Dog obedience is a big topic not only among dog owners, but also outside the community. A dog that does not obey the commands of his owner can be a big problem. Therefore, every dog should undergo at least basic training. The level of training then, of course, varies depending on the owner’s intentions with the dog. If the owner has the dog just for the joy of having one and wants to go to the park with him, a lower level of training is enough. If the owner wants to do sports cynology, the dog needs to go through a more comprehensive training. Our questions about dog obedience were answered by breeder Jitka Duffková.
What is important for obedience training?
Each dog and dog breed has a purpose for which it was bred. Before getting a puppy, every future dog owner should consider why he is getting a dog, what are his expectations of the dog and what can he offer to the dog. A dog owner that intends to do sports cynology or hunting with his dog will have different requirements than a person who wants to get a dog simply as a companion. Another very important aspect that is increasingly important nowadays is that the larger the dog, the more the owner needs to be able to control the dog. This is important to prevent the dog from attacking people.
How do you know that a dog is obedient?
This depends on the point of view of the owner and other people around the dog. People living in the city, who do not have a dog and want to relax in parks in their free time, are not overly happy when an uncontrollable dog starts jumping on their blankets and backs, no matter how much the dog’s owner may see this as harmless play. To me, an obedient dog is one that is completely under the control of the owner and does not cause trouble, both to humans and other dogs. But, of course, this always depends on the owner and his approach to training.
What does obedience training involve?
Here we have to make a distinction between our goals with the dog. In sports cynology, these include various sets of exercises according to test rules. If we have a dog simply as a companion, then the most important thing is that the owner has his dog under control. This includes getting the dog to come, walking on a leash, being able to let the dog alone, for example, tied up in front of the store.
What commands should be trained?
Again, it depends on the reason why we got the dog. To me, the most important thing is getting the dog to come – which is applied in all areas of training.
How should obedience training begin? At what age should obedience training begin?
Definitely right when the dog is still a puppy. The puppy should know from the beginning that you expect certain things of it and that it has some responsibilities. I begin to teach obedience in the form of “you do, you receive.” This is a tactic where the puppy gets rewarded for every right thing you ask of it. So, if the puppy comes when you call it, you should reward it. The puppy then realizes that when it comes to you when called, it will get a treat. In sports cynology, it is the same, puppies and young dogs are taught everything using treats. This is called a motivational positive method where you reward the dog for doing the exercise correctly.
What motivation is used in obedience training?
For puppies and young dogs, I use treats, and dogs who already have at least partially completed the training, get rewarded with a toy they love. A ball, for example, is a great reward.
Is it better to contact an expert with the training or can we handle it ourselves at home?
Once again, this depends on the owner’s intentions with the dog. If we have a dog as a companion and have no great demands, most people will handle training their dog just by themselves. At the same time, however, it is important that the dog does not have a problematic character that could complicate home training. If you want to train your dog, pass exams, need to have the dog registered for breeding, or have a dog with problematic behavior, it is always good to visit an expert or a canine organization.
Are there any breeds that are taught obedience easier?
There are dog breeds specifically intended for obedience training, and there is the fundamental rule that the more a dog is temperamental and active, the more he is willing to work with you, because he really appreciates the possible rewards. On the other hand, dog breeds for which physical activities are not a priority need to be motivated more.
Can every dog be taught obedience?
Each dog has his limits, so the requirements for obedience training should depend on the nature, breed and capabilities of the particular dog. But every dog can learn basic commands.
Can we start obedience training in the adult age of the dog?
Obedience training can start at any age, but the sooner we start motivating the dog and demanding obedience from him, the easier it is for the dog. I always compare dogs to humans. Reaching an agreement with a teenager is always harder than doing so with a small child who is dependent on you and where you are his centre of the universe.
Doing yoga with a dog, or doga in other words (the combination of “dog” and “yoga”), has become popular in the United States of America, but it has not become so popular in the Czech Republic yet. What is it about and what benefits does this sport have...
Earlier, this heart disease was attributed only to certain pure-blood breeds. Nowadays, it can even occur in cross-breeds. Another disease which reminds us of how important regular preventive check-ups at the vet are.
Days are getting colder and it is time again to prepare our furry friends who live outdoors for winter. All cats (whether they live outdoors or only go outside occasionally) need our greater attention in this season.
A Somali cat is a long-haired version of Abyssinian cat, one of the oldest cat breeds in the world. But it does not have an interesting or long history itself. Even though it is named after an African country, first Somali cats were born in the United...
Until recently, Cairn terriers were the most popular terriers in Great Britain (until they were overtaken by Westies). It comes from Scottish island Skye and it used to hunt foxes and otters here already in the times of Mary, Queen of Scots. That’s...
A team of Swedish athletes one of whom is Mikael Lindord regularly attends one of the most difficult races in the world to challenge other teams – the Adventure Racing World Championship. When Mikael and his friends stopped in the middle of an...
Each dog is an individual and has different needs. When it comes to diet, it depends on its health condition or physically demanding activities. However, we can generalize these needs to a certain degree according to a breed, age and mainly the size of...
Adopting a dog senior might save his life. They also need stable home and love which unfortunately can never be fully provided in the shelter. Nevertheless, most people who are considering adoption as an option automatically look for a puppy or at...
The International Rabbit Day is celebrated on the fourth Saturday or Sunday in September. This year, it was 22 September. This annual celebration of a cute mammal with long ears, short tail and a velvet coat is not only meant for the million of rabbits...
Do you also follow the recent trend which encourages us to come back to our roots and mind our planet more? I am personally very happy about that. More and more households live according to zero-waste and non-toxic principles and we don’t forget about...
Cats enjoying themselves in a doll house are a hit on Iceland. Their creators probably didn’t expect so much fame and first of all, they didn’t create the whole project for money, fame and for a short-time amusement. There is a much more noble purpose...
Your furry friend might get poisoned in a minute, only a few seconds of carelessness or a slow reaction is enough, especially if your dog is similar to mine and “eats everything he finds on the way”. Fortunately, my dog hasn’t been poisoned yet but I’m...
