Working with fearful and reluctant dogs©
By Gary Wilkes Copyright 2019

There are many ways to achieve a behavior. One of the most neglected is the use of compulsion. In our modern world, compulsion is assumed to be bad. However, if you have every hustled to get across a street to avoid oncoming traffic you realize the hollow nature of that conclusion. Compulsion is present any time you must do something in order to stay safe or achieve a goal. Technically, a melting ice-cream cone compels you to eat faster. Having an appointment may cause you to shower quicker than usual. Leaving your keys inside the house may compel you to break a window or jimmy a door. In these examples the behaviors were already present. The compulsion forced them to occur in a specific way. So it is with teaching a reluctant or untrained dog to come or be handled. Continue reading →