If your dog doesn’t respond to simple commands, don’t let frustration overwhelm him. What you need to do is give your dog some basic obedience training, teaching him to respond to YOU.
Of course, it’s easier when the dog gets this training earlier in his puppy life, but even older dogs CAN learn new tricks. Dogs are smart, so don’t underestimate them when it comes to their obedience capabilities.
First of all, it is good to know the genetic makeup of your dog. Like wolves, dogs are aware of hierarchy and instinctively yearn to live in a pack under a lead (or alpha) dog. Your family is your dog’s pack and needs to understand who is the alpha dog in this arrangement.
In a pack of wolves, the leader likes to choose the highest and warmest place to sleep. He also eats before the others. So if your dog is allowed to sleep in your bed or on furniture, you can interpret that to mean that he is the leader. The same could happen if he is fed snacks from the table at mealtime.
Even as a puppy, your dog may understand the fact that he must be subservient to you. How? He tries to hold your dog’s gaze with your eyes until he looks away. Also, rubbing the dog’s belly while he is on his back is a good idea, as this puts him in a submissive state.
position. If your dog is being naughty and doesn’t respond to your “No”, try to ignore him or leave him alone in the room.
How to teach simple commands
To teach your dog basic commands, you need a collar, a leash, and a lot of patience. A training manual recommends:
1. Give simple one-word commands
2. Demonstrate the desired action, and
3. Immediately give praise when the action is done correctly.
Your tone of voice can be more important than the exact words and commands, and praise should be given in affirming, cheerful, and caring tones.
Five tips for dog training
1. Be consistent in your choice of word commands
2. Dogs like to hear their name and it gets their attention, so use it when giving commands. But don’t use your dog’s name in conjunction with a reprimand, as your dog needs to learn that responding to his name brings positive results.
3. Since many dogs will do more for affection than food, be free with praise as a reward.
4. Keep training sessions short and pleasant.
5. Don’t accidentally reinforce negative behavior by paying close attention to your dog when he misbehaves. This will only result in more misbehavior.
While there are other tricks of the dog trainer trade, these should get you started on the hunt for a warm, friendly, and faithful canine friendship.