Aug 31, 2022 5 min read Lifestyle

7 indications that your dog needs obedience training urgently

Your dog could occasionally appear to be a wild spirit, dragging you along on walks or digging up your garden at will. Although you may mistakenly believe your pet is being playful, these behaviors are typically indications that your dog has developed some negative habits, that there is poor communication, or that some of your pup's needs are not being satisfied. By enhancing communication between you and your beloved friend, many canine behavioral issues can be resolved. Dogs lead more tranquil lives when they are aware that they can rely on structure and clear communication. Teaching obedience instructions can assist with behaviors that you would not have previously associated, such stealing tissues from the bathroom garbage. When performed correctly, obedience's cerebral stimulation greatly contributes to the mental balance and satisfaction that dogs experience.

How Does Obedience Training Help?

When you share a common language and have an understanding of each other's boundaries, it is simple to communicate with friends or coworkers. Many owners claim that their dog "already knows the fundamental commands" before beginning training with us, but more often than not, the dog and the owner have conflicting concepts for the same obedience phrases. To successfully train an animal to obey us, we must be very explicit in both our communication and our requests. Just because you are calling your dog to come at the park doesn't mean that your dog understands what you mean by "come." Usually, when you call your dog, you want them to come right away. But is your dog truly being disobedient if the definitions are different? Couldn't your dog be thinking, "Well, my owner me to come over there when I am finished sniffing all these trees?" No, we believe. Here are signs your dog could benefit from obedience training.

1. Your Dog Doesn’t Understand Basic Commands

One possibility is that you haven't yet given your dog any obedience commands. Excellent, no issue, we can begin at any age. The more typical situation is one in which your dog obediently obeys you at home but ignores you outside, for example. If your dog and you actually speak the same language and have the same definitions, then if they can follow directions in your kitchen, they ought to be able to follow directions at the park as well. Distractions are the main source of misunderstanding, and as we just discussed, dogs are defined differently in various situations.

2. Your Dog Pulls on Their Leash

Puppies enjoy the excitement of a walk, but if your dog lunges or tries to run off in different directions, a fun outing can turn stressful. While it may seem natural to pull back on the leash to encourage your dog to go more slowly, doing so merely leads to a tug-of-war. The Dog Wizard's obedience training emphasizes loose leash walking to make it more fun for both you and your dog. In order to satiate its curiosity, your dog is free to explore a little ahead of you or next to you, but it is never far away.

3. Your Dog Growls or Bites

Fearful or worried dogs will react by acting aggressively. Even if they are not in a dangerous condition, they may snap, growl, nip, or bite to warn others to leave them alone. Once more, this is the result of poor communication, and typically, people are to blame for not paying attention to the signals that your dog is trying to send. Typically, bad events or poor socialization lead to aggressive conduct. An expert dog trainer can show you how to communicate more effectively with your dog and help you figure out why your dog is acting violently. A dog learns to react differently once it realizes that it is secure with you in charge.

4. Your Dog Barks Excessively

Dogs naturally communicate by barking, however dogs that bark constantly annoy your home and your neighbors. Dogs may bark in response to stimuli like a doorbell or a person walking by, out of territorial instinct, or as an automatic response. Excessive barking is typically a dog's way of yelling that they need more mental stimulation. Obedience aids in teaching your dog to substitute other mentally exciting behaviors for barking. For instance, we can educate your dog to search for something that requires a lot of cerebral effort, which will satisfy their desire for mental stimulation much like barking does.

5. Your Dog Chews Things That Aren’t Toys

Dogs enjoy chewing, but they don't naturally understand why it's okay to chew a toy but not your brand-new pair of shoes. Reprimanding a dog after the event won't make them quit the undesirable conduct; it will only make them more perplexed. Your pet might simply wait for you to leave the room before continuing to gnaw on anything else. The confusion will be cleared up by better communication and the appropriate level of mental activity.

6. Your Dog Guards Their Belongings

When someone approaches them, dogs who are possessive of their food bowls, toys, beds, or preferred place by the window may act inappropriately. The practice of resource guarding is this. In the wild, it may be instinctive for a dog to guard what is theirs, but owing to a lack of cerebral stimulation, many dogs carry this tendency to an unnecessary extreme. An experienced dog trainer can offer methods to help your dog learn that it doesn't need to feel afraid if someone approaches its priceless possessions.

7. You Adopted a Rescue Dog

Some rescue dogs have experienced abuse or neglect, and these things have shaped the way they view the world. Even though you're sure your new dog will have a safe and loving home, they could still be impacted by their past. Depending on their history, some rescued dogs require a little more tolerance when it comes to expressing themselves clearly because they have been exposed to a different mode of communication. An expert dog trainer may assist with socialization to increase their confidence and lay the groundwork for a connection based on trust.