NILIF Program

[ColColt]

I've been looking over this program and most of it makes sense to me. However, I read where if your dog comes over to you and nudges your hand to ignore him. It may be in a pack situation that the alpha dog doesn't respond to that but, were not dogs but humans that enjoy giving attention and love to those Corgis and I can't entirely prescribe to that instruction. If, for instance, I were to have Bubba here and I was kicked back in the recliner and he comes over and lays his chin on my leg-he's going to get an acknowledgment from me in the form of a smile and a head rub at minimum. Is that wrong?

I'll admit to being somewhat of a Cesar Millan fan as I think the man has done a wonderful work with various dogs and their problems. I don't subscribe to all his techniques and suggestions but, he has done a lot of good. One thing he keeps talking about is that we shower our dogs with too much affection and that creates a host of problems...at least for some dogs. It seems unnatural to me to have your dog sit before you pet him, give him food, take him outside, go for a walk, go for a ride, give him his favorite toy, etc.

Am I being too soft about this? I understand you don't want your Corgi to think he's head of the household and in charge but, must he beg for everything he gets?

(Maybe this should have been put in the General Training and Behavior section)

[The Chipmunk's Mom]

David:

I am a firm believer that you can't give your dog to much attention. If my boys come over to me to be picked up or to be petted, then I do it. I enjoy giving my dogs attention. When I come home from work my dogs meet me at the door and I always sit on the floor and give them plenty of attention. Alot of times, I don't even make it in the house. My philosophy is you get more than you receive when it comes to your animals. In the evening, I usually have at least a half hour or so playtime with them and they look forward to it. Sometimes, Dale will sit on my lap while I play with Chip. Cesar Melan deals with mostly severe behavioral problems and I don't think that would apply to most dogs. If you get Bubba, I would give him all the attention you want to give him. Sometimes, I pet my dogs simply because I want to and I don't think they should have to earn attention before they get it either. Hope this helps. Someone else may have a different point of view.

[taflar]

I've been looking over this program and most of it makes sense to me. However, I read where if your dog comes over to you and nudges your hand to ignore him. It may be in a pack situation that the alpha dog doesn't respond to that but, were not dogs but humans that enjoy giving attention and love to those Corgis and I can't entirely prescribe to that instruction. If, for instance, I were to have Bubba here and I was kicked back in the recliner and he comes over and lays his chin on my leg-he's going to get an acknowledgment from me in the form of a smile and a head rub at minimum. Is that wrong?

IMO, it's not wrong to pet them if they nudge you.

Also, I think that if your dog does not have a problem you don't need the NILF program. It's not for every dog. I'd only use it for a dog with a problem that I was trying to get under control.

And if you do have a problem, sometimes you only need parts of the program. Just depends on you and the dog.

I'll admit to being somewhat of a Cesar Millan fan as I think the man has done a wonderful work with various dogs and their problems. I don't subscribe to all his techniques and suggestions but, he has done a lot of good.

Yes, and no, if you ask me. I'm not a big Cesar fan. I'd like to know what happens when he leaves and how many people follow through on what he teaches

From the shows I've watched, what he's taught people is what I think is common sense stuff. Things they should have been doing all along. It doesn't take much thinking to figure out if your chichuhua is snapping at everyone that you don't laugh at it that you tell the dog no and make it stop.

One thing he keeps talking about is that we shower our dogs with too much affection and that creates a host of problems...at least for some dogs.

I don't think it's too much affection, I think it's lack of disipline. People thinking they are showing their dog love by letting it get away with things it shouldn't!

It seems unnatural to me to have your dog sit before you pet him, give him food, take him outside, go for a walk, go for a ride, give him his favorite toy, etc.

I don't make my dogs sit before petting, in fact As I said if you don't have a problem then you don't need NILF.

Get the dog first and see what's what, and IMO, don't "expect" problems.

I understand you don't want your Corgi to think he's head of the household and in charge but, must he beg for everything he gets?

No, I don't think so either. You can be in charge without making the dog work for every pet or treat or dinner even.

Peggy

[ColColt]

You both echo my feelings about this. If I'm sitting on the couch and he decides he wants to join me, I'd be perfectly happy to have him by my side...without anything beforehand. If I've decided to take a nap and he wants to jump up and do likewise, I'd have no problem with that either.

As for Cesar, it would be hard to tell just how many follow through with his recommendations. Some are indeed pretty much a common sense thing that if they had only thought through, would not have needed his services. Others were hard cases such as the pit bull, Emily, who had a dog aggression issue. He got her straightened out with that after a tour of duty at his "psychology center" but, it required the owners to follow up with his recommendations as well. There was another segment I watched about a dog they just wold not walk on a leash but would struggle to go past his house. He even gave Cesar a fit when he tried but again, he got him out of his fear of being away from home and would walk nicely on a loose leash around the neighborhood.

