Although it may seem strange, this is a very common question. Many owners get desperate with their pets because they think they are being ignored or ignored on purpose. You should know that this is not so.
The vast majority of times the problem lies in poor communication or in the fact that the training process has not been carried out properly.
If you've ever heard yourself say: " My dog doesn't listen to me, what should I do", don't worry. Don't worry, in this article on our site we are going to explain everything you need to know and do.
Why doesn't your dog pay attention to you?
I'm going to ask you to take a pen and paper and answer the following questions:
- How is your relationship with your dog? Having a pet is not just giving it a roof, food and taking it out to the park. A dog is part of your life and your family. If you do not intend to create an emotional bond, it is normal that they do not pay attention to you. You wouldn't stop being a human anymore.
- What language do you use with your dog? Many times we don't realize it but our body language and the commands we give our dog they are contradictory. Almost certainly your dog wants to do what you ask him, the problem is that he does not understand what you are saying
- Did you prepare before training your dog? Maybe you're going too fast in training, maybe you're going very slow. Maybe you are rewarding (although you may not believe it is very common) a negative behavior.
A dog is not a human being: he thinks differently, behaves differently and feels differently. Before deciding to adopt a dog, you should be very clear about what education he needs and what you are going to do if everything does not go perfectly. Just as you would take your child to a doctor or psychologist if he had serious behavioral problems, you should do the same with your dog, the indicated figure to solve a behavioral problem is the ethologist.
Things you should know about dog behavior
How is your behavior? Do you get angry if your dog does something wrong? Do you yell at him? It is understandable that at some point your dog can get frustrated, but you should not lose patience. Getting angry or yelling at him only gets your dog away from you. In addition, recent studies have shown the low effectiveness of dominance versus positive reinforcement.
Do you think your dog is a machine? A dog is an animal, it seems that sometimes we forget that. You can stop for 10 minutes to look at a window, but you do not understand that your dog needs to sniff something. One thing is obedience and another is that the animal lacks freedom. Let him walk as he deserves and needs, just like in other facets of his day to day.
Do you get enough exercise? Do you spend too much time alone? If your pet is bored or doesn't get the exercise they need, it's normal for them to destroy things. No matter how much you scold him, you're not going to solve anything. That is why it is very important that before taking in a dog you have a clear idea of what its needs are and that you then fulfill them.
In short: you can't expect your dog to behave if you don't meet his basic needs or deprive him of some freedom. A dog that obeys you is one that comes to you because you have wasted hours training him, because you use positive reinforcement instead of punishment, etc. A good relationship based on rewarding the dog will make it obey you much more and on its own initiative, don't you think?
What do I do if my dog doesn't listen to me?
In the previous section we have seen several causes that may have triggered this situation. We are going to propose you to review some aspects of your dog's life:
- First and foremost: Patience Results don't come overnight. In fact, remember that the basis of the relationship with your dog should be the love between you and him. Some dogs are more intelligent than others, which is why some take longer to understand what you expect of them.
- Recover the emotional bond: Imagine it as a couple crisis: spend time with your pet, pet him, take long walks, play in House. Just enjoy with your dog and don't try to force him, let him behave naturally.
For your pet, you are the center of his universe, show him that you love him and that you have a good time with him
Your dog's name:A very common mistake is that your dog has associated his name with something bad. Why? Every time he does something wrong, you call him and tell him off. There's the mistake. He links the word "no" to the quarrel, to the fact that he has done something wrong. You don't need more, just with the word and your tone of voice will understand it perfectly.
To recover the positive relationship with his name do the following:
- A nice long walk
- You come home and your pet lays down in her seat
- Get close, but don't let him see you directly
- Say her name
- If he turns to look at you, reward him
- Start with treats (please remember not to overfeed), then move on to petting. Your name should always be linked to something nice.
Go to the call: As with the name, it is very possible that your pet has negatively associated this order.
To get him to come to the call, we will develop a very simple exercise. Start practicing at home, later we will do it on the street. Always, to start choose a quiet room and in which you are quiet. The exercise is like this:
- Links a suitable word to the command to come. For example, "come" or "here". Don't just use their name just to get the ball rolling. The name is the command for you to pay attention.
- Stand away and give the order
- If he comes, give him a hug and the treat
- It is possible that at first your dog will not go, don't worry, it is normal. He is not understanding what you are asking of him. In this case, help yourself to the leash. You give the order and make him come closer. Then you reinforce.
It is very important that the training sessions are short. Never more than 15 minutes. This will make it more fun for the dog and for you.
The repetition of the exercise is what will make it learn. When you do it well at home, you should take the leap and try it outside. Follow these rules:
Do the exercise after you've walked, not before
Always start with the leash
Do not do the exercise in the same place. The more you vary the places, the more reinforced the order will be
If you realize, it's very easy for your dog to pay attention to you. All the exercises that we expose on our site are based on positive reinforcement. If we add love and patience to this, you will get your dog to learn almost anything.
