Ever feel like your dog doesn’t listen to you? (Photo: Dachshund with one ear up and one ear down)
Does your dog race to your back door only if you have a treat?
Do they ignore your commands when they’re outside? Especially if they’ve found some yummy bunny poop?
Ever feel like your dog has no idea that you’re actually at the other end of the leash?
Here are three tips to help:
EYE CONTACT: You need to become relevant to your dog. You know the way you feel when your friend is on her cellphone and completely ignoring what you have to say even though you’re sitting right beside her? You’re not relevant to your friend in that moment. You don’t have her eye contact. It’s the same with dogs. Before you leave the house for your next walk, wait for your dog to look up at you. You are the gatekeeper to the outside world. Calmness and eye contact are the price of admission to a fun walk outdoors with you.
Pro Tip: The key to eye contact is patience. We’re not waving food around our eyes and talking excitedly. Stay silent. Your dog will naturally look up. It’s worth the wait.
Be patient and wait for eye contact from your dog (Photo: Beagle giving perfect eye contact)
2. CONFIDENCE: Dogs require leadership. A coach. Someone they can trust to help them safely navigate the human world. Someone who pays attention during walks, is aware of traffic and other hazards, and will advocate for their safety. Put your phone down, tell yourself that you are awesome (because you are), pick up the leash and call your dog over. If they are jumping all over you, (that is disrespectful in the dog world) put the leash away and try again in a few minutes. It doesn’t take long to teach a dog that jumping on you is no longer tolerated. If your goal is a dog who listens to you outside during walks, you must teach them to listen to you inside first.
3. CONSISTENCY: If you allow your dog to jump all over you on the couch, she will be confused when you don’t want her to jump on you while you put her leash on. The key is consistency. Be the leader at all times. You’re not her littermate, you’re her boss.
Dogs are pack animals who are designed to listen to calm and confident leaders. If you allow her to practice behaviours that would be disrespectful in the dog world (like allowing her to jump on you, nip you, nudge you for attention 24/7,) she won’t view you as a leader. If she doesn’t view you as her leader, she will continue to blow off your commands.
Pro Tip: Keep a leash on your dog inside your home. It can trail along behind her on the floor. If you ask her to do something (come, leave the food on the counter alone, or sit) and she ignores you, calmly pick up the leash and follow through until she does what you asked. Always supervise your dog when she’s wearing a leash in your home (so she doesn’t chew it up or get caught on anything.)
If you reward this behaviour, you will see more of this behaviour. (Photo: Shiba Inu being rewarded with a treat for putting her front paws up on a person’s legs)
If you’ve never owned a dog before and you find your dog isn’t listening, be sure that you’re being clear and consistent. Keep a list of commands on your refrigerator and ensure that everyone who lives with your dog uses the same commands. This avoids confusing your dog.
If you need a little help, find a behaviourist who understands how to coach dogs AND people across the finish line.
Schedule a free call with us and find out how we can help you become a better leader for your dog.
Have a wonderful weekend, Dog Leaders!
Alyssa
Photos by: Erda Estremera @erdaest (Dachshund with one ear up and one ear down,) Marliese Streefland
@marliesebrandsma (Beagle giving perfect eye contact,) billow926
@billow926 (Shiba Inu being rewarded with a treat for putting her paws on a person’s legs,)