Why Isn’t My Dog Learning Quicker?

When it comes to reducing a dog’s unwanted behaviour, many owners tell me they have moments when they get frustrated. This is because, despite their best training efforts, the dogs’ behaviour gets worse. This usually results in the owners giving up because they believe what they’re doing to address the problem is simply not working. My advice? Don’t give up!

Any training plan that addresses a dog’s unwanted behaviour should be followed through, even if the dog’s behaviour appears, for a time, to get worse. This is because when a dog is introduced to a new behaviour, the dog will attempt to desperately cling to what she knows best.

If you were to ask the dog why she does this, she’d say: “What I have done has always worked for me, but my owner is trying to change that – I’m scared because I’m not sure what to do next. I am going to test my owner to see how serious they are about the changes being introduced and to show my owner that I’m serious I am going to throw a tantrum and cling to my old ways.”

The key is to remain consistent; in this way the dog has time to adjust and accept a new way to behave. In other words, your commitment to the training can win your dog over, eventually!

When your dog’s behaviour gets worse, remain calm and practice patience. It’s my view that with consistent and assertive training, confusion precedes breakthrough. As a dog owner and trainer, I find there’s nothing more satisfying than seeing a dog have that ‘aha!’ moment.

(If the unwanted behaviour continues to persist, consult your dog trainer as there are many different ways to tackle any dog behavioural problem).

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About the Author

Mia Montagliani, known by her clients as "The Aussie Dog Whisperer", is a highly sought after expert in dog training. Discover how you can apply the same techniques as professional dog trainers to improve your dog's behaviour by downloading Mia's complimentary dog training guides and video. Don't forget to follow Mia on Facebook.