Make the Right Thing Easy and the Wrong Thing Hard

“Make the right thing easy and the wrong thing hard” - Warwick Schiller

So many times I go to a client's house for the first time and their dog has free reign of the house with no consequences for unwanted behavior or reinforcement for good behavior. 

The behaviors the client doesn’t want, jumping, counter surfing, barking out the window, chewing household items etc. are not only easily accessible but they are fun. Why wouldn’t the dog do them?

There is no structure that motivates the dog to do the things the client actually wants. No guidance, no reinforcement, no clear communication.

The solution doesn’t have to be complicated. It just has to be consistent and clear. The unwanted behaviors need to be hard for the dog to do and the wanted behaviors need to be easy. The specifics of what looks hard or easy for every dog, behavior, and household may look different but the concept is the same. 

Here are some ways you can make the wrong thing hard.

• Close doors and use puppy gates to stop your dog from accessing areas of the house where they display unwanted behaviors. 

• Have a leash on your dog at times where you may need to stop or guide them away from a bad decision.

• Make sure you can watch your dog if they are in a situation where they may make a bad decision so you can promptly stop them. Don’t want them counter surfing in the kitchen? Then they should only be allowed in there if you can watch them.

Here are some ways you can make the right thing easy. 

• Have easy to access treats in your house so you can be quick to motivate your dog to do the right thing.

• Bring food rewards with you on a walk so your dog can be easily reinforced for doing the right thing.

• Incorporate commands and impulse control into your playtime so your dog learns that listening to you and being patient can also be fun and rewarding

You can’t do one without the other. 

If the wrong thing is hard but there is no clarity of what is expected from the dog you will get confusion, conflict, and that energy redirected into a different, most likely unwanted behavior. 

If the right thing is easy, but the wrong thing is still accessible you will get a dog who thinks good behavior is an option, not non-negotiable.