Just Give It time

“Just give it time.” How many of you have heard that when you’ve complained about your cat’s or dog’s misbehavior? It’s the advice given by many well-meaning friends and family. They’re trying to be supportive and encourage patience. Both good things! However, is time alone an effective treatment for misbehavior? 

We all value time. So much so, that describing a company meeting or professional conference as a “waste of time” is the ultimate insult. One reason for the “waste of time” label may be that we expected to make progress at the meeting, or to gain new knowledge from the conference causing us to change our behavior. “Time well spent” is a compliment often shared about meetings or conferences that inspire behavior change. 

Change over time leads to progress. 

Behavior change without time leads to backsliding. 

Time without behavior change leads to stagnation. 

Constantly allowing your dog to drag you around the block on walks will not improve with time alone. However, changing your behavior and diligently training loose leash walking every day, will improve your neighborhood walks. 

Getting out of bed every time your cat meows for breakfast will not improve the situation and allow you to sleep in next time. Changing your behavior by covering your head with a pillow and waiting for your cat to be quiet before getting out of bed will silence your four-legged alarm clock. 

Some newly adopted dogs are “shell shocked” in their new homes. Behaviorally healthy dogs are resilient. They recover and adjust to their new surroundings quickly. Fearful dogs who slink around and shrink back from changes in their environment are more concerning. Time alone is not an effective treatment for fearful dogs. Please reach out to a force-free dog trainer or veterinary behaviorist to help your fearful dog find his brave. 

So will the “just give it time” advice work? While it depends on the severity of the issue, the likelihood of improvement based on time alone is low. However, add change to the equation, and change plus time leads to progress. So the next time someone says, “just give it time”, take that as your cue to change your behavior by contacting a force-free trainer for improving your pet’s behavior as quickly as possible.