There are many joys in raising a dog, but when a dog is disobedient, every dog parent will probably go crazy! For example, when you call it over, it runs away, the house is torn down like a battlefield, or it pulls you away like a wild horse when you go out for a walk… Don’t panic, the dog is not disobedient because it is deliberately against you, but because it has not learned the “rules of the human world”. This super detailed 2000+ word article will tell you the reasons behind the dog’s disobedience in plain language, and share 5 super practical behavior training techniques to help you train the “naughty child” into an obedient “fur angel”!
Why do dogs disobey?
There are usually several reasons why dogs disobey:
- Nature: Dogs have their own instincts, such as Huskies love to destroy the house, Border Collies love to chase, and Corgis protect food, these are breed characteristics.
- Not learned the rules: When the dog first came home, it was like a primary school student and didn’t know anything. If you don’t teach it, it will do what it wants.
- Environmental influence: New environments, strangers, and other dogs may make dogs excited or nervous, and behave “disobediently”.
- Communication problems: You shout “sit down”, but it hears “play”, or your commands are inconsistent. How can the dog not be confused?
- Excess energy: Dogs have no place to vent their energy, so they are prone to destroying the house, barking, and biting things.
The core of training is to let the dog understand “what is right and what is wrong” and build trust between you and it. The following 5 behavioral training techniques are simple and easy to learn for common “disobedient” behaviors, and novices can also get started!
5 behavioral training techniques
Technique 1: Basic command training-let the dog understand your words
Applicable scenarios: The dog ignores you and does not respond to commands such as “come here” and “sit down”. Why it is useful: Command training is the basis of dog behavior, just like teaching children to recognize words. After learning basic commands, the dog can understand your expectations and reduce messy behaviors.
Training steps:
- Choose simple commands: Start with “sit”, “come”, “stay”, either in English or Chinese, but the whole family should be unified, for example, don’t say “sit” today and “sit down” tomorrow.
- Guide with snacks: Take a piece of chicken jerky or a snack that the dog likes and hold it in front of its nose.
- Sit: Move the snack above the dog’s head, it will sit down naturally, and immediately say “sit down” and give it a snack reward.
- Come: You step back a few steps, shout “come here”, use snacks to lead it closer, and reward it when it arrives.
- Stay: After letting the dog sit, say “stay” with your palm facing it, step back a step, and reward it after a few seconds.
- Repeat + Reinforcement: Practice 5-10 minutes a day, 3-5 times a day. Give snacks and praise every time you succeed (“Great!”).
- Gradually remove snacks: After the dog becomes proficient, reduce the snacks and replace them with petting or praise, but occasionally give some “sweetness”.
Time reference: Puppies can learn simple commands in 1-2 weeks, and adult dogs may take 2-4 weeks. Recommended equipment: small pieces of chicken jerky (Crazy Puppy, 50 yuan/bag), short leash (control distance, 30-50 yuan). Avoid pit guide:
- Don’t teach too many commands at a time, the dog will be dizzy.
- Don’t train when it is excited or distracted, find a quiet environment.
- Don’t lose your temper, the dog can’t understand your roar, it will only make you more nervous.
Tip 2: Correct random biting and house demolition-use your energy in the right place
Applicable scenarios: Dogs bite furniture, shoes, or destroy at home. Why it works: Dogs usually bite randomly because they are bored, grinding their teeth or have too much energy. Training can divert its attention to the right object.
Training steps:
- Provide alternatives: Buy chew-resistant toys for your dog, such as KONG rubber toys (80-150 yuan) or chewing gum, to attract it to chew toys instead of sofas.
- Stop it when you find it: When the dog bites the wrong thing, firmly say “no” or “stop”, then give it a toy, and reward it if it bites it correctly.
- Increase exercise: Walk the dog 1-2 times a day, 20-30 minutes for small dogs and 40-60 minutes for large dogs. Tired dogs don’t have the energy to destroy the house!
