[Zumie05]

I don't know why you guys think that what I am talking about here is micromanaging your dog. All that I have suggested to the OP is to make the dog work for a few things in life that he enjoys doing. How does that mean that I am suggesting that the dog be micromanaged?!? Maybe I just stated things wrong before, so I will try it again.

By having your dog work for things in life other than during a training session you are practicing nilif, because the dog works for something and then you grant it. Now training sessions are also a great way to reinforce leadership, but I also think it is important to follow through with obedience for things other than set training times.

With Gary, I might do a 5 - 10 min training session a day, tops. For the rest of the day, I might make him "wait" while I brush him or clip his nails, wait before he gets to eat his food, "drop it" before I can throw his ball for him again, "sit" before I pet him (he has a bad habit of trying to get in your lap), and in order to continue goin on a walk he cannot be pulling me....how is that micromanaging and creating a dog less willing to do commands for you? I think it is practicing nilif!

It's not like for every second of the day I am spitting out commands....of course this would break a dog's spirit. For the majority of the day, let pooch be a pooch.