Orlovia
A puppy needs to learn what a no means. Situations often arise in which the dog owner wants to stop his animal or even has to stop it in the event of danger. Be it because the young dog wants to conquer the couch that is forbidden to him, or because he is trying to eat something lying around while going for a walk. The no must stop him and put him on the right path. In the following article, we explain how the dog learns to understand the no and what needs to be considered.
A No is a Ban
The no indicates to the dog that he must refrain from something forbidden. The hardest thing is waiting for a situation where the dog will go beyond the limits it has been given. However, it is precisely these limits that a puppy must first be taught consistently.
In the first place, dog owners must therefore be clear about what the four-legged addition to the family is allowed and what is not. This is best done before the dog is taken in. Especially in families, agreement among the individual family members is necessary about what the dog is allowed to do and what not. The most important thing: always comply with the rules consistently.
Example: Either the dog is never allowed on the sofa – or it is always allowed. Otherwise, he is once cuddled to jump onto the sofa and lie down there – other times he is harshly scared away. That must not be!
If a rule is applied in one way today and differently tomorrow, the education of the animal is damaged because its behavior never has the same consequences. You confuse the animal and make the dog-human relationship difficult.
How to Teach the No
The easiest way to teach “no” is to bring it up and connect it with practicing other commands.
Example: The dog learns to sit. The master or mistress names the command, and the dog obediently obeys it and is of course praised for it. As soon as the dog stands up without permission, a “no” is clearly pronounced, and a “sit” is pushed afterward. As soon as the dog sits obediently again, he is praised again. When saying “no”, the voice must be firm, but not louder. The same approach can be used when teaching “place”.
Through such exercises, the dog learns, “Aha, if I hear a no, I’m not allowed to do something!” Sooner or later, the animal will also react to the no in other situations in the desired way when walking.
Example: The dog is about to eat a strange pile. In this situation, the owner will definitely shout “No!”. Usually, the dog will respond and look up. Now a “Come here!” or “Here!” is immediately added. As soon as the animal has arrived at the dog owner, it is praised.
Linking a no to another command is very important. In this way, despite a ban, the dog experiences a positive experience immediately after its required positive behavior: praise. This strengthens the bond between humans and animals.
Frustrated Puppies? No Thanks!
Puppies do many things that need to be answered with a no. Frustration that arises in the dog is prevented with subsequent commands and subsequent praise.
Note: If training difficulties arise and a dog reacts strangely, it is high time for dog training or another specialist. In general, we at Hundemagazin.net recommend every new dog owner to register at a dog school when they are puppies, in order to create the right basis for a long and happy relationship between the owner and their animal. This avoids educational mistakes and frustrated puppies / dogs and in most cases there is no need for time-consuming sessions with animal trainers.