Puptown Dog Training College Station

Training Stubborn Puppies

Posted on August 18, 2022January 29, 2023 by Sheena

How to Train Stubborn Dogs and Strong-Willed Puppies

The dog may be inclined to be in the service of the owner or may have a mind of its own. There is no doubt that if you own a dog in the latter category, you may wonder how to train such a dog. You have a very good point, and this article was written specifically to address your question.

Let’s start with this: if you’re having trouble training your pet, don’t worry. It is not unusual for dogs to be a bit reluctant at first and require a little more effort than they would. If you are patient and persistent, there is no doubt that you will eventually figure out how to train a stubborn dog.

Despite the challenges of training a stubborn puppy, you may build a relationship with your dog that will last a lifetime by being patient and consistent. All dogs have various personalities and character traits, and certain breeds are more high-strung.

Depending on your dog’s personality, you may need to start with one approach, then try another until you find one that works for it.

Training Strategies for Stubborn Dogs

The method you employ to overcome stubborn behavior should be essentially the same whether you are training a puppy or an adult dog. Several dogs may need additional time to unlearn long-term behavior, but it is still quite possible with continuous training.

Here are the strategies that can help you with stubborn dog training:

Choosing the Most Appropriate Reward

Let’s be honest: When it comes to training your dog, bribery can go a long way when it comes to getting the job done. The reward must, however, be appropriate for your dog’s effort for it to be effective. How food-motivated is your dog? In that case, get your dog some high-quality treats.

You may want to offer an additional game of catch if your dog is not enthusiastic about food. In this case, the goal is to find out what motivates your dog and use that to train it to perform desired behaviors.

Start with the Simplest Command

Initially, “sit” is the most straightforward command to teach. Once they learn this, most of the other commands will become easier to teach. After a while, they will start to see that if they can understand what you are saying, they will get praise and a treat.

It is important to use both visual and audible commands. In addition to saying “sit”, you should make some sort of gesture as well. Always do the same thing each time, or the dog will become confused, and the process will be prolonged.

Decide on the Right Location

To ensure maximum success for your dog in training, you need to create the ideal environment. In the same way that you would not instruct a child how to read at an amusement park, you should not expect your dog to listen to you at their favorite dog park.

Try to pick an indoor space that’s calm, quiet, and free from distractions. Over time, you can begin to gradually introduce distractions to your dog as he progresses in his training.

Don’t Rush Things

Don’t apply excessive pressure to the situation, yourself or your dog, or you’ll end up in a rut. Progress does not always occur overnight.

Consider taking things step-by-step and rewarding even the smallest achievements. Don’t forget about those yummy treats, too. This progress can translate into large gains in some dogs, even if it is only a small amount at the start.

Avoid Punishing your Dog

Using negative reinforcement is something that can easily damage a puppy’s confidence if timing isn’t correct. Avoid using negative reinforcement until you’ve spoken with a professional. Often times our pups are not doing what we asked due to a lack of understanding/

As an alternative, reward your dog only when he follows instructions and take him back to a previous step where it was successful. It is possible to reinforce your confidence and understanding by taking a few steps backward.

Maintain Consistency in your Training

Training any dog requires consistency, but when dealing with a feisty dog, it is especially necessary.

Certain family members may reinforce contrasting behaviors, which can give your dog an entirely legitimate reason for being confused, rather than stubborn. Ensure that everyone in your family is on the same page regarding training and command usage. Furthermore, it is important to train regularly and with a consistent amount of intensity.

It is not realistic to expect your dog to become proficient at a behavior after only one lesson. If you wish to see any real improvement, provide many, consistent repetitions of the same training. You must incorporate the practice into your daily routine and reward it appropriately for it to be effective.

Consult a Professional when Necessary

Some dogs seem stubborn at first, but with time and consistent repetitions of the same training, they will learn. However, this may not always be the most appropriate solution. The idea of assertiveness being contrary to aggression is very important to understand, especially when dealing with training an adult dog.

If your dog exhibits signs of aggression or extreme fear, you should be concerned. You should call a professional dog trainer to assist you with this sensitive process and to provide any essential behavioral training.

