Why didn’t my dog ​​react the first time?

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At the dog park, do you have to call your dog’s name ten times before they come to you? Or maybe you have to say “sit” three times before they respond. It may feel like everyone else’s dog reacts immediately, except for your own.

Many frustrated dog parents give up and claim that their dog is stubborn, only obeys when they want to, or my personal favorite is “stupid”. However, the truth is that there is a good chance that something went wrong during your training. Fortunately, you can fix it, but it will take some work.

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The problem is the nagging command

This term is called by trainers when someone repeats a cue over and over again. It can be a big problem for training. Why? Because you are sabotaging your own training!

When you teach your dog a signal for the first time, you only say the word once. But then the big annoyance called “impatience” comes along. Your dog has just learned a cue and it may take a second or two to think about the meaning of your words. Or maybe they’re in a new environment and have distractions they haven’t dealt with before.

Whatever the reason, your dog takes too long (in your opinion) and you repeat the cue. And then again. Before you know it, you’ve said the word five or six times, and your dog finally sits down.

Then it becomes a habit! Right after that, you will “order” almost immediately and follow every suggestion.

poison

So from your dog’s point of view, what’s the command nagging doing?

Your dog is just learning the meaning of that word, but you start repeating the word. By now, your dog has learned that “sit, sit, sit” means sit. The repeated sequence of words became the suggestion. Your dog no longer reacts to just “sitting” because in their mind you have taught them that “sit, sit, sit” is the cue. As a result, your dog will wait for that third, fourth, or even fifth sitting.

This works with any cue: their name, come, get off, stay, etc. Sometimes, if the dog doesn’t understand the cue well enough, hearing the word over and over won’t help them either. understand the meaning of that word. Remember, they don’t speak our language!

Instead, your “nagging” just becomes an ambient noise to your dog, like the rest of the time 99% of the time you’re talking. Your dog may not even realize you’re talking to them.

Or, you used a command when you shouldn’t be. For example, if you call your dog in for something they don’t like, like a bath or a nail clipper, that could do more harm than good. You have now taught your dog that “come” means “things I hate”. This is a surefire way to teach your dog Are not respond to your signal. At that point, the signal is poisoned.

How to fix

To fix these training errors, you’ll have to go back a few steps before adding the cue and see if your dog engages in the behavior (or lure it if you’re using the lure).

At first, don’t say hints. When your dog repeats the desired behavior (whether it’s sitting, coming, making eye contact, etc.), you can try re-adding the cue you’re going to say. once.

If the cue is poisoned, you will find it quicker and easier to retrain your dog if you choose a different word. For example, instead of “sitting”, use “relax”, “settle” or “sit”. For “come”, use “here” or “with me”. Then be patient as your dog figures out what the new cue means!

Also, be patient in new places or when there’s a lot of distraction around as that can make your dog’s reaction time slower than you think. If your dog is completely unresponsive, there’s something about the environment that is causing your dog anxiety or stress – repeating the cue won’t make them listen! Instead, adjust the environment until your dog is in a position where they will respond and start working from there.

Consider online training

Training is not a chore. Let SpiritDog help you turn training time into a fun, productive bonding experience between you and your best friend! Whether you want to kick bad habits or reinforce your dog’s good manners, SpiritDog can help guide you!

SpiritDog courses are developed by real trainers who know that your dog’s best teacher is the person he or she loves most in the world – you! Even if you’ve never trained before, you can still help your dog behave better with SpiritDog’s guidance. With so many satisfied pet parents already using their courses, SpiritDog guarantees 100% satisfaction!

SpiritDog offers over 17 science-based courses, as well as 12 free bonus courses to help you and your dog bond and build better behaviors. Their Solve react package can help you keep your puppy safe by your side and help anxious or reactive puppies stay calm. For new pet parents, The Ultimate Puppy Show can help you get your dog on the right track from the start. Those who want to teach their pets good behavior at any age, check out Ultimate Masterclass Pack. Whatever you need, SpiritDog can help keep your dog safe, happy, and well-behaved!

iHeartDogs powered by readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you.