Have you ever felt frustrated and/or angry with a dog because it just won’t do what you are trying to train it to do – a stubborn dog that refuses to follow instructions or learn new behaviour?
I am with you on that one. I know how it feels. But keep reading, I think I might be able to help by showing you how to train a stubborn dog…
In the old days, it was considered okay to train a stubborn dog by beating them with a stick or tying them up for hours, if not days, on end – did that work, possibly, but more than likely, it had a long-lasting negative effect on the poor dog!
Fortunately, times have changed, and with a greater understanding of successful dog training methods, it is possible to train the most stubborn dog. In most cases.
I say in most cases because there is always the exception. And the reason for the exceptions is usually to do with the mental or physical health of the dog, rather than breed or temperament. So please consider this if you are trying to train a stubborn dog.
You also need to be mindful of the dog’s natural behaviour. Is the dog naturally stubborn – they never readily follow your commands, ignore you or resist any form of training.
Or is it more random? Some days they are okay and you feel that they have learned something, whereas other days it is a waste of time and treats.
If this is the case, then look for patterns. Is it the time of day? Are there distractions in the neighbourhood? Is the dog hungry or just had a meal – neither is a good time for training. Are there children, people, machinery or other pets close by that are distracting the dog?
Either way, if you are trying to train a dog that seems too stubborn for training, you are not alone and most dog owners have experienced this phase. But we have got you covered, in this article, we will talk about everything that you need to know about training a stubborn dog.
I asked my friend Ali, who is a vet, questions about stubborn dogs and this is what he said:
Why do people think dogs are stubborn?
There are multiple reasons that can make you think that your dog is stubborn. The most common reason that makes your dog look stubborn is his thinking process. Let me elaborate on my point: dogs are sentient beings, and they also have thoughts about different circumstances that they are going through. They make their decisions and try to do their best for themselves. Humans can’t figure out what their dogs are thinking, so there’s a difference between what humans want their dogs to do and what dogs actually do.
A dog’s behavior is not always in line with the manners or behaviors that humans consider normal. This difference is most commonly deemed stubbornness in dogs.
Another reason that can make your dog seem stubborn is his natural temperament and personality. Some dog breeds are hard to train due to their tough nature. Environmental changes and poor communication with your dog can also make your dog act differently, giving you an impression of stubbornness.
What is the role of genetics in the stubborn behavior of your dog?
Genetics is one of the reasons for the stubborn behavior of your pet dog. Genes play an important role in shaping the overall personality and temperament of dogs, and that is very much evident in training.
Genetics makes some breeds hard to train because of their strong-headed nature, and they disobey the trainer’s commands. For instance, Rottweiler, Siberian Husky, Beagle, Afghan Hound, and German Shepherd are hard to train; on the contrary, some breeds like Poodle, Miniature Schnauzer, Labrador Retriever, German Shepherd, and Bearded Collie are easily trainable.
By the by, here is a list of the top 10 untrainable dog breeds, according to Jennifer Nelson.
Steps to train a stubborn dog
Training a stubborn dog or breed is challenging and frustrating because of the “not so-desired” results. But you should not give up on your dog. Follow these steps, and you will eventually succeed in training the most stubborn dog to do anything you command.
Dig out the reason for stubbornness
The first and foremost thing you should do is figure out why your dog is stubborn; it may be due to the changes in the surroundings, genetics, ambiguity in the communication or genetics, etc.
When you discover the reason behind this behavior, you can start working on the issue that is making training hard for you and your dog.
Create a routine
If you want to be successful or achieve something, discipline is the key. The same goes for training your dog because routine keeps you and your dog’s habit of doing some specific tasks to curb stubbornness. Over time, your continuous efforts bear fruits in eradicating stubbornness and making your dog trained.
Have your attention only on your dog
Having your complete attention on your dog when training is crucial. And more importantly, make sure your dog pays complete attention to you. You can use treats for this purpose.
Start by putting a small treat in front of your face and if the dog doesn’t bother watching you, hold it in your hand until the dog smells it and pays attention. After the dog has taken an interest in the treat, slowly move it upwards while calling its name and saying “Watch Me” with an austere voice and then say, “It’s Okay.” This is to reassure that dog that everything is okay, there is nothing serious, it’s not in trouble.
Continue this to make your dog listen to you. After some practice, your dog will start paying complete attention to you even without the use of treats.
