When you say you have to earn it, how?
Part of that is being fair and consistent in training...these are extremely stubborn dogs (or can be...). From my experience with Uallis, he has the attitude (I've said a million times...lol) of "I'll do what you want...when I'm ready to do it." He's more challenging in training than my Lab, whose will work for literally anything...with Uallis I have to actually make it worth his while. What will motivate him one day, doesn't necessarily mean it will motivate him the next. I have to work and adapt to that part of his personality. I don't try to change it, I have to work with it. That is a part of partnership. Another part of earning it is to show respect (which should be shown to all dogs...honestly...). I don't do things that I know he doesn't like. I don't hug him (well...I do only sometimes...:scared2
, I don't pat him on the head and don't allow others too. In essence, I don't do things to him and make him tolerate because he's "just a dog". He's a living breathing being who deserves respect. For example, last night I wanted to cut his nails. He kept hiding his paws from me, not wanting it done. Normally, he doesn't care in the least if he has his nails cut, but last night he just wasn't in the mood for it...so I let it be. I wasn't going to push it on him on the principle of "I'm his leader, I'm dominant, he has to listen to me or I'll make him listen to me..."
...For whatever reason, he just wasn't in the mood, he just wanted to be left alone. I respected that and just let him be. That is showing him respect.
Earning trust is an abstract idea...but in reality you just do it the same way basically when your earning the trust of a person. You create a partnership with them and you show them the respect they are due. You have to make these dogs apart of your family and let them know that they are a valuable part. That means showing them attention, giving them "loves" for no reason but just to do it, showing respect when possible of their wishes. Mainly, just letting them BE a part of your family. Its why these dogs do not do well living outside...they NEED things desperately that they can only get in the house...bonds, trust and family.