Why?

Most people get interested in dog sports because they love their dogs and they want to do something fun with them. So just for a moment, put yourself in the following scenario, and think about what you'd do. Let's say you're interested in Competition Obedience, but your dog just will not remain in place during the long stays. You're in class, and once again, you told your dog to "Sit" and "Stay," walked across the room, and turned around to see him galloping towards you. All of the other students are gawking at you, and your trainer is tapping his foot...

Do you:

(1) Yell at your dog, drag him back to his spot, shove him into position, and make him stay put?

(2) Gently guide your dog back, ask her to get back into position, and reward her if she stays in place?

(3) Take a step backwards in your training and perhaps start practicing more often, or practice in less distracting situations, or increase your rewards - gradually building back up to the same situation where your dog first failed?

(4) Forget about Competition Obedience entirely, and choose something else to do with your dog, like Agility, or Rally, or Flyball - all sports that don't involve long stays?

Did you pick something?

Now let's be honest, how many of you answered "none of the above" and instead said, "I'd try to figure out why my dog is not doing the stays in the first place, and why it is important that she does."

No matter what you ask your dog to do, or how she responds to your request, you should always ask yourself 'why' - because every answer depends on that one little word.

Maybe your dog just doesn't have enough experience staying in place for long time periods - in which case, number (2) and number (3) both might make good choices.

But what if your dog is stressed about you leaving her, or nervous about being around the other dogs....what do you do then? Number (4) might be a better option - after all, there's no law that says your dog isn't a good dog if she can't do a long stay - it's just some exercise the AKC made up. But, maybe you'd prefer to try and build your dog's confidence about being left behind, or about being around strange dogs - in which case you might prefer to try number (3).

But if you decide to do this, you should once more ask yourself "Why?"

Do you truly feel your dog would genuinely benefit from being more comfortable in these situations? Because how often are you really going to leave your dog in a strange place, sitting in a line up amongst strange dogs?

And what if your dog got up simply because something else in the environment was more interesting? I'd say number (2) and number (3) are good choices - and - maybe you need to make more of an effort to be more interesting than the environment, or show your dog why listening to you will get him better rewards than wandering away.

After all, what's in it for the dog to just sit there in a line doing nothing...?

But maybe you think number (1) is a better choice, because you feel your dog got up because he was being dominant or stubborn. If so, now ask yourself exactly how a dog getting up from a Sit or Down means he is being dominant or stubborn? Do you honestly think your best bud got up just to spite you? (Especially when he knows you are just going to grab him, drag him back, and make him do it anyway?) Or, is it more likely that he is uncomfortable for some reason? Or he needs more practice? Or something smelled good across the room?

No matter your answer, ask yourself 'why' forcing your dog to 'obey' you is fair? I'm sure you wouldn't feel it was fair if she was nervous or scared, or at least I hope not. But is it fair if YOU haven't practiced enough? Or if your dog is bored with the sport YOU chose for them? Or if your Bloodhound caught an interesting scent and did what he was bred for?

Next ask yourself why this is so important to you in the first place. Is it because you really just want that title or ribbon? Or is your trainer or your friends pushing you to compete? Maybe you're trying to prove that you're a good trainer yourself?

Most importantly, ask yourself if you and the dog that you love are still having fun together? Because, isn't that what you set out to do?