NILIF Poll

[selzer]

After hijacking a thread, some of us were wondering how many people use NILIF.

[Good_Karma]

Thanks Selzer! I use strict NILIF on puppies until the rules are established, then relax a bit on the strictness, at about a year old.

[Rerun]

Mine is a bit of several of those options, but I chose "I use parts of NILIF" because it seemed the best fit.

I start all puppies off with pretty strict NILIF. They do have toys in the xpen when inside for free time, etc. Things like not bolting out the door in front of me, having to sit for a treat/toy, having to sit, wait, and make eye contact for all meals, etc.

I don't enforce it with adults all the time, though will routinely do things to ensure they are stll aware "NILIF" and make them sit, wait, eye contact for food or toy, etc.

But I don't know or utilize all the principles of it, I have toys laying around at all times that they can play with whenever they want - they don't have to do anything to earn them. Most days I just toss the food to them in a bowl after the early months of training, etc.

My dogs are all very respectful and obedient. I don't enfoce it unless an issue comes up, which is rare.

[DJEtzel]

I choose that I start it with all puppies.

I do the same as the previous two posters, basically. Start out strong to ensure boundaries/rules are known, and then relax a little as they become compliant regularly. Now I only ask for sits with each dog at random times, it's not for every walk/feeding/door/fetch game.

[selzer]

I chose the last as I really do not know, nor have ever used it. But I do take puppies through a lot of classes during their first year, so they do get a good idea of what they need to do, we bond and trust each other through training, and they learn that listening to me is a good idea.

[arycrest]

I swear I should start wearing my glasses when reading the boards.

I selected: I have used NILIF when one of my dogs has an issue, then use it with all dogs.

And I should have selected: I use NILIF when necessary with an individual dog

I've only used it a few times with my problem children (and it has always worked pretty good!)

[Lilie]

I selected that I used parts of NILIF as well.

I may not use it 100% , but I use it as a tool. When there are changes in the home, or something that has caused stress through out dogdom, I'll bring it in 100% for a little while. I think it helps bring back something that is normal to them, something they understand. Something they can count on. It helps stablize dogdom.

When I have company, and I can tell that Hondo makes them nervous, I'll give them treats to provide to Hondo. In my mind, just feeding the dog doesn't help take the edge of for the human. It might for the dog, but to the human having a large dog stare them in the eye while they hand feed them a treat might be a little intimidating. But, having the human tell the dog to sit, and receive a response from the dog gives the human a feeling of control. It helps bridge that gap.

I don't make any of my dogs work for their meals. However, if I am preparing their meals, and they have the zoomies, they will sit and wait. If they are jumping on the door to be let in, they have to sit and wait. And nobody begs at my house. That is a no-no.

Everymorning before I go to work, everyone gets a treat. They are being treated because I'm leaving. They don't work for it. Every night before I get into bed, everyone gets a treat. They don't work for it. They are being treated because it's the end of the day, quiet time. So in fact, the treats aren't exactly free - but they don't have to do anything physical to get them.

I don't think NILIF has to be black and white.

[cshepherd9]

I chose "There are parts that I use on my dogs". I had never heard of NILIF until I started poking around this forum but the little that I have read about it fits some things that I do with my dogs. I set the rules and boundaries early so, for the most part, the pooches know what they can and cannot do.

[GSDElsa]

I guess I do a combo of the last two. I don't actively think I do NILIF, but rather just expect a certain set of behaviors from my dogs. Elsa has earned certain things by having manners...she gets to get on the furniture, etc. Some stuff is totally against NILIF in the sense that I regularly use her jumping on me to get ramped up for training...on the other hand she is NOT allowed to do it to people she encounters out and about and she is a very polite dog overall, so I haven't really had to enforce it too much.

However, with fosters it's a totally different ballgame. They usually get tethered to me and I rule a bit with an iron fist. But I don't think of those as my dogs and they are generally not dogs that I am worried about integrating into the house for a long-term basis, but rather trying to make them as "adoptable" as soon as possible.

[Cassidy's Mom]

I leave toys out too, or most of them at least - I reserve some, like tug toys, that they can only use with the humans. And the "no attention on demand" thing is only for pushy behaviors that I want to extinguish, otherwise I don't worry about it.