How many times do you repeat the word “sit” (“sit”,” sit”) when you ask your dog to sit? Have you ever heard a child call out to his mother “mom, mom, mom, mom”? Does Mom react or even pay attention? I call this hounding your dog, commonly known as Command Nagging. Your dog tunes you out faster than a husband during a football game. The dog thinks you’re uttering useless information. Do you say “no” all the time? This may be why your dog may be ignoring you too. Did you ever try to teach someone how to ride a bicycle and the only word you ever used was “no”?
- You have to give the dog a reason for her to listen to you.
- You have to give your dog time to understand and respond to the cue.
- Then give your dog lots of feedback for getting it right.
- Cue, Action, Reinforce
1. Cue- Say the dog’s name to see if she listening to you or even for her to acknowledge you’re in the same room. When you dog responds to her name and not being distracted, now give your dog the cue.
2. Action- Try to give your dog a moment to respond to your cue. Some dog trainers say wait forty-five seconds before you repeat the cue. Then there are some who say wait thirty seconds before repeating the cue. I don’t know about you, but I can barely wait thirty seconds. People think I have so much patience. Not really, I’m just using science-based training methods. I’m giving the dog time to think and comprehend what I was asking of her.
4. Reinforce- Positive reinforcement is giving feedback to the dog, to let her know, that she’s getting it right. It doesn’t always have to be food. Praise, petting, playing, going for a walk are all different but effective forms of positive reinforcement. In order for reinforcement to be effective it has to be something the dog needs or wants. If the dog is tired, using a walk wouldn’t be very effective.
The Name Game is a simple game to play. You simply say the dog’s name (in a low distraction area). When the dog looks at you, give the dog a treat you have hidden behind your back. Make sure she’s looking at your eyes, not your hidden hands. Gradually work up to more distracting areas.
Submitted by Marion C. O’Neil CPDT-KA, CTDI owner and trainer of Molasses Creek Dog Training, Quakertown