I'm not looking for problems but, wanted to try and understand in the event there were some, what to do or how to handle it in the event it came up and I had read of this NILIF program and saw it recommended by quite a few. Hopefully, we won't have any problems at all but, you never know when they could crop up.

[taflar]

You both echo my feelings about this. If I'm sitting on the couch and he decides he wants to join me, I'd be perfectly happy to have him by my side...without anything beforehand. If I've decided to take a nap and he wants to jump up and do likewise, I'd have no problem with that either.

I don't see anything wrong with it either!

I know Cesar deals with some very problem dogs, and he knows how to handle them from years of experience. And the dogs know he won't react the way their owners do. And sometimes dogs give you what you expect. He expects better behavior and gets it.

I'm not looking for problems but, wanted to try and understand in the event there were some, what to do or how to handle it in the event it came up and I had read of this NILIF program and saw it recommended by quite a few. Hopefully, we won't have any problems at all but, you never know when they could crop up.

And it's good to know where to go for advice or ideas if you need them. The NILF program is good to have if you need it, but like I said I don't think it's something that you should do with every dog automatically.

Peggy

[ColColt]

The NILF program is good to have if you need it, but like I said I don't think it's something that you should do with every dog automatically.

No, I don't either Peggy. I thought some of the suggestions in the program were rather odd, though. I've brought it up after the TN Picnic about meeting the Chipmonks for the first time and how Chip came up to me like he knew me for years and started washing my face when we met!! I enjoyed that immensely and just hugged him and let him have at it!! I don't think I would have any dog to sit before doing it either-just enjoy the moment!!:CUTE:

[taflar]

No, I don't either Peggy. I thought some of the suggestions in the program were rather odd, though. I've brought it up after the TN Picnic about meeting the Chipmonks for the first time and how Chip came up to me like he knew me for years and started washing my face when we met!! I enjoyed that immensely and just hugged him and let him have at it!! I don't think I would have any dog to sit before doing it either-just enjoy the moment!!:CUTE:

I agree. And you're right havin him sit first would have ruined the moment!

Peggy

[sutulu]

I don't think it's too much affection, I think it's lack of disipline. People thinking they are showing their dog love by letting it get away with things it shouldn't!

I agree with Peggy. As long as there is dicipline, boundaries, standards for their behavior, affection in my mind is a different matter.

One of my agility instructors would acuse me of sending mixed or confusing messages to my dogs and I'm sure at times I do.

But they, in general, know what is acceptable behavior and what is not.

As far as affection goes, mine get tons of it from me and I think that has alot to do with why they expect every human will treat them the same way. They are never afraid of people, totally expect everyone they meet will treat them kindly (sometimes this can be a problem...).

I have translated NILF and use it when I give treats - no sit, no treats. Trying to work that into games, they have to sit and wat for me to throw their stick, then I say release and they can go after it.

Susan

[Merlincorgi]

I'm another from the "pick and choose" category. I use some of the things from NILIF... and sometimes they are needed. Most recently Checkers has decided "off" means just to move over a little bit, not actually get OFF the couch... so we are working on reasserting my dominance in that area, but I'm not doing EVERYTHING differently, just making sure he understands to ask permission before coming up on the couch, etc. I think there are some dogs, as others have said, that might need NILIF or similar because they have a natural leadership personality and need their human to reinforce their position in the pack reguarly...but neither of my boys is that way. Some things out of NILIF I try to do out of habit, or for safety even. Example, my boys are NOT allowed to rush out of a door (outside, I don't care where they go in the house) without me either going out first, or giving them verbal permission to go out ahead of me. This way I don't have to worry about opening the door for a guest or whatever. But again... these are basic manners things to me....

[Fluffypants]

Some things out of NILIF I try to do out of habit, or for safety even. Example, my boys are NOT allowed to rush out of a door (outside, I don't care where they go in the house) without me either going out first, or giving them verbal permission to go out ahead of me. This way I don't have to worry about opening the door for a guest or whatever. But again... these are basic manners things to me....

I do that too Bonnie, for the same reason. I also do it going in and out of the doors at school, because you never know who is on the other side! And I do make Jackie sit and wait before she eats her dinner. I don't want her jumping all over me when I am trying to feed her. :CUTE:

I think that you and Bubba will do great together David. You are doing the right thing and preparing / learning ahead of time! +WUBCLUB+