Twosday Training Tip

TIP #1: TRAINING REGRESSIONS
People are terribly mystified by any change in their dog's behavior and go on a lot with the "why?" as though there should never be any variability whatsoever in this living organism's behavior. Training regressions are a frequent occurrence and no big deal. It is so important to remember that behavior is always in flux, constantly subjected to whatever contingencies there are in the environment as well as being influenced by unknown internal events.
- excerpted from The Culture Clash

TIP #2: PREVENTION: FIRST, LAST, AND IN-BETWEEN
The best protection against counter surfing is to prevent the habit from forming in the first place. If the behavior pays off once, it is very hard to change - because of the double whammy reward of food and a challenge - so don’t let your new puppy or dog develop a taste for it. Follow these rules from day one:
First, make sure your dog isn’t actually being fed too little.
Second, make sure your dog gets enough exercise and mental stimulation. Many dogs become counter surfers out of sheer boredom.
Third, scavenger-proof your kitchen: Put the food away!

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