Become Familiar with their Language

Dogs and puppies communicate using body language. When you train your pup, you need to understand their language to effectively communicate with them. Consider the dog’s posture, behavior, and facial expressions while determining his attitude.

For example, the varying wags of his tail indicate how he feels, such as a high, rigidly moving tail indicates he is feeling tense. On the other hand, a relaxed, gentle tail denotes happiness. This distinguishing factor simplifies the process of communicating effectively.

Conclusion for Training Stubborn Dogs and Strong-Willed Puppies

These tips should provide some assistance in helping you train a stubborn dog and a strong-willed puppy. Keep in mind that clear communication and considerable patience will ensure success in the long run.

Also, remember to choose the right reward and the right place to practice, then repeat the activity as often as possible to reinforce the desired behavior.

Teaching your dog requires patience as well as refraining from using any type of punishment. If at any time during the training process, your dog becomes aggressive, you should seek immediate assistance from a professional trainer.

The Importance of Continuing Puppy Training at Home

Posted on December 19, 2016January 10, 2022 by WebDev2021

When submitting their puppy to training, many people make the mistake of believing that once the training is complete, they can simply rely on the training instilled by the instructor forever. Well, while that is a nice sentiment, it couldn’t be much further from the truth.

Think long and hard about what you learned in fifth grade English class, and then ask yourself if you remember any of it. If the answer is no, then you probably need to consider the fact that your puppy is very much the same and with an even shorter attention span. A dog goes through the Woodlands professional puppy training facility for a few different reasons.

Maybe they’re training to be a service dog, maybe they’re being socialized so that they deal with being in public and around people better. Then again, maybe, just maybe you’ve been working on weeding out food aggression. No matter what the case may be, you need to make sure that you’re working on it at home and that you’re reinforcing the training as best you can.

Reinforcing the Woodlands Puppy Training

So when it comes to properly reinforcing the Woodlands puppy training, what is it that you need to do? Believe it or not there are quite a few things, and the first one is making sure that you are consistent. You’ve probably heard this from you trainer over and over again but we’re going to say it once again: Consistency. It’s a four syllable word that’s perhaps the most important when it comes to proper puppy training.

If your puppy has been trained in a certain way, you need to keep up that training at home. It might be easier for you to break the routine, but once you do, you’re going to confuse your pet, and they might simply revert to their old ways. It’s a sad state of affairs but it does happen, and it can become irritating, especially if you have to take them through the training again.

For example, if part of their training involves not feeding them scraps from the table, then you should most certainly avoid feeding them scraps from the table no matter how tempting it might be. The moment you break that rule you’re going to be in serious trouble.

Proper Positive Reinforcement

If you want your dog to adhere to the training then you have to continue with the positive reinforcement. You may not have to treat them every single time they follow a command or do as they are told, but you do need to make sure you award them with praise regularly so that they know they are doing the right thing and that they will continue to do so. This is absolutely critical and any professional puppy trainer/trainers would absolutely agree with this logic.

Be in Charge

The final point that we’d like to bring up is that you need to be in charge when you are dealing with your dog, period. One of the biggest mistakes that dog owners make is allowing them to have their own way every once in a while, and we’re going to say right now that such an approach just isn’t going to work. If you allow your dog to push you around, they’re going to keep pushing and they’re going to keep playing on your weakness.

This is not malicious, it is simply the nature of your dog to play on your weaknesses and attempt to gain pack leadership. No matter how close you are to your dog, the fact remains that they still have a pack mentality and they will always be trying to work their way to the top. You cannot let this happen!

Keep these things in mind when you are dealing with your dog at home. We offer some of the best training in the country, but when it comes right down to it, you’re the one that they respect, and you are the one that will have to make sure they are remembering their training. Don’t worry, we’re going to give you the information you need to keep them on the right path, and both you and your beloved pet will benefit from it.

