2023-04-10
Most dog owners have trouble teaching their pets to listen especially when the canines under their care are young puppies. If you don’t have much experience raising a dog, you should keep in mind that listening is a two-way street. Any dog owner looking to improve the focus and responsiveness of their paw partner should monitor closely the signals their dog is giving them as well as pay attention to their dog’s daily routine. Dogs who do not spend enough time outside and can’t spend their energy are likely to be less responsive, less obedient, and become destructive at home. We have a few tips to share if you are looking for ways to get your dog to listen.
Most dogs usually struggle with responding to their names and coming when called. We recommend using a long lead (at least 6 meters/20 feet) to master the recall skill. It is best to train recall in various settings like your home, the yard, and the local park. Call your dog every few minutes while you are at home or in your yard (a fenced one) and give your dog a tasty treat whenever he/she comes to you. You should use a loving voice to give praise and you should pet your fur buddy lovingly. Dogs read your emotions by the tone of your voice and body language. Most dog trainers will advise to never use a dog’s name with a grumpy and aggressive tone or tense stance and we tend to agree. Stick to positively using your dog’s name and teach your young puppy not to be afraid when he/she is called to you.
If you are in a park, use a long leash and train recall there as well. The presence of interesting smells, people, and other animals will be distracting to your dog. Use this to your advantage and reward your canine whenever he/she comes to you when called back. Since training in the park will be much harder for your dog we recommend using high-value treats. Find out what food your dog loves the most and use it to reward your dog when practicing recall in settings with lots of distractions.
Please remember to practice frequently while your is young, this will build a strong foundation for further training. If your canine knows that he/she should come to you when called regardless of any distractions you will have an easier time keeping their focus on you. It is not easy to train a reliable recall and that is why you should stay consistent, give sincere praise to your dog, and never use their name with an aggressive voice. A scared dog will always try to avoid perceived conflict and is not likely to respond to any vocal cues you may issue.
The “look at me” command can be useful in situations when your dog appears scared or very distracted. You can use the command to move the focus of your dog, provide comfort and keep your dog from becoming rambunctious. Please, follow the steps listed below to begin training the “Look at Me” command.
Prepare for this training by grabbing high-value treats like cheese, the favorite food of your paw partner, or his/her favorite toy. We recommend that you start training this at home in a quiet room at first.
Step 1: Approach your dog in a quiet setting and let’s assume you grabbed a tasty piece of cheese. Take the cheese and move it close to your face, preferably between your eyes and nose. The moment your canine engages in eye contact (even if it’s just with the treat), say something like “Yes!” or “Good boy/girl!” and give the cheese to your dog immediately. Move the treat from your face to your hip and then offer it to your dog. Trainers point out that the dogs are supposed to learn that keeping eye contact is what they need to do to get a treat.
Step 2: Repeat step number one many times (at least 10-15 times). As you see your puppy grasp the idea of the training introduce the word “look at me”. You may use other words like “watch me” and “focus on me”. It is important to use the words confidently but not aggressively. Whenever you move the treat to your face and as soon as your canine looks at you say “look at me” (or any other command) followed by a “good boy/girl” pronounced excitedly and lovingly. Immediately give the treat to your paw friend.
Step 3: Repeat step number two many times (at least 10-15 times) until you are confident in the response your dog is giving you. Once your dog can move his/her focus to you every time you say “look at me” in a home setting move to your backyard and practice there and later move to a more distracting area like the local park.
Note: If your dog struggles with any steps try to have as little distance between you and the dog so it is easier for your dog to focus on you. You should take your time and move through every step patiently.
Many dog experts recommend using high-value treats like freeze-dried meat because it retains its rich taste, is easy to prepare, and is healthy for your dog. Chicken and beef are favored by many dogs so you may want to check your local store for unflavored freeze-dried meat treats. You need to think about what treat is the best one for your dog and make sure it can be used to divert the attention of your paw partner. You could use the favorite toy of your dog to play with him/her between the training sessions.
Whenever you do the training sessions for the “Look at Me” command you should try to remain calm, and positive and not shout at your dog. If your dog focused on your face on command when you were at home but now your pooch is not doing great with the training at the local park keep practicing. Use a positive and excited voice for the command and do not engage in training when you have low energy or you had a bad day at work. Your canine will pick up on your mood and is not likely to be cooperative.
If your dog is particularly social in the park and does not respond to “Look at Me” when around other dogs try to train the command at a distance you know your dog is not going to react to the other dogs and then slowly shorten that distance. A long lead will be very useful in these situations. Shorten the distance between your training spot and the other dogs only when your canine reliably responds to “Look at Me”.
Please, keep in mind that dogs learn at different speeds and you need to be patient and keep your expectations real. If your dog just got outside with you on a long walk do the training shortly before you take the route home. This will ensure your dog has spent most of its energy and a tasty treat will be very welcomed.
If you are looking to master good canine manners, please check the Good Canine Citizen Training Course.
