Not all dogs are created equal
- some are born to lead while some gladly follows the
commands of the pack leader. Consequently, not all dogs
respond to training in the same manner - some gladly do
their tasks and exercises without giving you, the owner, a
hard time while others will test your temperament to its
limits.Hard-to-train
dogs are by no means the lesser beings as compared to their
more subservient counterparts. On the contrary, these dogs
often possess several positive traits that interfere with
your dog training sessions. Two of the qualities that get in
the way of dog training the most are the animal's
independence and dominance. Let's see how these qualities
might jeopardize your dog training efforts.
Independence
Independence is by far the
most commonly demonstrated trait by hard-to-train dogs. An
independent dog can be viewed as a renegade who never needs
to please anybody. While independent dogs unquestionably
love their owners, their drive to please them is not as
strong as those of other more compliant dogs. This trait
often gives the owner or the trainer a more difficult time
during their dog training sessions.
How could you tell that
your dog is independent? Here are some telltale signs:
.Independent dogs may exhibit a marked indifference to other
people or animals. .They may not like being petted and
disdainfully resents grooming. .They may prefer being alone.
.They turn away when reprimanded.
However, independent dogs
are not at all impossible to train. You just need to know
what works with them and what doesn't so that you may get
the best out of your dog training efforts. A word of caution
- it is a big mistake to apply force in correcting the
habits of your hard-to-train dog. Physical corrections such
as hitting and yanking will only lead to passive resistance
on your dog's part and make your dog training sessions close
to impossible. Once your dog takes on this stance, it would
be very difficult to make him or her obey your commands.
So, what is the best thing
to do in training your independent dog? Utilize the "cookie
power"! In other words, find out what rewards elicit a
positive response and take advantage of it. With an adequate
reward, your dog will surely let you have it your way!
Dominance
A dominant dog is one who
explicitly shows you that he or she cannot be bossed around.
While an independent dog will simply ignore your commands, a
dominant dog will show you his or her discontent in being
ordered around.
Dominant dogs are natural
leaders. With these dogs, you need to prove yourself first
before he or she recognizes your authority or else, your
role will go further down the pack pecking order. Some signs
of dominance may include the following: .Displays defensive
behavior when guarding territory, foods or toys .Shows
readiness to launch into a fight .Growls or snaps when they
are not allowed to do what they want
Dominant dogs are
trainable. Despite their fearsome and irritable nature, you
can make them obey your commands during your dog training
sessions and beyond. All you need to do is establish your
role as the one who holds the alpha position. You need to
establish your authority through reasonable actions and you
will see that everything else will follow. Once the
leadership issue is clearly established, your
Dog Training sessions will go on smoothly without any troubles!
