If you have a dog at home, you will surely feel very well accompanied and enjoy their company. However, you will also know that controlling a dog is not easy. It involves a lot of work and a lot of understanding, since dogs think very differently from ours, therefore, it is very likely that we do not understand some of their behaviors. For this reason, it is essential to know them, but also to be able to control them. As we have mentioned in other previous posts, the civil responsibility of a dog belongs to its owners, therefore, this is one of the reasons why we should know how to control our animal and understand its behaviors to intervene in a determined way. Therefore, if we have to do something, it is to make our dog obedient. That does not mean giving him orders constantly, because we want him to be happy and for that he requires some freedom and autonomy. However, obedience is necessary, precisely, so that when our dog carries out actions that may have a negative impact on others, we can prevent him from carrying out those actions or behaviors. In this article we are going to mention 5 ways to get our dog to obey our orders.
1. Feel
This is one of the easiest obedience commands to teach a dog, so it is a good option to start.
• Keep a dog treat — such as a cookie or a small piece of roast chicken breast — near your pet's nose.
• Move your hand up, allowing your head to follow the treat, making it sit.
• Once you are seated, say "Feel", say "Very good" and give it the treat and affection.
Repeat this sequence several times every day until your dog dominates that command. Then, ask your dog to sit before eating or going for a walk and during other situations where you would like him to be calm and sitting.
2. Come here
This command can avoid many problems for your dog, bringing it back to you if the leash goes or if you accidentally leave the door open.
• Put a leash and a collar on your dog.
• Get away from him by grabbing the leash.
• Get down to his height and say, "Come," while gently pulling on the leash.
• When it comes to you, reward it with affection and a cookie.
• Once you have mastered it with the leash, take it out and practice the command in a safe, closed area.
3. Lay down
This may be one of the most difficult commands in obedience training, because this position is a submissive posture. You can help the process by keeping in positive and relaxed training, especially with fearful or anxious dogs.
• Use your favorite treat and keep it in your clenched fist.
• Put your hand to your dog's snout. When you smell your command, move it to the ground, so that it follows.
• Then, slide your hand across the floor in front of him to stimulate his body to follow his head.
• Once you are in the lying position, say "Cast on." Give him his treat and much affection.
4. Wait
Before trying the "Wait" command, make sure your dog is an expert in the "Feel" command.
• First, say to your dog "Feel".
• Next, open the palm of your hand in front of its snout and say "Wait."
• Walk a few steps back. Return your dog and reward him with a treat and affection if he stays.
• Gradually increase the distance you walk before rewarding it.
• Always reward your dog for staying where he is, even if he only does it for a few seconds.
This is a self-control exercise for your dog, so do not be discouraged if it takes a while to master it, especially if it is a puppy or a very energetic dog. What happens is that they want to be on the move and not just sitting there waiting.
5. Loose
The "Drop" command can help keep your dog safe when he is carried away by his curiosity, such as if he smells something intriguing but possibly dangerous on the ground. The goal is to teach your pet that he will get something even better if he ignores the other object.
• Place a cookie in each of your hands.
• Show him a clenched fist with the cookie inside and say: "Drop."
• Let him lick, smell, nibble, bark, and kick your hand in the attempt to get the cookie — no more ignore these behaviors.
• Once he loses interest in your hand, give him the candy of the other hand.
• Repeat until your dog moves away from the first hand whenever you say: "Release."
