Argh My Dog Won't Listen!
When you first got your dog, did you picture easy enjoyable walks? Going to the cafe with your dog whilst they relax and snooze by your feet? Your dog off leash, staying close and just having the best time with you?
Yeah me too! And what I got was a dog that would run up to every dog and person...whether they wanted her attention or not! A dog that couldn't really care less about what I was doing (or trying and failing to do!) And a dog that I would get so frustrated by I would come home stressed and with a sore throat from yelling so much from pleading with her to just come here!!!
If any of that sounds like your reality right now, then I first want to give you some hope!
That dog that ignored me, tested my patience and was honestly sometimes just an outright menace! Well she now is the kinda dog that I pick up the leash and go anywhere with. We don't think too much or plan ahead, we just go and enjoy our time. Feel like popping to the pub with her, no problem. Busy beach with lots of other dogs and people, no stress. Bush walk, absolute joy and probably our favourite activity to do together.
It didn't happen overnight.
And she definitely didn't just "grow out of" those annoying behaviours that I didn't like.
What changed everything for us?
Well after one walk where I came home with my voice so hoarse from the absolute despair I was having about why won't this dog just listen to me!!! I decided something had to change if I wanted her to actually be that dream dog I had imagined her to be.
And with that I changed things up.
It's now hard to imagine there was a time where I really was so lost and confused about her, because now it just feels so easy.
If you're in the lost and confused stage with your dog, here are 3 simple things to turn those walks that make you want to tear your hair out, into walks that are actually the highlight of your day.
Hand feeding
Portion out your dog's food for the day and take that on your walks with you. Now every time your dog does anything good. And I mean ANYTHING! Looking at you, taking one step nicely on a loose leash with you, looking calmly at another dog instead of blowing up and pulling, a trick you ask them to do, you're going to reward them with their daily food. By the end of the week you should see a bit more cooperation and your dog actually wanting to stick around you.
Play!
Play with your dog. Be silly! I swear part of owning a dog is learning to let your inner child out. I don't mean play at home, I mean take the favourite toy with you to the field and play outside! Or run and chase each other. Wrestle play. Hide and seek. Make up games together. The weirded the better! But your dog needs to see you as a play partner outside. You are the thing that makes the walk fun, not just the taxi driver.
Teach some new tricks. Not only is this excellent for working your dogs brain (which FYI is the quickest way to tire your dog out!), it also builds your relationship even more. Now instead of being pretty boring at home or a hot mess begging your dog to just listen to you...now you are the fun one that provides the entertainment not just the steps.
Combine these 3 together and your dog won't be able to help but listen to you and want to hang out with you on your walks because you've got the good stuff and you pay well, you know the best games and you keep things interesting and new.
When this becomes just the way you live your life with your dog, you'll soon have the kinda dog you can take anywhere, without a second thought.
