How do you know it’s time to look into dog obedience training?
Owning a dog can make you feel whole as a person or an entire family. Moreover, canine ownership is a genuinely enriching experience that teaches you about love, companionship and ensures you’ve got a pal on your side at all times.
That said, being a dog owner is a significant responsibility.
These furry friends of ours require lots of our attention and best efforts to offer them the best possible quality of life. Think about it; your warm-hearted, four-legged companion would go to the ends of the earth to protect and love you. So, why not pay them the same kindness?
Now, giving your dog or puppy the best possible quality of life goes beyond vet checkups, healthy food, and a warm comfy bed–although those are all necessities.
Instead, being well-trained and well-behaved is absolutely crucial for a dog to live their best life. Specifically, it will vastly impact your attitude and mood around them, which in turn affects your dog, who senses his or her owner’s emotions.
When your dog is well-behaved–a result of good training–you’ll be in a pleasant mood, absent of pup-related frustration. Conversely, an out-of-control pup that’s causing mayhem will grate on your nerves and raise your ire, negatively impacting your beloved pet.
We owe it to our dogs to ensure they’re well-trained. You’re probably something of an amateur dog trainer yourself if you’ve owned more than one pup. Even then, some canines might have underlying issues that might require a more professional touch.
While–yes–many pet owners succeed in training on their own, some dogs need a little bit more attention. In which case, they might require a certified dog trainer to provide dog obedience training.
In this blog, we’ll delve into signs your cherished furry pal requires puppy training from a certified dog trainer.
Before going forward, we’ll point out that even reasonably well-behaved dogs could benefit from dog obedience training. However, this article will highlight the instances where the need for a certified dog trainer is most pressing.
Contents
- How Do You Know it’s Time To Look into Dog Obedience Training?
- Does Your Dog Snarl and Growl When You’re Near Their Belongings?
- Will Your Dog Not Stop Barking?
- Is Your Dog Lacking in Leash Etiquette?
- Is Their Tooth Marks and Dog Slobber All Over Your House?
- Is Your Dog a Bully Toward Other Dogs?
- Does Your Dog Struggle When You Leave Them at Home?
- Does Your Dog Not Listen Properly Outside Your Home?
- Does Your Dog Fear Visiting New Places?
- Does Your Dog Use Your Home as a Toiler Bowl?
- Does Your Dog Harass Your Guests?
- Does Your Dog Get Violent with You (and Other People)?
- Does Your Dog Display Any of the Behaviors Discussed Above?
How Do You Know it’s Time To Look into Dog Obedience Training?
Owning a dog can make you feel whole as a person or an entire family. Moreover, canine ownership is a genuinely enriching experience that teaches you about love, companionship and ensures you’ve got a pal on your side at all times.
That said, being a dog owner is a significant responsibility.
These furry friends of ours require lots of our attention and best efforts to offer them the best possible quality of life. Think about it; your warm-hearted, four-legged companion would go to the ends of the earth to protect and love you. So, why not pay them the same kindness?
Now, giving your dog or puppy the best possible quality of life goes beyond vet checkups, healthy food, and a warm comfy bed–although those are all necessities.
Instead, being well-trained and well-behaved is absolutely crucial for a dog to live their best life. Specifically, it will vastly impact your attitude and mood around them, which in turn affects your dog, who senses his or her owner’s emotions.
When your dog is well-behaved–a result of good training–you’ll be in a pleasant mood, absent of pup-related frustration. Conversely, an out-of-control pup that’s causing mayhem will grate on your nerves and raise your ire, negatively impacting your beloved pet.
We owe it to our dogs to ensure they’re well-trained. You’re probably something of an amateur dog trainer yourself if you’ve owned more than one pup. Even then, some canines might have underlying issues that might require a more professional touch.
While–yes–many pet owners succeed in training on their own, some dogs need a little bit more attention. In which case, they might require a certified dog trainer to provide dog obedience training.
In this blog, we’ll delve into signs your cherished furry pal requires puppy training from a certified dog trainer.
Before going forward, we’ll point out that even reasonably well-behaved dogs could benefit from dog obedience training. However, this article will highlight the instances where the need for a certified dog trainer is most pressing.
Does your dog snarl and growl when you’re near their belongings?
Does the scenario detail below sound familiar?
