Nag--Don't Nag?

I was reminded of a cardinal rule recently as I watched parents trying to discipline their little children at the dinner table.The rule was mentioned that no toys were allowed, yet the kids brought their newest favorite items as they sat down, and fiddled with them instead of eating.They were told repeatedly to not have toys at the table, but nothing was done about it. So, guess what? The kids kept playing instead of eating. They blew off further warnings of having said toys confiscated, etc. And why not? Nothing happened.

The dog trainer in me was dying to grab the offending items and pitch them into the living room but, being a guest, I just watched the power struggle continue.This was nagging--ineffective nagging. Dogs will do exactly the same as kids if they don't believe you'll follow-through. They may not know the words (or maybe they do) but they can tell the meaning.

As with kids, if we don't enforce the rule--whatever it is--and continue to nag, we are rewarding their bad behavior. What's a parent or dog owner to do?


Simple. Enforce the rule the first time it's broken once you're sure the culprit understands. It's much kinder and more effective to have the incident handled right in the first place. Think about it. Do you like being
nagged? Probably not.

A quick, decisive response enforces the rule, says I mean it!, and then it's done.The rule is remembered, you're respected for keeping your word, and the kid/dog now has the security of understanding there are consequences for their actions.

Happy New Year to you and all your four legged friends!