Three Benefits of Puppy Obedience Classes

Posted on September 20, 2016January 10, 2022 by WebDev2021

There is nothing like a new puppy. These adorable furbabies are warm, loveable, cuddly, and utterly irresistible. As cute as your new puppy might be, it won’t be quite that cute when it starts behaving badly. A dog can bring incomparable joy, but this usually happens when he or she is well behaved. Remember, even if you think your puppy’s behavior is nothing short of precious, other people might not share your opinion. Even when you are at home a dog needs to have good manners when it comes to having guests and let’s be honest, your dog christening an indoor potty spot might not be cute at all. Continue reading “Three Benefits of Puppy Obedience Classes”

Three Factors that Might Affect Puppy Behavior

Posted on August 8, 2016January 10, 2022 by WebDev2021

Here at Puptown Houston in The Woodlands, TX we understand that various behaviors can provide additional training challenges with your new puppy. Our Woodlands puppy training specialist actually specialize in behavior-based, positive reinforcement training. So not only can we help identify these behaviors we can help your pup overcome them. It’s all about consistency and communication, and not just for the dogs. We also train a dog’s human to help them work with their canine companion when not at Puptown for optimal results. Continue reading “Three Factors that Might Affect Puppy Behavior”

Working with Your Puppy at Home to Make Sure Training Sticks

Posted on June 30, 2016January 10, 2022 by WebDev2021

If you are in the market for the best puppy training in Woodlands, TX, look no further than Puptown. We work with pooches off all ages, from young puppies to dogs in their “golden years”. You see, we are avid believers that a dog is never too old to learn new tricks, or even to behave politely. Almost any dog can be a well-mannered companion, and even though we offer a very effective training program through positive reinforcement customized for each dog we train, training does not stop there. Continue reading “Working with Your Puppy at Home to Make Sure Training Sticks”

Teaching Your Dog to Deal with Distractions in Public

Posted on May 23, 2016January 10, 2022 by WebDev2021

Let’s be honest, your dog is going to be exposed to a lot of things in their lifetime. This includes distractions like other people, animals, and things that might scare or ‘trigger” your dog like sirens, loud voices, and even thunder (a lot of dogs are terrified of storms). Good training can help your dog ignore a lot of these distractions and consistently behave well. Our Woodlands dog training experts incorporate this as part of our training for dogs of all ages. Our “no approach fits all” training style helps us to understand what distracts one dog instead of another and why so we can provide individualized training for great results. To learn more please visit us online at Pup Town Houston.

Dog obedience classes are a must to ensure you have a well-mannered, socialized dog that is a great companion and faithful friend. You want to make sure that your dog doesn’t “walk you” or find its way into a harmful situation. This is why training, including ignoring or avoiding distractions, is so important for your dog. Not to mention you don’t want your dog to hurt another animal or even worse, a person. If you aren’t ready to enroll your pup in classes just yet, here are some tips on teaching your dog to overcome distractions and be a good canine citizen.

Understand Triggers

As simple as this sounds, it is important to know what your dog finds particularly fascinating. Some dogs can’t resist the urge to run up to another pup while others love to chase squirrels or other small animals. If your dog has a penchant for sniffing holes in the ground, this could be a potentially dangerous behavior as this could be an insect nest or home to a poisonous snake. And if you think a high-pitched siren makes humans wince, imagine what it does to Fido’s senses! Once you know what your dog’s triggers are, you can figure out the best way to help your pup not give them a second thought.

Set up Success

When helping your dog overcome distractions, develop a series of steps like levels 1-5 to help your dog reach its goal. If you are teaching your dog to sit, begin in a quiet environment until your dog has the command down pat. Then gradually introduce a series of distractions while you are giving the command to help your dog ignore the outside factors and focus solely on you. Start off with a very mild distraction like having the TV on in the background and as your dog completes each step, move your pooch to the final step, like being outside next to a whole family of squirrels while successfully sitting on command.

Positive Reinforcement

As you have a level of 1-5 for your dog’s distraction factors, find a level 1-5 of treats for your dog with 1 being something they love and 5 being a treat your pooch will dance and do backflips for. As your dog completes each level of overcoming distractions, increase the level of treat to increase positive reinforcement and a greater reward for a greater level of difficulty. Increasing the positive reinforcement is an effective way of holding your dog’s attention no matter what distraction may arise and you want to make sure you and your dog are prepared for any situation.

