consistency

Right up there with "consistency" is the word "patience".   Consistency is without a doubt a huge key to successful training.  When you have family members all using different cue words, different timing, different rules (some allow on furniture, wife comes in and yells at dog for being on sofa...) it can only be one big massive confusion for the dog.
 
Having said that, if you as an owner don't have patience, you will become a frustrated, ineffective trainer.  Trying to teach too much, too fast and expecting too much, too fast is common.  Afterall, we want what we want, when we want it.  We should all learn patience and be consistant and I believe your dog will reward you with desired behaviors. 

eley that's a great point.  Consistency to the point of making it habit.  I'm not sure if that makes sense to anyone but what I mean is that in training, one needs to be consciously aware at all times to remain consistent and that should become a habit. 

It's easy to slack off.  I'll admit that I've done it, slacked off I mean.  It's pretty easy to do.  Slack off once though and you can make things take alot longer to overcome.

ORIGINAL: Xerxes
 Consistency to the point of making it habit.  I'm not sure if that makes sense to anyone but what I mean is that in training, one needs to be consciously aware at all times to remain consistent and that should become a habit. 

The best example of this that I have experienced in my training with Mason is that I have NEVER allowed him to cross the threshold into the kitchen.  I house trained him on leash and he now drags a leash in the house.  I've practiced his sit/stays twice a day by putting it to use.  I sit/stay him at the threshold, I go into the kitchen to get his food, when I return - REWARD!  Now he will stop in his tracks and sit there whenever I go into the kitchen -even if it's not meal time, even if I don't tell him to! 

I guess that behavior was created out of habit - I love it!

I guess that behavior was created out of habit - I love it!

 
Right!  Kato is fed outside, and when he sees me coming with his dish he does an auto sit/wait now and I don't have to do anything.  I do still put my finger up in front of him to "wait", but I don't have to.  He knows through consistency that he will get his dish after I give him the "okay".  I haven't failed him yet, so he hasn't failed me either!

Good word! []
 
I think it applies to many areas when living with a dog. They are always watching and learning.
 
 
 
 

Even us humans wouldn't learn a dang thing without consistancy and repitition.[]

Just out of curiosity, do you guys have any problems getting your significant others, or other members of your household to follow "the program" (whatever that might be)?

Yes! BF is a teddy bear. Maybe I'll start clickering him [8D]

ORIGINAL: eley

Just out of curiosity, do you guys have any problems getting your significant others, or other members of your household to follow "the program" (whatever that might be)?

When my BF first started living with me I took in his grandfather's dog because she was headed for the shelter. It was difficult at first because my BF completely humanized the dog. She was spoiled rotten, confused, aggressive, never walked, and a neurotic groomer. His grandmother and grandfather were in conflict over how to treat the dog when they had her, too.

With time, he saw the changes in her and the change in the 6 yr old female-to-female aggressive dog I adopted while we still had his GF's dog. He has also seen me work with my current shelter dog, client's dogs, and now helps me with them.

I'm lucky in the fact he is quite intelligent and has a pretty scientific mind. He's really come a long way and grasps most of it.

A house divided is the ultimate definition of inconsistancy, IMO. I've seen it to be very harmful when it involves either the raising of dogs or kids.

One thing I have noticed with clients, is often the conflics about the raising of children or dogs has more to due with the human's imbalance, power struggles, or emotional issues with each other.

Emotional triangles are the worst. Often you will find one spouse turns the dog into their SO or child, and shuts the other human out. This was the problem with my BF's grandparent's dog.

I also worked with a boxer who's owners were a classic case. In the course of a conversation with the wife, I found out two of their children were not on speaking terms with them. The wife told me she felt her husband was too strict so she compensated by being indulgent and permissive. These folks were as far at the two extremes of spectrum as I have seen and did nothing but work against each other. Their dog was a mess.

ORIGINAL: eley

Just out of curiosity, do you guys have any problems getting your significant others, or other members of your household to follow "the program" (whatever that might be)?

 
 
Absolutely!!!    Not on purpose but my DH doesn#%92t really get involved in my dogs training much.  He knows there are some things I insist he follow but for the most part he just does his own thing.  For example:  When River takes something he is not supposed to have my husband will chase him through the house yelling NO!!  And I always say, tell him to “drop it” and don#%92t chase him.  I come along and say “River – drop it” he drops it immediately.  My daughter is better at knowing what works than my DH.  My DH get jealous that he thinks River loves me more than him.

Just out of curiosity, do you guys have any problems getting your significant others, or other members of your household to follow "the program" (whatever that might be)?

 
Oh good gravy!  Don't even get me started on that topic!! [&:]

Hey wait, that is my line [].  My father is the worst.... Constantly telling me, "the dogs listen to me" yeah right.  The biggest problem, openning the front door to go get the paper or mail or a delivery.  NEVER EVEN looks to see where the dogs are.  I could kill him.... You folks would testify it was justifiable, right ????? []

ORIGINAL: mrv

Hey wait, that is my line [].  My father is the worst.... Constantly telling me, "the dogs listen to me" yeah right.  The biggest problem, openning the front door to go get the paper or mail or a delivery.  NEVER EVEN looks to see where the dogs are.  I could kill him.... You folks would testify it was justifiable, right ????? []

"yes your honor...I do remember the defendant saying something about killing his dad or something......" something like that you mean?

ORIGINAL: eley

Just out of curiosity, do you guys have any problems getting your significant others, or other members of your household to follow "the program" (whatever that might be)?

Um, didn't you know that's why some trainers have dogs that jump up?  []  I even tell my students that if you aren't all on the same page, the dog will learn what he/she is intermittently reinforced for.  In my house, the speckled monstah is always up on her daddy...  so, because she is not apt to jump on people she doesn't know (the beauty of herding dogs), I simply taught her "paws up" and "paws down", just as I did with Sioux (but not because she was disobedient - she's a therapy dog - it was to cue her to place her paws on someone's bed, or lap, to make her easier to pat).