You reach for your dog’s favorite toy, ready to play some fetch, and–in turn–your furry pal snarls at you.
Or, how about this one?
When standing near your pup’s food, they growl like you’re trying to steal their kibble for an afternoon snack.
There’s a more technical term for this type of behavior: ‘resource guarding.’ Why does it occur? Because your dog feels a need to protect something of immense value. While it might not seem like the biggest deal in the world on its own, the growling and snarling can escalate into being far more damaging and dangerous.
In fact, by backing off from your dog when they’re aggressive, you’re accidentally teaching them that showing their teeth is a valuable tool. Your pup is learning if they want something, just be mean and nasty.
Any pet expert will tell you that this type of behavior must be rectified through an appointment with a certified dog trainer. With dog obedience training, your four-legged pal will be taught commands such as “leave it,” which is positively reinforced when your pet obeys with scratches or treats. They’ll understand a better award awaits them for giving up their valued resource (e.g., toy or food).
Will your dog not stop barking?
Nothing will drive a dog owner to the ragged edge more than a dog that won’t stop barking. Such behavior can do a number on your mood, potentially causing you to lose sleep and generally just not be able to relax.
The onus is on you as an owner to quell this behavior. Your pup is only doing what’s natural to them, and it’s a typical problem experienced by many canines. In other words, excessive barking isn’t your dog’s fault and requires human intervention as a remedy.
First and foremost, you must determine the root cause of the barking, which could be any number of factors. A few reasons your dog might bark too much are:
Your dog is protecting the house from what’s outside.
Your dog is protecting the house from what’s outside.
Your dog is protecting the house from what’s outside.
Upon figuring out where the issue stems from, it’s possible to create a plan with a certified dog trainer.
It’s worth noting you might be able to solve the problem simply by giving your beloved pet a new job other than barking. An example is training your four-legged pal to go to a specific spot in your home when they hear a person come to your door.
Another suggestion is having your dog trainer teach your pup to play with a toy for mental stimulation on the occasions where they usually bark.
Again, we’ll note that the root causes of too much barking are plentiful. Solutions aren’t one-size-fits-all, and finding what works requires an expert’s customized dog training approach.
Is your dog lacking in leash etiquette?
A dog who’s overly rambunctious during walks can be stressful for owners. It’s irksome to get pulled in every direction or tangled up in a leash, or chase your pet around the neighborhood. Actually, it can all be downright aggravating.
However, we’re willing to admit that some dog owners might be as rambunctious and hyperactive as their wild pup. Many people have similar pent-up energy and don’t mind it when their dogs are a little out of control during their walks.
Whether your dog’s leash etiquette is (or isn’t) a problem for you, specifically, is irrelevant. It’s a huge problem, in general, that might lead to disastrous consequences if you don’t nip this specific poor behavior in the bud, pronto.
On the above note, wild walking isn’t only a matter of bad leash etiquette; it’s a dangerous habit. For instance, a dog owner could get pulled so hard they take a tumble and injure themselves. Moreover, it’s possible to get yanked so forcefully by your dog that you lose control of the leash, and they run out into the street.
Don’t fall into the tug-of-war trap with your furry pal. Instead, you must find a certified dog trainer and enroll your pet in dog obedience training. From there, your pup will learn safe leash-walking, which is relatively easy to grasp under the tutelage of a professional.
Note that you can help your dog even more by getting rid of the collar/leash combo and replacing it with a dog harness.
Is their tooth marks and dog slobber all over your house?
Lots of dogs enjoy the taste of–well–everything. A dog will eat steak tougher than leather if you give it to them. They’ll even swallow down granny’s sloppy Sheperd’s pie.
But we all know a dog’s desire for chewing and gnashing goes well beyond food, extending to your shoes, pillows, socks, etc.
Why do our dogs love gnawing on our possessions? The answer isn’t all that complicated–they’re usually just bored, and the mischief of destroying your belongings is a direct pathway toward fun.
Fortunately, expertly provided dog obedience training offers its own kind of fun for your pup. It’s mentally stimulating enough to offset your canine’s taste for mischief and destruction.
