What Do You Think Of The Nilif Program?

[wags]

"Nothing in Life is Free." According to that, we should never pat, hug, feed, etc., our dogs unless they "earn it."

I have mixed feelnigs about that. What about you?

[bradl]

I was in the middle of recommending that very program to you yesterday when my computer crashed and I lost the post. My observation is that dogs are usually much happier (and as a consequence better behaved) when they have a job to do. A Cairn is a terrier after all and has the heart and soul of a wickedly intelligent, enthusiastic, working dog. To fail to channel that working dog is asking for trouble.

I don't agree with never a hug, but I do agree not while you are having behavior issues of any kind. I think we owe it to our dogs to be strong, kind, clear, patient, and consistent leaders, and even more stubborn than they are. Frankly, it's almost never a puppy's fault (whatever it might be).

[wags]

I guess it's almost like raising a kid, then- with consistency. I do like to hug Wes alot, even though he hasn't done anything special to deserve one. But I never hug or pet him when he's misbehaving. Is that what you mean? Or do we have to be more rigid?