- Environmental management: Put away valuables and shoes, and use fences to limit the dog’s range of activities (pet fences, 100-200 yuan).
- Educational toys: Use food hiding toys (like KONG stuffed with dog food) to keep the dog busy and consume mental and physical energy.
Time reference: 1-3 weeks can significantly reduce random biting, and adult dogs may be slightly slower. Guide to avoid pitfalls:
- Don’t give stuffed toys, which are easy to tear into pieces and swallow.
- Don’t punish the dog for biting the wrong thing, as the dog may think you are playing.
- Puppies bite hard during the teething period (4-6 months), so prepare more teething toys.
Tip 3: Control barking – teach the dog to be “quiet”
Applicable scenarios: The dog barks as soon as it hears the doorbell or sees a stranger.
Why it works: Barking may be excitement, alertness or seeking attention. Training can help the dog learn to control its emotions and only bark when necessary.
Training steps:
- Find out the reason: Observe why the dog barks, such as the doorbell ringing or passers-by passing by.
- Distract the dog: When the dog starts barking, call its name, take a toy or snack to lead it away, and reward it when it is quiet.
- Teach the “quiet” command: When the dog barks, gently say “quiet”, wait for it to stop (even for a few seconds), and give it a snack immediately. Gradually extend the quiet time.
- Simulation scenario: Ask a friend to pretend to knock on the door, and use the “quiet” command when the dog barks. Reward the dog if successful.
- Reduce stimulation: For example, if the doorbell is too harsh, change it to a softer one; draw the curtains to reduce the dog’s chance of seeing outside.
Time reference: 2-4 weeks can reduce barking, and sensitive dogs (such as Chihuahuas) may take longer. Avoidance guide:
- Don’t shout “stop barking”, the dog will think you are barking with it.
- Don’t give it treats when it barks, it will mistakenly think that barking is rewarded.
- Long-term barking may be anxiety, consider consulting a dog trainer.
Tip 4: Don’t pull people when walking the dog-teach the dog “civilized walk”
Applicable scenario: When you go out to walk the dog, the dog pulls the rope and runs, and you are so tired that you can’t breathe. Why it works: The dog pulls the rope because it is excited or wants to explore. Training can make it learn to follow you, making walking the dog easier.
Training steps:
- Choose the right equipment: Use a chest harness (Ruffwear, 200-300 yuan) instead of a collar to reduce damage to the neck. Choose a traction rope that is 1.5-2 meters long.
- Standing stop method: When the dog pulls the rope, stop and say “slow down”. When it looks back at you or the rope is loose, reward it with snacks and continue walking.
- Change direction: When walking the dog, suddenly change direction. The dog will pay attention to your movements and learn to follow you.
- Reward following: When the dog walks beside you obediently, say “good” and give snacks to strengthen the behavior of “walking close to you”.
- Increase exercise: Dogs that pull the rope usually have more energy. Take it for a few laps first. When it is tired, it will not have the energy to pull.
Time reference: 2-3 weeks can improve pulling the rope. Energetic dogs (such as Huskies) may take 4-6 weeks. Guide to avoid pitfalls:
- Don’t use a retractable rope, as novices can’t control it and the dog will easily run away.
- Don’t pull the rope to punish, as the dog will resist even more.
- Don’t let the dog get too excited before walking, such as playing with a frisbee before walking.
Tip 5: Correct food guarding – let the dog learn to share
Applicable scenarios: The dog bares its teeth and roars when eating, and doesn’t let you get close.
Why it works: It’s the dog’s nature to guard food, but it may lead to aggressive behavior. Training can make it trust you and not snatch its food.
Training steps:
- Build trust: Stand by and talk softly when feeding, so that the dog gets used to your presence.
- Hand-feed food: Hand-feed dog food or snacks, so that it feels that “people approaching = delicious food”.
- Add food: When the dog eats the food in the bowl, throw a few delicious snacks in, say “good dog”, so that it feels that your approach is a good thing.
