What is the Invisible
Dog?
(A = It's a strategy)
Dogs who are adored by their
owners, quickly find out how
to get what they want. They
they begin to do these
things to get whatever it is
they want at the time. When
they become invisible,
they quickly find out how to
deliver what the
owner wants, so as to
become visible again.
The "Invisible Dog" is a
behavioral modification
technique recommended for
some dogs. The goal of this
technique is to avoid the
need for punishment by
making human attention
more valuable. If the dog
can get human attention at
will, that attention becomes
less valuable, and therefore
less of a reward.
The Invisible Dog is also
useful during some behavior
modification strategies as a
buffer between the OLD way
things were, and the NEW way
things are going to be.
Essentially, the
Invisible Dog means that for
1 week intervals, (until the
dog can pass the test below)
everyone in the home
pretends the dog is
invisible, unless it is
doing "work." (work is
explained below)
Exactly what
do I do?
(A = It's what you don't
do that counts)
During this period,
unless the dog is working,
the owner must act as if
the dog does not exist.
Pretend the dog is
invisible. This
means:
-
do not greet the dog
at the door (just walk
on by if the dog cannot
SIT to earn a greeting)
-
do not pet the dog
when it lays its head in
your lap - or any time
it "asks"
-
do not play with the
dog when it brings you a
toy
-
do not make eye
contact with the dog
(unless the dog is
working)
-
do not speak to the
dog (except to give a
Instruction)
-
do not respond to
any request for
attention or interaction
-
do not punish the
dog (if necessary put
the dog in time-out)
-
provide food and
water without comment at
the normal times
When can
I give attention during this
period?
(A = when the dog is working
for praise)
You can give the dog
attention only WHILE the dog
is working. A dog "works"
when he or she is doing
something you asked the dog
to do.
You can talk to,
reassure, and pet the dog
while it is actually…
-
doing a Sit-Stay or
Down-Stay you requested
-
in the act of
responding to any
Instruction you give
-
resting quietly in
the pet's portable
kennel or any other
place you designate
-
"close
tethered" while
quiet and relaxed
-
chewing on an
approved chew
-
waiting to go
through any exterior
door
How does
the dog become "visible"
again?
(A = By passing a test)
The dog "earns"
becoming visible again, by
demonstrating that it will
work for praise in a
novel situation. Here is
the test:
Take the dog to a safe
off-leash area where you do
not commonly give Instructions.
A specific area in the back
yard or an unused tennis
court works nicely. Without
any food treats, ask the dog
to perform every Instruction it
knows, but at least Sit,
Down, and Stay. The only
reward is your praise, and
the dog must happily respond
within 2 seconds of each
Instruction. If this test is
passed, then the dog becomes
visible for a month. If the
dog does not value praise
enough to do these simple
jobs, (during any test) he
or she returns to 1
additional week of being
"invisible" and learning
that human praise and
attention are very valuable
commodities.
It is too difficult -
I can't ignore my dog!
This technique is often
difficult on owners but is a
very important step in the
behavior modification
recommended for your dog.
Many dogs for a short period
do get worse before they get
better. When he or she
gradually realizes that
their happiness is "earned"
it will get easier. It is
in our nature to
occasionally make mistakes
and be frustrated. Be
strong and stick with the
program!