Here’s what we mean by the above statement:
Say your dog seems like they’re getting bored. So, you practice a command taught to your pup by its certified dog trainer, engaging them in a fun activity. First and foremost, you’re giving your dog something to do that’s productive and helps them learn and behave better. What’s more, the practice will tire your pup out, ensuring they’ll be too taxed to start destroying everything once outside your supervision.
Is your dog a bully toward other dogs?
This topic is a complicated one, to say the least. Nobody wants to view their own pup as a problem child. Moreover, it’s only natural that your dog doesn’t see eye-to-eye with all its canine peers.
But there’s a line where basic animal instincts cross the boundary from natural and harmless to downright dangerous and destructive. Specifically, you must take action in the case that your dog displays the following behaviors toward other dogs:
Lunging
Snapping
Other aggressive behaviors
In other words, there’s a stark difference between a meager dislike and being mean and vicious towards other dogs.
Be mindful, just because your dog is hostile to other dogs doesn’t make them some kind of monster. In many instances, some pups suffer from trauma that causes conflicts with other animals.
Whether your dog has innate aggression issues or they stem from trauma, puppy training from a certified dog trainer can correct this behavior. Through a trainer’s sure-handed expertise, your pup will remain calm when other dogs pass by during a walk, for example.
Does your dog struggle when you leave them at home?
You might notice your dog’s stress levels kick up a notch when you start getting ready to go out, whether to see friends or head to the office. They pick up on the signs, such as when you’re putting on your shoes or grabbing your keys.
As a result, your furry friend could chew up every square inch of your house once you leave. And they could even try to escape through the window to try to join you wherever you’re going.
You’ll find, typically, according to experts, that your canine’s anxiety reaches its apex for around a half-hour after you leave.
While there’s no guarantee your dog will try to escape or run roughshod over all your belongings, they don’t deserve to feel any anxiety.
So, how can you relieve your pup’s separation anxiety?
A certified dog trainer is crucial to your cause. They’ll show you valuable tricks that can shift your pup’s mindset. Specifically, they’ll suggest you leave without actually leaving. They might tell you to put on your shoes and coat to go to the backyard or even just a different room.
It’s then possible to improve steadily, building up your absences from a few minutes to hours at a time. Sure–this sounds simple enough to do on your own. But the guidance provided during dog obedience training will ensure you don’t make little errors with this exercise, guaranteeing success.
Does Your Dog Not Listen Properly Outside Your Home?
The sweet little angel pup in your living room might turn into something of a demon seed the second you leave the confines of your home.
It’s confusing how a dog can have such starkly different modes, but you aren’t alone with this problem. Many canine owners have grown frustrated getting their dog to emulate the flawless at-home behavior at parks, on car rides, at other people’s homes, etc.
What’s the reason for this lack of behavioral consistency from your furry pal?
In many instances, your dog behaves differently and doesn’t listen to your commands away from home because they believe they’re the boss. And that’s not a good thing, as it also means your pup doesn’t trust you. You’ve got to be the alpha-dog of the relationship.
But don’t fret if you’re facing this problem. A certified dog trainer sees this type of issue all the time. They’ll help you reestablish your standing as the shot-caller and reaffirm your dog’s trust in you as their owner. From there, your pup will listen to and understand your commands–a product of you appearing more authoritative and trustworthy.
After your dog receives the necessary puppy training, you’ll no longer have those frustrating trips to the park where you’re saying the same command 20 times in succession.
Does Your Dog Fear Visiting New Places?
Dogs don’t experience anxiety only when you leave them alone in the house. They might also suffer from a similar nerve-based affliction when you take them to the pet store, vet, or even a friend’s house.
What are the signs of this anxiety? One example is your pup putting their tail between their legs when it’s time to leave. Another instance is your dog hiding when you’re about to go into the car, or you grab their leash to start walking.
Either way, dog obedience training is ideal for handling this problem, which will only worsen without a remedy. This isn’t “bad” behavior that causes others harm. But it’s horrible for your pup’s overall well-being, and it’s no way for them to live.
When a certified dog trainer provides mentally stimulating puppy training to deal with this fear of leaving your home, it’ll enhance your pup’s confidence. Your beloved pet will then feel safer and more settled when visiting new environments.
Interestingly, the specifics of the commands your dog is taught don’t matter. It’s the fact that you’re teaching commands that helps soothe anxiety and boost your canine’s confidence. Plus, you’re strengthening your bonds with your furry pal.
