Nothing In Life Is Free
by Michele Stadnick
In response to a question about a six-month-old Cairn who bites

Please understand that biting and growling can never be permitted. Someone wise once said to me that if you wouldn't allow a Rottweiler to do it, you shouldn't allow a Cairn to either. In other words, what might appear, at first glance, to be "cute" behaviors in a Cairn wouldn't be cute if a Pit Bull, Rotty, or Doberman were doing them.

The first growl is a test by the dog to see what happens. The next one's a DEFINITE warning. Anything after that is total dominance on the dog's part.

As for bites, the first time a dog (especially a Cairn, which ALWAYS wants to be in control) gets away with biting; the next bite is easier for them to do and more natural. The longer you permit this behavior, the harder it will be to stop it.

Many Cairns come into rescue because growling/snapping/biting behaviors were not curbed when they first began, then they spiraled out of control.

NOW is the time to redirect her behaviors before it's too late.

First, please enroll her in obedience class if she's not been to one. If she has, join another one.

Then, please try the following techniques ALONG with the excellent advice already given about giving her food by hand ONLY and rewarding her patient acceptance of your taking it away from her. You should feed her each and every kibble BY HAND by holding the kibble between your thumb and forefinger so it's barely able to be taken by her. Encourage her to take it with her LIPS not her teeth, and tell her "Good girl!" when she does. She must SIT for each piece of kibble. If she's rude and demands more, walk away from her without comment. YOU own the food, the toys, and the treats. She must understand that.

Institute a "NILIF" (Nothing In Life Is Free) concept immediately. Here's a way to begin:

The situations you describe can be overcome with time, energy, and most of all, determination.

I always say that, "Nature abhors a vacuum and Cairns abhor a POWER vacuum. When they sense a power vacuum, they rush it immediately to fill it." Hence, either YOU are in control or she will be. You still have time to assume control, and she will be much happier if and when you do.

First, you didn't say if she's spayed If she isn't, she definitely should be. IMMEDIATELY. That's very, very important.

Second, please keep in mind that your little girl, spayed or not, is entering the dreaded "adolescence" stage of her life. It will last until she's roughly 2 years old. Like a teenager, too much freedom is a recipe for disaster.

So, it's time to assume the "Nothing In Life Is Free" ("NILIF") position. Essentially, here it is (I know it's long, but it's worth the read):

Crate training is an important part of this process. Crate training is definitely NOT "cruel" as many people believe. Recent studies have shown that, contrary to being cruel to dogs, it's compassionate and caring. Canines are, by nature, pack and DEN animals. They feel safe and secure when they have their own den-like containment area. A cage/crate serves as such. Her crate will serve you well in his "NILIF" training (more about that too).

Also, if she has not ever been to obedience classes, enroll her immediately. Seek out a terrier-savvy instructor, who only uses positive reinforcement training methods. If the trainer uses a choke collar, run, do not walk, away from the class. Many obedience instructors really don't like terriers, as they are, by nature, independent. So you'll have to seek out one who actually ENJOYS terriers, understands them, and is up to the challenge of teaching them (and you, of course!).

Clementine has begun growling and snapping to prevent you from taking food, treats and/or toys from her. She's "feeling his oats" as most adolescent Cairns will. That behavior MUST be nipped in the proverbial bud, because, she will quickly gravitate from growling/snarling/snapping to actual BITING. And by then, it may be too late. You have time now to help her become the dog she WANTS to be.

The program I'll suggest to you is the "NILIF" (Nothing In Life Is Free) concept. It isn't necessarily "easy" and it requires YOU to resolve that her life, health, happiness and long-term welfare are important enough to you that you will push aside feeling "sorry" for her (dogs don't understand that concept, incidentally) and establish in no uncertain terms in his eyes that YOU and YOU ALONE are in charge here (in other words, you are the ultimate ALPHA in your pack).

The "NILIF" (Nothing In Life Is Free) Concept:

She must WORK for every single "privilege" she is granted. You, as the alpha, and the other humans in the home, who are also above her in the pack rank, are the "granters" of all privileges. Privileges are defined as, but not limited to: Eating, Playing With Toys, Going for a Walk, Going Outside to Do His "Business", Being Petted or Shown Affection, Being Allowed on Furniture, Being Given "Treats", etc.

