Two Reasons Fido Behaves Well in the Classroom...But Not at Home.

This is a classic problem, experienced by many. Your pet is a superstar at training class, but as soon as you walk out the door, you realize that once again, aliens have kidnapped your perfect puppy and left a disobedient Evil Twin in his/her place. Here's why this happens...and what to do about it.

There are usually two causes for this behavior: the first is LACK OF GENERALIZATION. Your dog acquired training, but has not practiced it enough in different situations for that training to become dependable. For example, he learns "Keep Off" of people in the room he trains in each week. Familiar and comfortable there, he can tune all distractions out INSIDE OF THAT ROOM and respond well to the command. However, when he goes OUTSIDE OF THAT ROOM, the smells and people walking by are random and unfamiliar. Now he cannot tune anything out and focuses on the distractions instead of you and your request to "Keep Off". So you end up with a leaping, bounding Evil Twin.

The second cause is (quite shockingly) that THE OWNER HAS ALSO BEEN KIDNAPPED BY ALIENS and replaced with an Evil Twin. Stake out any dog obedience class, and you will see this is true. The owner INSIDE the classroom is calm, prepared with treats, completely focused on the dog, clearly deals with incorrect responses and praises good behavior profusely. As a result, the dog complies beautifully. However, OUTSIDE the classroom...all focus on the dog evaporates. The owner's Evil Twin is hurried (not calm), unprepared (treats are gone), not focused on the dog (finding the car keys, perhaps) and uncommunicative (commands, requests - it all goes away). Left without any support, the dog is left to think and do what he/she pleases.... and the Evil Twin becomes very annoyed.

You'll be glad to know the way to fix the problem does not involve beaming up to the Mother Ship or using a Phaser (on 'stun' of course.) Most of us simply need to keep training our dogs- and ourselves - until we are FLUENT and have PRACTICED at least a thousand times in different situations.

Generalization of your pet's obedience commands can take as little as five minutes a day. Ask your pet to "Keep Off" everyone you know. Every time. Stop people in the park and ask them to greet your pet only after you are able to secure a good 'Sit' or 'Down', both of which ensure a good 'Keep Off.'

Generalizing your own dog handling behavior is also key. PRACTICE remaining mentally connected to - and supportive of - your dogs outside of the classroom. Don't just drag your dog along by the leash. Ask for 'Wait' at every door (and get it!) before you go outside or into the next room. Keep a few treats in your pocket on walks, giving random jackpot rewards to your dog for good behavior.

Simple requests, asked and rewarded over and over in all kinds of situations, will help both you and your pet generalize good dog training and handling behavior.

And allow BOTH of your Evil Twins to remain back on the Ship.