Training a stubborn dog can be demanding. More often, buggering off their bad habits can cause frustration in pet owners. Hence, a lot of pet owners believe that a stubborn dog is untrainable or hard-headed. However, the truth is that a dog's behaviour doesn't comply with human standards of good manners or behaviours. This is one of the main reasons why dogs take more time to adapt to human expectations.
So, if you are struggling to train your dog, maybe you need to try a different approach to his training. Here, a different approach doesn't mean that you need to shift your entire training program. However, make small changes in the same routine that can make a huge impact in the long run.
In this article, we are giving you some tips that can help you in training your stubborn dog.
Proven Tips for Training Stubborn Dogs
Don't Rush It
The main reason why dogs don't listen to you is that they haven't yet developed a bond. Hence, the first thing you need to do is have a camaraderie with your furry friend.
Next, you can go one level up by taking him on a walk or working with him on familiar behaviours. Create a positive association by rewarding him even on minor successes. Slowly, the dog will take training in a good way. At this point, you can tweak one variable at a time. For instance, if you are confident that your dog has mastered to say hi, add some distraction such as turn on the television or ask him to greet some other person.
The chances are that the dog might not respond in the same way because of a different person or change in environment. However, do not give up and don't rush it. Training your dog requires a ton of patience- especially with the tough ones.
Don't Distract Him
The distractions we mentioned in the above point were for the dog that has been trained for weeks on a particular behaviour.
However, in the initial stages of his training, you have to make sure that the environment for training is steady. For instance, select a distraction-free area including a living room or terrace. Keep away his toys or other items that he may be tempted to play with. Let him stay focused.
Reward Him Often
Dog training is different from humans in many ways. The major factor of communication between you and your furry friend can be reduced by rewarding him much. If you are not rewarding often or your rewards are of low value, his responses are going to suffer.
If we talk about the type of reward, it may depend on what your dog likes. For instance, you can give them some special treats or let them play with their favourite toy and so forth. Figure out what works best with your dog and do it more often.
Don't Punish Him
If you believe that punishments will make your dog more sincere, it may turn otherwise. Punishments increase anxiety in dogs and lead to aggression in the long run. Rather than punishing him for bad behaviour, teach your dog the desired behaviour and reward him for that.
Seek Professional Help
If you think that training your dog is not working for you or the dog is showing signs of fear, consulting an expert will be the best choice.
Takeaway
Training your dog is time-consuming and requires a lot of patience and effort. However, with proper routine and rewarding behaviour, you can get there sooner than later.
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