1. Beginning TODAY, tether her to your waist via a relatively short lead (no longer than 3 feet). She MUST go everywhere you go and when you're sitting and watching TV, she should be tethered to the chair leg. When you walk, or move around, INTENTIONALLY move *into* her. Make a point of doing so. In the canine pack, ONLY the alpha can move the subordinate pack members aside by moving his (or her) body into theirs, forcing them to give up the physical territory they are claiming by sitting, standing or lying upon it. In dogs' eyes, doing so is a VERY powerful message. It says, to the dog, "I, and I ALONE am in charge here. THAT little piece of land you're lying on belongs to me. I own it, and I claim it. YOU find somewhere else right now!"
   
   We, as humans, INVARIABLY step over or around our dogs when they are laying comfortably somewhere. Why? Because we're so compassionate and loving that we don't want to disturb their peace. That's human-think. How does a dog interpret that action? (In other words, what does our courteous behaviors say to our dogs?) They see it as DEFERENCE to their superior position. In other words, the dog sees us moving around him or her rather than forcing him to give up his spot and he interprets that as we humans according HER as alpha dog status and privileges.
   
   MOVE YOUR LEG INTO HER EVERY SINGLE TIME and firmly (not a banging, kicking motion, of course!) but rather firmly and consistently apply additional leg pressure UNTIL SHE MOVES OUT OF YOUR WAY. Don't praise her for moving and don't verbally comment if she doesn't. Simply force her to move by applying steadily increasing leg/body pressure against her until she does. The moment she gives way, step into the spot then continue on your way as if it wasn't that important to begin with. This is a very good exercise for every single Cairn owner to do with their little one each and every day at least once.

2. She MUST "work" for everything he gets. YOU own everything in the house...she does not. She must "sit" or preferably "Sit/Stay" for her food dish, in order to be petted, for a treat, for playtime, for a walk, for going outside, etc.

3. Simple ALPHA rules for your home:

   1. She must never go out a door in front of any human, ever
   2. She should never have his head above any human's head, ever
   3. She should never put his paws on any human's shoulders, ever
   4. She should not be permitted to sleep in your bed, probably, not ever.
   5. She gets fed ONLY after every single inhabitant in the house gets fed (human and canine), NEVER before.
   6. EVERY human in the house is immediately above her in the "pack rank". And will remain so forever.
   7. Growling by her at a human must NEVER be permitted, EVER, for any reason whatsoever.
   8. She must be on "heel" when he goes for a walk; she must NOT be ahead of humans. This can be relaxed after the pack rank is firmly established in her mind, but that will take a little while.
   9. She must never be allowed on the furniture UNTIL she is "invited" by a human. After she has "worked" for the privilege by sitting quietly and not demanding to be. If she jumps up uninvited, firmly push her off and tell her, "OFF, CLEMENTINE!" Then ignore her entirely.
   10. She must be ignored if she demands attention or affection. She must only be given attention and/or affection when YOU invite that action.
   11. ALL of her toys are yours. Pick them up. Take them away. Give her a toy for playing WHEN she's demonstrated a positive action such as being patient, sitting quietly, or following a command. When YOU decide play is over, take the toy away and put it away. To a dog, whomever controls FOOD, TOYS, AFFECTION and SPACE (bodily and environmental) is the ALPHA of the pack. YOU and your mate MUST become the alphas to him. YOU own everything. You GIVE everything (when and if you want to) and you TAKE it away if and when you want.

4. Get her to OBEDIENCE SCHOOL with you as the "alpha". Make certain the school/class instructor is terrier-savvy and uses ONLY positive reinforcement techniques, NOT "corrections" like choke collars, etc. You must go through the school with her, and you must do the "homework" every day to reinforce in her mind that you are in control (Alpha) not her.

Now, OK, perhaps the above sounds harsh and punitive to you. Perhaps it sounds like FAR more work than you anticipated, simply solving a little growling and/or nipping behavior. It is. But it really isn't. She should live another 14 or more years. The investment you put in her training now will prove immeasurably valuable if it allows you to keep her in your family for the rest of her life. And, truth be told, uncontrolled biting can escalate into something quite dangerous to you, to your family and friends, and ultimately, to Clementine, whose life may depend upon it.

Like life, there are no "easy" and/or quick fixes. But it IS solvable, I promise you.