Basic Dog Obedience

I receive a lot of calls regarding dogs who are uncontrollable (their human’s words) on a leash when out in public.  If the dog sees a bicycle or another dog, they pull and “go crazy!”  One of my first questions is have they done basic obedience with their dog?

They sound a little skeptical, as they respond hesitantly, “We took him through the puppy class at PetSmart and he knows how to sit and lie down and that stuff.”   I say, “Good, we can work with that.”  Puppy classes are a great foundation for teaching your dog to listen and respond to you.  It doesn’t matter if your dog was trained in the basics years ago, they will never forget it.  It’s the human that forgets how to use these tools in every day life with their dog.

For starters, remind yourself and your dog of what you both know.  And, that is they know how to respond to you when asked.  You may need to work a little harder on the leash training and teaching your dog to walk in a relaxed state by your side.  Once they do, when faced with a distraction of any kind, they are more likely to respond when asked to “sit and stay” or whatever is expected of them at the moment.

If you are having issues with your dog out in public and you have been through basic obedience, think of how to put that to use when outside on a leash.  I’m sure you didn’t initially put the time into the training only to have a dog who doesn’t listen when it was really necessary.

If I can provide additional tips or you are need of specific guidance, please send a note in the box to the right.