead.
This brings me to Pitbull mix Cassidy.
Cassidy is unclear on the concept of Sit.
All the tricks of the trade don’t have any effect on her ability to connect the Sit word (or the hand signal for Sit) with the action of setting her tush on the ground.
We used the time-worn method of teaching Sit: hold a tasty treat slightly above Cassidy’s head, moving it slowly behind her. Most dogs are lured into the Sit with this technique.
Most dogs. Not Cassidy.
We changed the rewards – upped the ante – from crunchy treats to liver treats to hot dog. No dice.
We tried squeaky toys and fuzzy toys and bouncy balls. No cigar.
We tried waiting for her to Sit on her own so we could name the behavior, but Cassidy goes from standing to a belly flop, without a pause in between to Sit.
I’m not one to force a Sit by pushing on a dog’s rear. I also don’t believe yelling is effective. Nor is repeating the word Sit…Sit…Sit over and over. After all, it’s not Cassidy’s ability to hear that is at issue.
She. Just. Doesn’t. Get. It.
And then, I had an AHA ! moment.
I noticed that Cassidy would back up when my hand went over her head. What if…..there was no place for Cassidy to back up to???
We took Cassidy to a corner of the house, repeated the Sit gesture, and with nowhere else to go, Cassidy plunked her behind to the floor with a look that said “Is THAT all you wanted? Well, why didn’t you say so?”
Comentarios