Does your dog listen to you?
One of the biggest complaints I hear from dog owners:
“My dog doesn’t listen to me!”
You see, your dog is ALWAYS watching you, always learning from you, and ALWAYS hears you.
Do you get your dog to follow through? One HUGE mistake is the dog who gets too much freedom too fast.
Perfect example. Dog lives in a home with a fenced in yard.
Dog is allowed out in the yard and after a few minutes the owner calls the dog. “Fluffy….COME!”
Fluffy ignores the owner and continues sniffing the ground.
“FLUFFY….COME, COME HERE,” dog continues to sniff and the exasperated owner slams the door and leaves Fluffy in the yard.
This happens all the time. The dog learns to ignore the owner on walks, in the yard, in the house, etc.
I just came from a client’s house and when I walked in the owner was having her dog do “place” on his bed as I walked in.
Her dog kept trying to get off the bed but she kept at it. She made him do place until he was calm. Then she gave him permission to come off the bed and greet me.
Excellent example of developing good habits.
Here’s my quick checklist to help you develop good habits with your dog:
1. On your terms – What are your terms? Do you have terms? Does your dog follow your terms?
2. Leash as guidance – use the leash as guidance. As stated earlier, most dogs get freedom too fast. Use the leash to teach and follow through. Dog has to earn freedom in and outside the house. What are your terms for freedom?
3. Relationship – Establish a great relationship with your dog through clear boundaries. What are your terms for your dogs being on the couch? What are your terms when you play tug games? What are your terms for feeding? What are your terms for social interaction and attention?
I can spend five minutes in a house and know how the relationship with the dog is by observing how the owner lives with the dog.
4. Communication – Develop communication with your dog. We use a set of signals or markers to teach the dog what is acceptable and UNacceptable.
Start developing good habits with your dog today. And if you need help, let me know.
You can do a free consultation with me. If you would like to schedule a free consult go here NEXT:
Best,
Eric
Eric Letendre’s Dog Training School
1180 State Rd.
Westport, MA.
774.319.6351
