My dog won't listen to commands. How can I train them effectively?

Hi there. If you have access to a good puppy kindergarten class in your area, I would definitely recommend signing up - the instructor can show you how to start working with your pup to help her understand what you want and develop a good relationship with her. This normally involves using treats or other rewards your pup enjoys, and teaching her that good things happen for her when she pays attention to you. I also highly recommend the book "Perfect Puppy in 7 Days," by Dr. Sophia Yin. It's a great resource for more detailed information on raising a puppy.

Consistency is key. I would also use treats and/or a clicker to elk with training. You could also get a training to come in just a couple of times to help pin point what is keeping him from listening. It sounds like he is young and probably has a lot of energy therefore, doesn’t want to listen and sit still. You can also try a calmin chew like composure or composure pro. Keep working on training everyday. I would try to take 10-20 minutes everyday to work on commands without any distractions. Use small chewy training treats so he doesn’t get distracted by the process it takes to chew up a large crunchy treat. I hope this helps.

This depends on what specific commands you would like Jellybean to perform. I recommend posting again with the commands you want to teach her, and an expert can help you. We have experts on here who are skilled in behavior, so you can request a consult with one of them for more in-depth help.

Using a "watch me" command and a high value treat (something super delicious that Misty really enjoys, like a small amount of hot dog or cheese, that she only gets when she responds to this particular command) can be helpful in these situations See the link below for more information: https://www.embracepetinsurance.com/waterbowl/article/watch-me-command While she is learning, keep her on a training leash to help keep her safe. Don't use a retractable leash, as this could lead to injury when it retracts and does not offer you enough control.

Punishment is not recommended as a training method for dogs - because as you've seen, it's not very effective at changing behavior and only confuses and frightens your dog. There is never any reason to physically strike a dog during training, so please don't do this anymore. Instead, effective training is based on teaching your dog what you want him to do, then rewarding him when he gets it right. If you have no previous experience with dog training and are becoming frustrated with your dog, believe me when I say that it would be well worth the money to work with a good trainer in person for a few lessons to get you on the right track. You can search for a qualified trainer in your area here: www.ccpdt.org In the meantime, I would highly recommend the book "How To Behave So Your Dog Behaves" by Dr. Sophia Yin. It's great for beginners, and explains a lot about how fog training works including practical suggestions for dealing with common issues like jumping up.

Hi there. It sounds like Bea is having some trouble with her focus. While much of that is just being young and full of energy, I feel you would benefit from clicker training (a treat and reward system) as well as a well organized puppy class. Puppy classes are often offered at your local pet smart as well as through several trainers as help puppies to develop a sense of ability to socialize without being distracted enough by their surrounds that they ignore their owner. To many puppies-they see this as an exciting time to meet new friends and play with their owners. For us it is a wonderful area to help the puppies feel safe and bond with us over respect and learn boundaries. She is likely just reacting to stimuli (things she doesn't often get to see) and doesn't realize she's being "bad" as well as being full of energy. This will take a lot of patience and treats on your part when she performs or listens to you. She will get there, it is just a learning process.

Dogs are "disobedient" when we have not done a good job of teaching them what we want them to do - so it's really never a problem with the dog, but rather with our training :) I would suggest the book "How To Behave So Your Dog Behaves" by Dr. Sophia Yin - it goes into a lot of detail about how training works, with lots of specific suggestions for dealing with common problem behaviors and teaching specific skills. You could also get in touch with a different trainer to work with you one-on-one to help you understand why your dog is struggling, and how you can make things more clear for him. You can search for a qualified trainer in your area here: www.ccpdt.org