Help! My Dog Is Stubborn...

The stubborn dog. Something as dog trainers we come across people saying about their companion, or a label which is placed upon certain breeds; English Bull Terriers, Bull dogs, Mastiffs for example. But what if I let you into a secret that enabled success and progress?

Here it is... they are not stubborn.

The Stubborn Dog Re-labelled

So we may label a dog as stubborn for these reasons:

• If they don't respond fast enough to a cue

• If they aren't completing the task fully

• If they have reduced engagement overall

However here are some things they are really feeling:

• Over-whelmed

• Over-stimulated

• Worried

• Distracted

• They are finding it hard

• Struggling with the pressure

• Tired

• Unwell

• In pain

• Needing more time to process the information

• Not understanding the information given to them

• Breakdown in communication between guardian and dog

• Breakdown in relationship between guardian and dog

Now I want you to think back to being at school or work, add in one or more from the list above and think about how that would impact your ability to take on information, complete a task, or learn something new...

Any of one of these things would make it harder to perform to the best of your ability and/or impact negatively on the perception of that performance. Guess what? It's the same for our furry companions. We need to ask why do they disengage? Why have they got distracted? It's most likely a coping mechanism.

Dog Training Hack: Stubborn No More

So now we have a deeper understanding of where they are coming from, setting ourselves up for greater success and a deeper connection. But how do we implement this to get the training success we desire?

Helpful Tips To Get Success With Your Dog

• Be patient

• Give them time

• Relax our communication style

• Be clear, calm, and kind in communication style

• Check for pain

• Look at gut health

• Relay imformation again

• Show them what we want the behaviour to be

• Give them a rest

• Give them some toy play

• Work in shorter sessions

• Make the success criteria easier

• Increase/improve the reward

• Change the way we deliver the information/figure out the way they need information realyed best

• Reward for smaller successes to shape into final behaviour

• Be more engaging

Reap The Rewards

By implementing these helpful tips you should see an increase in overall engagement and success with your dog. Go on give it a try!

Wanting some extra pointers on engagement boosting? Head to my other blogs to get some Dog Training Hacks!

Boosting Engagement!

Recall Booster!

Need more insentive? Go and check out the wonderful Pip, an adolescent English Bull terrier, smashing her loose-lead walking by us having a deeper understadning of how she processes the environment, using positive reinforcement techniques and fun engagement games! Her guardian and her are enjoying walking together again!

The Proof Is In The Pip