There's a question in that look!
Educators know that there are times when students are more receptive to the information they have to share. These ‘teachable moments’ are like northern lights, some conditions are more likely to foster their appearance and teachers are grateful to be witness to the event.
Trainers and savvy dog owners understand that teaching their dogs new behaviors and skills is not isolated to the obedience class attended once a week, but that dogs too have ‘teachable moments’ to be taken advantage of. When the teachable moment occurs with humans, experienced teachers seize the opportunity and are prepared with the information they want to share. In the student’s mind a question has formed or the information the teacher wants to impart has taken on relevance to the student. A student who has asked ‘why E=mc2’ is more likely to pay attention when it is explained to them.
Whereas teachers have information, dog owners have resources (food, beds, toys, access to outside, etc.), and like teachers, just need to be on the lookout for the opportunity to share them. While your dog may not ask you about the theory of relativity, s/he will ask you a myriad of other questions.
“Can I go out?”
“Got more of that sandwich?”
“How about letting me on the couch too?”
“I’m going to bark at that stranger, ok?”
Each of these questions gives owners the opportunity to share a resource and train their dog.
“Yes you can go out, if you sit and let me put your leash on.”
“No sandwich, but if sit on your bed you’ll have a bone to chew.”
“You may get on the couch but you have to get off when I ask you to.”
“No, you may not bark at that stranger, you can sit and have a treat.”
It will take a few repetitions, just as a human student will probably need more than one exposure to ‘E=mc2’ in order to fully understand it, but as long as your answer remains the same, the dog, like the student (and possibly even better) will learn the information.
When you are on the alert for teachable moments with your dog you’ll be amazed at how many questions s/he’s asking you!
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