Go Slowly
“Slow and steady wins the race” is valid for training stubborn dogs. Don’t burden your dog by teaching a lot of things at once. Always go slowly, and when the dog thoroughly learns one thing, move to the next one. This is how you can train your dog effectively.
Be patient when training a dog
Patience is the key to training a hard-headed breed because the dog will not listen to you and is likely to disobey your commands. It may be due to the training approach, environmental distractions, and many other reasons. Your consistent struggle to do so may sometimes remain fruitless, but you shouldn’t stop.
Be Consistent
Persistence is of vital importance while training your pet buddy. If you teach an exercise and don’t repeat it the next time, your dog will not remember it, so you have to start again from the fundamentals. It would be frustrating and time-consuming for you. Try to be consistent because it will aid you in training your dog quickly without starting one training over and over again.
Control the Environment
Everything for your puppy is new, and it can get distracted easily. To train, you should control the environment by removing distractions. It helps your young furry friend follow your commands.
Babies and pups are alike because both are attracted to everything as it’s new to them, especially dogs who like to play or sniff everything nearby. In this way, they come across different things.
If your dog cannot focus because of the distractions, you should assign a room (garage or lounge, if that’s appropriate) for training. This way, you can train the dog, especially the basics, with fewer distractions. Slowly introduce your dog to an uncontrolled environment so your dog can focus on your commands despite the distractions.
Following are the basic training you should ensure before introducing your pet dog to everyday environmental distractions.
● Potty training
● Sit, stay and lie down
● Leash walk training (Training your dog to walk with a leash)
● Bark training – when and when not to bark
Rewarding your dog
Getting rewarded after doing something makes it unforgettable; the same is the case for your dog. When your pup behaves well during training, reward the dog with the favorite treat. The best dog treats are cooked sweet potatoes, bananas, broccoli, boiled chicken, etc.
See my article titled Homemade Dog Treats Are Cost-Effective, Quick and Easy to Make
If your dog doesn’t like eating, you can reward it by praising, petting, or giving toys like balls for playing.
Enrol your dog in training classes
If you find training the dog frustrating or time-consuming and don’t have that much will or a busy schedule, then enrolling your dog in obedience sessions is the best choice. The trainers of these centers are experts, and they train your dog in a fun way so that your dog doesn’t behave stubbornly anymore. Before enrolling, always ask your vet for the best training institutes.
Trainer Should Possess Clear Communication
Communication between you and the dog should be clear because it’s one of the fundamentals when you train your dog.
Let me elaborate with an example: when the dog is sniffing, swallowing, jumping, chewing, or barking, owners usually say “no” repeatedly to stop the dog from doing so. But most of the time, the dog doesn’t stop because “no” seems meaningless to your dog. To halt any action of the dog, you can use the word “stop.”
Another word used for stopping the barking dog is “Hush.” That’s why communication with clear words is essential.
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Don’t punish your stubborn dog
The book “Adrienne Faricelli’s Brain Training for Dogs” has recommended constructive fortification when training dogs because punishing your dog has adverse upshots in the long run. It results in aggressive behavior and sabotages your dog’s trust. Instead of shouting at him when he misbehaves, you should again give him the command politely and give him a treat when he behaves.
Dogs Forget Like Humans
If you have taught everything to the dog you wanted to, don’t think it’s done. It’s a continuous process because dogs also forget how to behave in a specific condition, or it may be due to some changes in the training approach.
Reconsider Your Anticipations
We expect a lot from our dogs in training. When we don’t get the desired results, it makes us disappointed. To avoid this disappointment, reassess your hopes and don’t expect extraordinary from your dog while training.
Things to Remember
● Don’t be impatient when training your dog
● Always implement non-aggressive reinforcement methodologies
● Avoid shouting at your dog
● Avoid laughing when your dog is disobeying your command
● Use a leash when going for a walk
● Always keep your dog attentive when training
● Always call or command the dog with the name
● Remember, you are in charge, and don’t let the dog lead you to anything.
● The dog should not go anywhere until you command “release.”
Wrap Up
To recapitulate, training a dog is sometimes frustrating or disappointing when you see your efforts going all in vain. But as we all know, if someone sticks to one thing and sticks to it for long enough, he/she will get it. Humans take time to adopt or become trained in something, and so do dogs. It is not necessary that the only training technique you try works. So, be patient and try different approaches when training your dog. If you don’t get the desired results initially, don’t stop your efforts to train your dog. Be consistent, and you will ultimately train your dog that you deemed stubborn once.
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How to train a stubborn dog to potty outside