Do you want a dog that is obedient? A dog that does everything you say and hangs on your every word? It’s the dream, isn’t it? The reality of course is often very different. The most common phrase I hear is ‘he is great at home but as soon as he sees ______’ insert your very own nemesis here! Dogs, people, and squirrels are the most common.

The problem it seems is that we have a view that our dogs should ‘just do it’. Seemingly without reward or any decent incentive why they should. Add in the fact that they don’t speak human and that they might have been bred to do the very thing that you don’t want them to do! I mean no wonder they get frustrated and ignore us. Shouting at them doesn’t work, endlessly repeating the cue (sit, Sit, SIT!) also doesn’t work and just makes everyone frustrated. Shouting No rarely works and is just making everyone feel a bit rubbish. If you would like our PDF download ‘The trouble with no’ Please email me at: info@bark-ology.co.uk

So, what can we do?

There are tonnes you can do, the first and most important is moving away from the idea of they should just do it because you said so.

These are my top 5 tips:

1. Teach them, how-to, rather than just make them do it. Teach them impulse control, focus and tolerance of frustration, and do it little and often. We are not talking about a daily boot camp here! We suggest using a portion of their daily food allowance, putting it in a pot in the kitchen and whilst the kettle is boiling do a few repetitions of sit, build up duration, and see if you can add distance. You will very soon build up a solid and reliable sit which is a great basic behaviour to have.

2. Teach them tricks. Teaching tricks is a great way to interact with your dog and improve your training skills. Learning how to break down behaviours into small steps, building your relationship with your dog and having some fun in the process. Check out our newsletter which has a trick of the month complete with instructions, have a go and post in our training group.

3. Reward them! Be generous, think about what they find rewarding not what you think they like. Food – This is the most obvious but often guardians make decisions about what they think is rewarding. So those biscuits that they love might be great at home but a choice between a dry biscuit and a chance to play, or chase or roll in something disgusting isn’t really a choice at all! Try different foods, have a top 5 or even a top 10. Avoid using the same things all the time. Mix it up. Keep their absolute favourite for important behaviours such as recall. Toys - Do they prefer toys? Some dogs do so keep a toy hidden in your pocket and every now and then get it out and have a game of tug (go to the website and see Elle’s blog on Tug it’s great). Life Rewards - For loose lead, you could ask for 4 steps of heelwork and reward with a sniff of the hedge, you could ask for a sit and wait at the door and reward with going out to the garden for a play session. Take the time to find what your dog finds rewarding.

4. Teach them how to work around distractions. Take sit, for example, the sequence is lured them, fade the lure then add a verbal cue. Add a finish cue. Do this at home inside, then the back garden, front garden, quiet street, quiet park and build slowly. If they don’t respond to your initial verbal cue, then lower the criteria, go back to the visual cue, and then lure. Help them, they are not being disobedient, ignorant or stubborn they are finding it difficult.

5. Don’t be tempted by quick fixes. We love our dogs but sometimes quick fixes are unpleasant, they work to suppress behaviours not teach them how. Dogs are thinking, and feeling beings, and they rely on us for everything - when to eat, play, run, or toilet. They have very little control over their world so forgive them if they get a bit excited every now and then. Build a relationship with them and get to know what makes them tick, and what they like to do, eat, and interact with. For example, my dog Rupert loves to run, he loves primula cheese, he likes to play tug occasionally but prefers food as a reward and loves a fuss. Mila loves brain games, she loves fish 4 dogs’ sausages best and is not particularly toy motivated, but does like playing with a tennis ball, on her own, not fetch she thinks that is silly. She does not particularly enjoy a fuss unless she initiates it but does think the occasional ear rub is good. So, I would love you to get a piece of paper, sit down and think about what does your dog love? Food, play, toys? Write them down and if you are not sure think about it over the coming weeks, watch them and get to know your dog.

Anything worthwhile takes time, and training your dog is no different. Doing a 6-week training class won’t automatically make your dog obedient but the experience and information will give you the tools to be able to teach them how. Practice, consistency and rewards will result in a dog that understands what you want them to do. Be patient and next time your dog doesn’t do something straight away think about why and how you can help.

If you need help with anything, get in touch, email at info@bark-ology.co.uk we offer 1-1 training packages and classes or check out my online course school for dogs:

The course has lifetime access; you can work at your own pace and start anytime.

Remember having a dog in your life should be fun!

Karen, Elle, Kate & Angela.

Karen 🐾

www.bark-ology.co.uk