Our Daily Pet

Some times a dog’s disobedience can be due to incomprehension. For example, if your dog disobeys a command because they do not understand what it is you want them to do, then behavior is not the problem. It suggests, rather, that you should spend more time with your dog. True disobedience occurs when your dog understands what you are asking, yet deliberately does not obey the command.

A dog’s disobedience can not only be an inconvenience, but it is a serious issue. Aside from being dangerous for your dog (like when you command your dog to stop when heading towards a moving car), disobedience says volumes about how your dog feels about you. When your dog disobeys you, the act demonstrates that the dog does not respect your authority.

Allowing disobedience can create a passive-aggressive dog. This is not something that the dog will just grow out of and can actually get worse. It is vital for your dog to accept you as a higher ranking member of the social hierarchy of the household. In order to maintain a healthy, functional relationship with your dog, you need to accept alpha status.

Your dog will actually be happier when the realization sets in that somebody else is accountable for making all the choices – even those day-to-day behavior and obedience ones. Your relationship as a sensible owner and obedient dog will not be sustainable if you are not understood as the clear-cut authority figure. Your dog must understand that he’s beneath you within the chain of command.

It should be obvious that your first step in dealing with disobedience is to reestablish your dominance. Here are some recommendations on doing that:

When leaving the house and the car, you need to always leave before your dog. This is unmistakable alpha behavior. To a dog, only the alpha leaves first. By allowing your dog to leave first, you are saying, “You are stronger than me and the decision maker, so you should go first”. Before going through a door or leaving the car, make your dog sit and stay. Once you have gone through, release the stay with an unharness word. Give verbal praise and/or reward with food.

Make your dinner time come before your dog’s. If this means your dog will eat a half hour after you and your family, then so be it. Keep the feeding schedule varied so that your dog is aware that you are in command of the food. Don’t allow your dog to dictate when the food should be given. When you do place the food down, make your dog sit and wait until you unleash them to eat.

Don’t allow your dog free, uninhibited access to the house. Remember that the house is your den. You’re just permitting the dog to reside inside. Remind your dog of this fact. Being in your den is a privilege, not a right. Continue to keep bound areas of the house strictly for your own (like your bed, certain items of furniture, or some rooms).

Never allow your dog to initiate play. If they nudging you for attention or to start out a game, you will assume that it’s cute and affectionate; however, what the dog is really saying is, “I’m the boss and I’m telling you to play with me right now.” If your dog starts bothering you for attention, ignore for several moments then get up and do something else. Wait till the dog has given up before you initiate play. Playtime may be a fantastic way to bond with your dog, but it should be done on your terms.

Ignore your dog when you get home; at least for 3-5 minutes. Upon arriving home, avoid rushing straight over to your dog to shower them with affection. That’s not alpha behavior! An alpha dog, upon arriving home, doesn’t reassess to the other dogs and throw himself at them, saying, “Here I am! I missed you guys! Let’s have a cuddle!”. The alpha dog ignores everybody else, relaxes for a bit, perhaps has something to eat, and solely interacts with the others when good and ready. Although you’re probably good and prepared to interact with your dog when you get home, it can underscore your authority.

Another approach to counteract disobedience is to start and maintain a basic obedience training plan. You don’t have to try and do something fancy or super-demanding. Just 10 minutes a day can be a sufficient amount of time to dedicate to the learning and implementing of commands.

Here are some tips on how to implement a sensible coaching program:

When your dog chooses to disobey you, never give a command that you can not reinforce immediately. Every time your dog takes the opportunity to ignore your command, the dog is learning that it’s easier (and more fun) to ignore you.

Your dog should remain on an extended line or retractable lead until completely reliable with your commands. This will allow you to enforce them if necessary.

Use your voice to have a powerful effect. Your dog will make a distinction between your tones of voice. Praise ought to be in a very lightweight, cheery, happy tone of voice.

When giving corrections, your voice should be an exceedingly stern tone. This does not mean you want to shout, but your voice ought to be low and authoritative. Verbally interrupting your dog with “OI!” or “Ah-ah-ah!” rather than with “No” is a more effective way to catch their attention. This is because the sounds are more clear.

Do not repeat a command. Repeating yourself teaches the dog to attend for the command to be repeated at least once before he obeys you. If your dog decides to ignore you, give a short, sharp tug. Remember, you must be training on a leash or a long line.

Spend five to fifteen minutes per day training your dog. Fifteen minutes of intense training, where your dog is concentrating on what you would like, is sufficient to send even the most energetic dogs to their beds for a nap after wards.

Once your dog has mastered the basics, you can move on to additional advanced training and ‘tricks’. Formal obedience training classes is another option. They offer a nice manner of socializing your dog (he gets to interact with different dogs, and those dogs’ house owners), and conjointly teaches focus on what you would like despite the manifold distractions taking place in the environment. It’s also very useful to have face-to-face contact with a skilled trainer. They can make you aware of any mistakes you might be making, and provide you recommendation for tightening up your coaching techniques.

Visit the Secrets to Dog Training site to learn more.

Tags: Disobedience, dog training, Dog Training Secrets