Many dog owners struggle to control their dogs. They go to training classes, but their 4-legged children still pull on the leash, jump all over them, bolt out open doors and won’t come when they are called unless it suits them. What gives? Here it is in a nutshell:
A trained dog obeys when he wants to.
An obedient dog obeys even when he would rather not
Obedience, you see, is not about knowledge; it’s about deference. A trained dog will recognize a command and know what you want him to do, but given a competing priority, he won’t do it unless he believes you can and will follow through. Only under those circumstances will a dog defer his desires to your command. Only then will a trained dog be truly obedient. YOU and your follow-through determine trained vs. obedient. It matters not how many classes you have attended or how much money you have spent on training; unless you have learned to effectively follow through, your dog will do exactly what he feels like doing, even if he understands what you are asking.
Do not expect your “trained” dog to be obedient
until you get training on how to follow through!
So how do you follow through more effectively? You’ve tried to stop your dog’s bad behavior, but nothing has worked. The moist common reason owners fail in their follow though attempts are:
1. They are inconsistent — sometimes allowing a behavior and other times getting mad about it. The dog can’t know the rules.
2. They are too punitive or loud. Stopping a behavior does not mean punishing it.
3. They get too emotional or angry. In their world, dogs do not respect emotional over-reactors.
4. They use too much correction and not enough praise.Constant criticism will shut any dog down.
5. They lack the tools necessary to be effective and the knowledge of how to use them.
To learn more about tools, techniques and follow through, be sure to attend any owner classes offered with a training program. Read my book: LIPSTICK AND THE LEASH: Dog Training a Woman’s Way (Amazon). Refer, also, to the information in the following blog posts here on www.DogTalkDiva.com:
It’s Not About Sit
Training vs. Obedience
The Great Collar Controversy
If you are in Northern California, call us at Dairydell Canine (707) 762-6111 to schedule a virtual or in-person obedience session or visit our Dairydell Canine website at www.dairydell.com.
~ Diva
