
Body language of dogs when interacting with other dogs
I sat on a bench in my friend Jake’s Boston neighborhood park last Saturday, watching his 1-year-old Labradoodle, Ruby, freeze mid-step as a golden retriever bounded toward her.
Looking at the instructions that were eagerly given, the dog remained indifferent and even turned to chase after other things. That sense of loss and helplessness instantly surged in the owner's heart. Dogs not following instructions is a common problem encountered by many dog owners, which not only affects training results but may also pose safety hazards in daily life. In the face of this situation, we cannot simply blame or punish dogs, but need to delve into the reasons behind it, use professional methods and full of love to guide dogs to learn obedience.
From a cognitive perspective, dogs may not obey instructions because they simply do not understand the meaning of the instructions. Dogs' understanding of commands requires repeated training and clear guidance to establish. Just like teaching children to speak, it requires constant repetition and reinforcement. If the owner's instructions during training are unclear and inconsistent, such as sometimes saying "sit down" and sometimes saying "sit down", the dog will feel confused and not know what the owner really wants it to do. Or in the early stages of training, if the dog is not given enough time to understand and react, they may rush to ask it to execute commands, which can also leave the dog at a loss. Looking at the confused eyes of the dog, the owner was filled with anxiety, hoping that it could immediately understand their meaning.
Dogs' attention is easily distracted by external factors, which is also a common reason for them not following instructions. During the training process, if there are other dogs, interesting sounds, or novel smells around, the dog is likely to be attracted and shift its attention away from its owner and commands. Especially for dogs in their puppy stage, they have a strong curiosity and a desire to explore the world, making them more susceptible to external interference. In addition, when dogs are feeling unwell or in heat, they may also have difficulty concentrating and following instructions due to their physiological condition. At this point, the dog may also be experiencing discomfort in its heart. It is not intentionally disobedient, but rather has difficulty focusing on instructions. Thinking of these, the owner's blame instantly turned into heartache, hoping to solve the problem as soon as possible and restore the dog to a normal state.
Improper training methods can also affect a dog's obedience to commands. Some owners are too strict during training and use punishment methods such as beating and scolding, which can cause fear in dogs. This not only hinders the establishment of trust relationships, but also makes dogs resistant to training. How can a dog obey instructions when it is afraid to approach its owner and even becomes wary of them? On the contrary, overindulging a dog and not correcting it when it disobeys commands, but letting it go, can make the dog mistakenly believe that this behavior is allowed and develop a habit of disobedience. Neither of these extreme training methods can truly help dogs understand and obey commands. Every wrong training method can invisibly widen the distance between the owner and the dog, and the owner is constantly reflecting and eager to find the right method.
Establishing a clear and unified command system is the key to solving the problem of dogs not following instructions. In the early stages of training, choose simple and clear instructions such as "sit down", "come over", "lie down", etc., and use the same instructions and gestures during each training session. For example, while giving the "sit down" command, make a downward pressure gesture with your palm to make the dog associate the sound with the action. Through repeated training, strengthen the dog's memory of commands. After each successful command, the dog should be rewarded promptly, which can be delicious snacks, gentle caresses, or enthusiastic compliments. This positive motivation can make dogs understand that following instructions will bring pleasant results, making them more willing to cooperate with training. Watching the dog's happy appearance under the reward, the owner was also full of motivation to continue training.
Creating a suitable training environment for dogs is also crucial. In the early stages of training, choose a quiet and less disruptive indoor environment to allow the dog to focus on its owner and commands. With the improvement of dogs' attention and obedience, the complexity of the training environment gradually increases, such as training in outdoor parks and other places. When training outdoors, it is important to pay attention to gradual progress, starting from less disruptive time periods and locations, gradually improving the dog's ability to obey commands in different environments. Meanwhile, during the training process, attention should be paid to observing the dog's state. When it experiences a lack of concentration, it can be regained by attracting its attention, such as calling its name or shaking toys, to bring its attention back into the training. Every successful training in a new environment is a witness to the growth of the dog and makes the owner feel gratified.
When a dog does not obey instructions, the owner should remain patient and calm, avoiding emotional reactions. You should know that training dogs is a gradual process, and each dog's learning ability and progress are different. If a dog performs poorly at a certain stage, don't rush for success, but adjust the training methods and pace, giving it more time and patience. Through continuous training and care, help dogs establish good behavioral habits and enhance their understanding with their owners. Watching the dog go from initially disobeying commands to being able to execute them accurately and quickly, the sense of achievement and joy in the owner's heart is indescribable. Because in this process, the relationship between the owner and the dog is constantly heating up, and this precious emotion cannot be stopped by any difficulty.
I sat on a bench in my friend Jake’s Boston neighborhood park last Saturday, watching his 1-year-old Labradoodle, Ruby, freeze mid-step as a golden retriever bounded toward her.
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