- Light touch training: When the dog eats, gently touch its back, immediately give it a snack reward, and gradually extend the touch time.
- Exchange game: Take a toy or a high-value snack (like chicken), say “swap”, lead the dog away from the food bowl, and give it new food.
Time reference: Mild food guarding can be improved in 2-4 weeks, and severe food guarding may take 1-2 months. It is recommended to find a dog trainer for assistance. Avoidance guide:
- Don’t force the food bowl, the dog will be more nervous and even bite people.
- Don’t beat or scold the dog when it is guarding food, which will aggravate the problem.
- If there are children at home, don’t let the children approach the dog to eat before training.
General skills and precautions for training
1. Maintain consistency
The whole family should use the same commands and rules. For example, don’t change “sit down” to “sit down”, otherwise the dog will be confused. The training time is fixed every day, such as 10 minutes after a meal, and the dog learns quickly.
2. Short-term and high-frequency
Train for 5-10 minutes each time, 3-5 times a day. Dogs have limited attention span, and they will get annoyed if it takes too long. Let the dog succeed once at the end of each session to keep it in a good mood.
3. Reward in time
The dog’s behavior and reward should be connected in seconds, such as giving snacks within 0.5 seconds after “sit down”. If it’s too late, it may not know why it is rewarded.
4. Don’t use punishment
Beating or scolding the dog will make it afraid of you and destroy trust. When it makes a mistake, say “no” gently and guide it to do the right thing.
5. Observe the dog’s state
When the dog is hungry, tired, or nervous, the training effect is poor. Choose a time when it is in a good mood, such as after eating or before playing.
4. FAQ
1. What should I do if the dog does not listen to the command at all?
Reason: It may be that the command is too complicated, or the dog does not trust you. Solution: Start with the simplest “sit down” to reduce the difficulty. Use high-value snacks (like chicken), play with the dog more, and increase trust.
2. The training is effective, but it loses its effect in a new environment?
Reason: The dog’s skills need to be generalized. After learning in a familiar environment, it needs to be practiced in a new environment. Solution: Repeat the training in different places (parks, doorsteps), and gradually increase interference (such as places with people).
3. Can adult dogs learn?
Answer: Yes! Adult dogs learn slowly, but as long as the method is right, they can still change bad habits. Stray dogs or dogs with bad experiences may need to find a professional dog trainer.
4. The dog suddenly becomes disobedient?
Reason: It may be a health problem (such as toothache), estrus, or environmental changes. Solution: Take it to the hospital for examination to rule out health problems. Dogs in estrus should be sterilized to reduce emotional fluctuations.
Training mentality: love and patience are king
Training a dog’s disobedient behavior is like teaching a child to do homework. You need patience and methods. The dog is not deliberately irritating you, it just hasn’t figured out your expectations. Every success, even a small improvement, deserves a big compliment from you! The training process is not only about teaching the dog, but also about building a tacit understanding between you and it. Imagine that after a few months, your dog sits down immediately after hearing “sit down”, walks without pulling the leash, and eats without guarding the food. How beautiful the picture is!
If you encounter a bottleneck, such as the dog does not listen to you no matter how you teach it, or has serious behavioral problems (such as aggression), don’t force it, find a professional dog trainer or behaviorist to help. Raising a dog is a long-term investment, training is the first step, and there are more joys waiting for you and your furry child to unlock together!
From “disobedient” to “good partner”
It’s not terrible for a dog to be disobedient. As long as you use the right method, Huskies can become “good dogs” and Shiba Inus can learn not to be stubborn! These 5 techniques – basic commands, correcting random biting, controlling random barking, civilized walking, and correcting food protection, cover most common problems. As long as you persist and pay attention, your dog will definitely feel your love and slowly become an obedient little angel.
If you have any specific questions, such as how to solve your dog’s “mischievous behavior”, feel free to ask me and I will give you some advice! I wish you and your furry child will become the best partner soon!