Really, working with a certified dog trainer is the gift that keeps on giving.
Does Your Dog Use Your Home as a Toiler Bowl?
Your home is many things. It’s your sanctuary. A place to entertain guests. Your castle.
Of all the things your home is to you, a dog toilet is not one of them–although your pup might have other ideas.
Potty training is a time-honored tradition amongst all dog owners.
And while many canine enthusiasts are more than happy to work through this particular growing pain, others can’t quite overcome the struggle. Beyond that, even expert pet owners might enjoy a little extra potty-training help from a certified dog trainer. Because potty training is one of the toughest skills to teach your pup all on your own.
For one thing, by its very nature, potty training is confusing for dogs. There are tools like wee-wee pads that muddy up the waters because you’re telling your pup it’s okay to go to the bathroom on specific parts of the floor, but not everywhere.
Another consideration is medical factors. Before moving forward with puppy training, ensure no physical limits are at play that could necessitate veterinary intervention. These conditions might include:
Kidney failure
Urinary tract issues
Dementia
However, once you’ve ruled out medical factors, it’s time to look into hiring a certified dog trainer.
Know that these issues aren’t strictly age-related. A young puppy–of course–is bound to need a little extra potty training course. But older dogs also often require refresher courses because they can fall into bad bathroom habits (for many reasons).
Regardless of your dog’s circumstances, a certified dog trainer will help draw up a successful potty training plan for them. But before forking over your hard-earned money, ensure your pup is getting enough time outdoors–an extra visit to the park could make all the difference.
Does Your Dog Harass Your Guests?
As much as dogs can develop bad habits, so can their owners. We’re not pointing fingers here–the traps we all fall into are very understandable. Love for our furry friends can impede our better judgment.
Our own bad habits as dog owners often rear their ugly heads most when guests come over. Since we assume our four-legged pals are harmless and loving, we don’t always do enough to ensure our visitors are safe and comfortable.
Case in point, while you don’t mind when your dog jumps at you when you arrive through the front door, don’t assume your guests feel the same. Sure, your dog is merely giving an energetic hello. But this behavior can be very problematic for none dog-lovers. It can also be very dangerous when the scenario involves children and seniors.
If it’s not clear by everything we’ve already said, you need to put an end to this behavior. You’ll be very regretful, otherwise.
One technique used by certified dog trainers teaches your pet to sit whenever someone arrives through the front door.
Also, don’t positively reinforce bad behavior. You might love it when your rambunctious pup jumps on you when you come home from work. Still, you need to think big picture. Don’t react to getting jumped on. Only respond–via scratches and treats–when your pup casually sits when you walk through the front door, showing that calmness is the correct behavior.
Promoting these positive behaviors is far easier when working with a certified dog trainer and enrolling your pet in puppy training.
Does Your Dog Get Violent with You (and Other People)?
There is nothing sadder than a violent dog. We hate to see this behavior as owners because canines are beautiful creatures, and it’s hard to reconcile them doing harm.
Since the consequences of a dog’s violence are an endless slippery slope of negatives, the slightest hint of this behavior must be dealt with immediately. That means calling a certified dog trainer right away.
And always repeat to yourself, there’s no such thing as a bad dog. There are factors at play beyond your pup’s control driving their aggression. Fortunately, a certified dog trainer can quickly suss out those triggers.
Additionally, as the owner, you will learn how to react safely to canine aggression through dog obedience training. A certified dog trainer will notice–for instance–if your dog tightens its back, lowers its tail, or looks away when it’s about to act violently. When you’re aware of these behaviors, it helps you respond accordingly.
Fear, pain, and protectiveness are all causes of a dog being violent, and your certified dog trainer will dig to the root of the issues. And they’ll make a customized plan that quells the behavior, so your dog can be happy and harmless, and you can be even happier as its owner.
Does Your Dog Display Any of the Behaviors Discussed Above?
Not all dogs need rigid obedience training, but you should strongly consider it if they display any behaviors discussed above.
You owe it to your furry friend to give them the best possible life, and part of that includes them being well-behaved. Because dogs on their best behavior are conducive to happy owners. And when you’re happy, so is your pup.
Want to learn more about our dog obedience training? Then give us a call. We’d be happy to answer any questions.
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