Some dogs are naturally well-behaved. In just a few sessions, they’re able to sit and heel on command, calm down when they’re told to, and all-around be good, obedient members of the family. Then there are the other dogs, the free-spirited canines who never seem quite to understand that they’re not masters of their destiny. So what do you do if you find yourself looking after one of these pups? You don’t have to give in to their ways. Take our tips below, and you’ll have a happy dog that’s able to follow the rules in no time.
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Understand: Training is Good
It can often feel like you’re not making any progress with your pet, but all great journeys begin with small steps. If your dog is struggling to master the big changes you’re trying to instil in them, then start small. Your dog needs to learn that training can be good for them; they need to know, in other words, that good behaviour will be rewarded (and, to your dog, the best reward will be food). Once you’ve made that connection, they should be more malleable in your hands.
Be Consistent
You’d be surprised at one of the biggest barriers to your dog’s progress: it’s your family. They don’t mean to, but they might, unbeknownst to you, be undermining your progress. The key is to be consistent; if you have one rule for your dog, then the whole family need to have the same rule. You can’t blame a dog for failing to get a message if they’re receiving several different messages throughout the day; how will they know which one to follow?
Tricks of the Trade
If your dog is stubborn, there are a few things you can do. These will be either divided into bribing your dog so that they do what they’re told because they know there’s a reward waiting at the end; or you can outright trick them, as is the case with dogs who won’t take their medication. When that happens, you should use Vetiq pill pockets; they’ll swallow their pills purely because they think they’re getting a treat. For everything else, it’s about showing positivity and staying on top of the bad behaviours that can derail their progress.
Limit the Triggers
Your dog might have a natural tendency to go mad, but it won’t always just spring out from thin air. It’s possible that your dog has triggers that cause them, in one way or another, to temporarily lose their mind. If you can make a connection between these triggers and their madness, then you’ll be able to control their behaviour better. It’s not so much a long-lasting solution, but it’ll ensure you can get some peace for a while.
Be Patient
Finally, remember that you’re asking a lot from your dog. They’re not human, and you shouldn’t expect progress to be made overnight. Be patient; they’ll get it eventually. And if they don’t, you’ll still have a lovable - albeit slightly crazy - dog to play with.
