Five essential steps to make a dog obedient

Some dogs are reluctant to obey certain human commands that are essential to be able to enjoy a calm and safe coexistence with them. The first thing to know is that it is a complex problem, which we must approach with empathy and knowledge to solve it successfully. We will tell you step by step.

Step 1: Empathy and knowledge as a starting point

If your dog ignores you , stop to detect where the germ of his disobedience is . He thinks that the disobedience of dogs is a complex problem, with many variables and that requires great empathy on our part.

Dogs are not disobedient on a whim. Behind the indiscipline, various causes tend to hide, from fear, insecurity, bad experiences, an inappropriate relationship with the caregiver, an inadequate education or separation anxiety.

What is clear is that there are no magic formulas that can be applied to all dogs equally, each one is a world and has unique and particular conditions.

Therefore, before you start educating your animal to listen to you, you have to discover who it is, how it feels and why it does what it does.

Keep in mind that, as we have pointed out, the root of the conflict may be associated with an important disorder , which requires the intervention of the veterinarian or the ethologist, so, in these cases, you should go to them for help and guidance. to redirect it.

Step 2: The necessary dog-human bond

When a bond is established between human and dog based on understanding, trust and respect , the relationship between the two is usually friendly and comforting.
Experts say that dogs are by nature beings who like to collaborate with humans and this fact, in itself, is enough to feel rewarded.

So, if our dog, be it a puppy or an adult, is rebellious when it comes to meeting our requests, we may think that something is wrong with the necessary bond that must exist between dog and human.

In this case, it is best to request the support of an ethologist in canine behavior, who will help you to find out at what specific point in the bond the relationship fails and will guide you on the best way to tackle the deficiency.

“Behind canine disobedience, there is often a lack of communication and understanding between human and dog”

Step 3: teaching him to come to your call

It is a vital order, since a dog that does not come when we call him can endanger his safety, since there is the risk that he will get lost at any time.

If your dog ignores your calls, be on your guard and start giving him the first obedience lessons:

Ideally, your dog should learn at home to come to your call since he is a puppy. Remember that at this stage, as with children, dogs are sponges that assimilate everything quickly.

Give your dog the order, clearly and with a gesture that accompanies it (indicate with your finger where you want it to go). Say “come”, “come here”, or “the name of your dog + come”.

Rehearse the command as many times as necessary, but without overwhelming your dog, and until you get him to obey you. At this point, you can pet him, verbally express that he has done very well, and offer him a treat.

If you are in the park, the field or the mountains, do the same, but when you get your dog to approach you, try to continue playing for a while before returning home, to avoid associating his good behavior with the end of recess .

“The fact that your dog comes to your call shows that he is well behaved and that he maintains a bond of trust with you”

Step 4: Giving him the commands to “stay” or “sit”

Loving our animals does not mean letting them do everything they want at all times, so take note:

Like our children, we must set limits for dogs to guarantee a peaceful coexistence among all.

One of the most annoying and common dog behaviors occurs at mealtime, when some four-legged friends begin to prowl around the table in search of some food. It is an especially difficult situation, especially when we have guests.

Dogs also tend to get nervous with the presence of peers or the arrival of family or friends, with whom they can become too affectionate. To avoid this type of situation, we must teach our dogs two essential commands: that of “still” and “sitting”.

• When you say “stop”, show your palm outstretched, as if making the gesture of stopping.
• When ordering “sit”, indicate with your finger where you want him to sit.
• Try to give your orders with a sure and firm voice. It is important that you have the power of conviction.

Teach your dog to remain “still”, “sitting”, “lying down”, in short, calm, through training inspired by positive reinforcement, always rewarding his progress with strokes and rewards .

Step 5: training your dog to walk on a leash

Whether puppy or adult, we must teach our dogs to walk properly on a leash.
If your dog is one of those who reluctantly tolerates the leash and is jerking every moment, the walk can become quite a stressful time for both of you.

To avoid these stressful situations and get him to walk by your side without problems, nothing better than to follow the following guidelines:

First, something as basic as knowing how to choose the leash and collar that best suit your dog and with which feel comfortable.

If what you have is a puppy get used to the presence of the collar and leash at home. Let him smell them and become familiar with them. When they do not inspire any rejection, put them at times to be at home. Thus, when it comes to going out, you will not see it as something unknown.

Once on the street or in the park , the dogs must walk beside us, without crossing in front of us. This is something quite annoying that forces our dog to be repositioned all the time.

To get your dog in place, you must avoid pulling on the leash. The correct way to do this is to stop and give the commands “stop”, “stop” or “stay”. When he stops and calms down, congratulate him, give him a snack, and keep walking.

You see that, without having a magic wand, we can teach a nervous dog to be obedient.
Everything, thanks to education and knowledge, without ever forgetting the forms: firmness and coherence should not be at odds with patience, affection and positive reinforcement.