Before I was a dog trainer, I was a theatre major in college. Back when I was studying acting there were many different schools of thought, different methods for achieving acting perfection. There was only one rule that seemed to be agreed on by everyone: when it comes to improvisational acting (improv for short) there is one unbreakable rule most refer to as “yes, and.”
In improv acting, there is no script. Often there will be prompts given to the actors just before they begin, or sometimes added by the audience during the performance. If you have ever seen the TV show, “Whose Line is it Anyway,” you know what I’m talking about. The actors are flying by the seat of their pants and making up the scene as they go. The “yes, and” rule is used to make improv flow smoothly. If one actor proclaims that he is looking out a window, all other actors must accept this to be fact, and build on it. If an actor were to, moments later, walk through the space where the window had previously been established to be, or proclaim something like, “that’s not a window, that’s a cat!” it might completely derail the flow of the scene.
The “yes, and” rule serves to keep everyone on the same page. Once someone has laid out a fact, everyone must agree to it and move on from there.
For an example of this, check out this video from “Whose Line is it Anyway.” You’ll notice right away that once an actor establishes an object or fact, the other actor immediately continues as if this has always been.
I bet by now you are wondering how this ties into dog training, so let me explain.
Every interaction you have with your dog is like putting on an improv scene. Your dog is going to offer certain behaviors and it’s up to you what happens next. No matter if you like the behaviors or not, you and that dog are a team for as long as they are yours. Their behavior will lay out certain facts and while those facts are ever-changing, they are also not to be ignored.
If you take your dog for a walk, and your dog lunges towards another dog it sees, barking and growling and carrying on, denying it or wishing it away won’t help your team. Your best move is to think, “yes, and.”
YES: Today my dog lost his/her mind when seeing another dog on a walk, so they have established they (at least sometimes) have an issue with other dogs on walks. Now that I’ve accepted that fact, I can take certain precautions.
AND: work on redirecting my dog from distractions, setting up a private lesson with a trainer who can help me, avoid walking my dog when I know other dogs will be out walking, etc.
Another example might be: My 10 week old puppy peed in the living room today. Think “yes, and” and suddenly you will see no amount of yelling at the puppy or yourself will change the fact that it occurred and it won’t help your team move forward.
YES: The dog peed in the living room.
AND: Next time I will make sure to take the puppy out to go to the bathroom sooner.
No human and dog relationship is a scripted occurrence. There are going to be days when you think your dog is as amazing as Lassie and days when you feel like your dog is as bad as Cujo. The key to your sanity is recognizing that you and your dog are a team and the only way you can be successful is if you agree to play by the same rules. What is, is. But tomorrow is undecided. Don’t let one moment destroy the whole relationship. Accept what occurred and move your story forward, one moment, one action at a time. Nobody gets to the end of their happily ever after without putting in some hard work. If, however, you are feeling stuck, consider your dog trainer to be your fairy godmother. We can help you get there as long as you invite us to “yes, and” in the tale of you and your dog. We’d be honored to be a part of your story.
Happy Training!
Nicole L Yuhas CPDT-KA
This blog is intended to be informative as well as entertaining. It contains my opinion which may not reflect the opinions of any organization I may be affiliated with. My opinions should not be interpreted as those of my coworkers, family, friends, casual acquaintances, and certainly not the opinion of my cat, although my dog probably agrees with everything I say, if for no other reason, than because I provide the treats and meals (cats are less inclined to agree with anyone but themselves). Information provided here is accurate and true to the best of my knowledge but, as information and opinions change, neither the facts nor the opinions expressed here may be true or accurate at any future date. As I don’t currently own a time machine, I cannot be responsible for things that prove to be untrue, or opinions I change my mind about, should those changes become apparent in the future. It should also be noted that, as I am human, there may be omissions, errors or mistakes in the information provided here. Frankly, even if I were a computer, it is likely there would be errors, as computers, in my experience, can be a royal pain in the butt. This blog may contain affiliate links which you are under no obligation to click. If you click them, they will hopefully take you the place I intended. But they may not. As I’ve said, computers can be a pain. If you find yourself somewhere you don’t think I intended, click your ruby slippers three times together and say, “there is no place like home.” If you do that, and click the “back” button, you should be safely returned. Computers can, at times, have a mind of their own. Any training suggestions or opinions expressed here should be taken as information only and should not be seen as advice particular to you or your dog’s unique situation. Please consult with a training professional before taking any action.