Create Distance

While you are teaching your dog to ignore distractions, an effective tactic is to create distance from the distraction. Let’s say your dog loves to chase squirrels and you realize you need to help your dog overcome this behavior. While you are in the first steps of helping your dog ignore this distraction, put as much distance between your dog and the squirrels as possible. When you are in the final steps of training, move your dog closer to the squirrels. By desensitizing your pup to the distraction, the goal is to reach the point of said object no longer being a distraction.

The same principle can be applied to dogs who are very eager to make new friends as you should be cautious of a new dog until you are familiar with its personality. By shrinking the stimulus area, you are not only teaching but also protecting yourself and your dog during this important learning experience.

Why You Need to Seek Puppy Training From the Start

Posted on April 28, 2016January 10, 2022 by WebDev2021

There are few things more precious and delightful in this world than a new puppy. That little face with its big eyes can make you want to melt, as can those little paws and tail. Puppy kisses with that tiny tongue are equally adorable, as are the yawns and first attempts at barks. All you want to do is just snuggle with this little furball, and not worry about anything else. Let’s certainly hope that before getting your precious pup you took into consideration the commitment you have just made.

A puppy will require time, attention, and considerable expense to make sure it is happy, healthy, and well-behaved. Potty training aside, there are a lot of other things a pet parent needs to be prepared for to make sure they give their dog the best care possible. After all, do you want to come home to “presents” on your floor, garbage everywhere, and your sofa closely resembling a chewing toy? Even worse, do you want you pup getting into something that could make it sick, or worse? Never fear, because the best professional puppy trainers in Woodlands, TX are standing by to help you turn your puppy into well-mannered little lady or gentleman.

Here at Puptown we believe that each dog is unique and should be trained to their individual needs. We don’t have a “cookie cutter” approach, which is why each dog receives the time and attention it needs to learn a healthy and happy lifestyle. Not only do we take each dog’s needs into consideration, we do the same with the pet parents to make sure they can provide optimal training at home.

Our program is built around three core principles: timing, consistency, and motivation. Timing has to do with the way a dog’s brain processes cause and effect. This is very important because any dog’s behavior must have a consequence within 1.3 seconds for the dog to associate a behavior with a consequence. People usually praise or reprimand a dog too long after an event has taken place thus it is important for your dog to understand what behavior you are reacting to. Consistency is clear communication between a dog and its owner. You must promptly react the same way to any behavior your dog exhibits. Once more correction or praise must occur within the 1.3 second window. Finally, motivation influences a dog’s decision making. Positive and negative motivation can help praise or correct a dog’s behavior, as long as it is within the associated window of time.

These are the three things that training at Puptown is centered around. Our most popular program, Lodge and Learn, consists of your dog staying with our trainers at “doggy day camp” to learn and explore while learning manners and simple commands. Our professional trainers will take your dogs out on errands and to parks in order to learn real-world skills in different environments instead of being confined to a training ring. This also means that trainers won’t be working with your dog for a short period of time, but for several days to maximize your pup’s training experience.

Our dog training experts don’t just teach basic obedience but an array of skills to dogs of all ages. Dogs need to be on their best behavior not just for their owners, but to all members of society. The last thing a person wants is for the dog to frighten or even worse, bite someone. No owner wants to get a complaint about their dog or see it be taken away by the police or animal control. Here at Puptown we understand that dogs must also be good members of society, which is why our training includes controlling excessive barking, chasing people, and even redirecting bad potty habits. Our goal is to correct not only a dog’s bad behavior, but also an owner’s bad behavior. We want to see people and pets have mutual bonds that will bring more joy and a happier relationship.

When it comes to dog training patience is key, and our trainers want to help owners develop patience with their dogs in order to continue training and further foster improved behaviors. While training is imperative for young puppies to learn these behaviors as early as possible, here at Puptown we believe that all dogs are able to learn new things and can break bad habits. If a dog is having trouble learning, then the communication and motivation need to be altered so the dog can effectively learn a command or behavior. This goes back to understanding what a dog needs, and more specifically, the individual needs one dog will have instead of another. As every dog is unique, so is the Puptown approach to training. It is this approach that delivers great results and well-behaved dogs.

Tag: Woodlands Puppy Training Expert/Experts