Not all dogs are created similar- some are born to lead while some gladly follow the instructions of the pack leader. Consequently, not all dogs respond to coaching in the same manner- some gladly do their tasks and exercises without giving you, their owner, a hard time while others will test your temperament to its limits.
Hard-to-train dogs are by no means the lesser beings as compared to their more subservient counterparts. On the contrary, these dogs often possess more than a few positive traits that interfere with your dog training sessions. Two of the qualities that get in the way of dog training the most are the animal’s independence and supremacy. Let’s see how these qualities might put at risk at your dog training efforts.
Independence.
Independence is by far the most commonly demonstrated trait by hard-to-train dogs. An independent dog can be viewed as a traitor who never needs to please anybody. While independent dogs unquestionably love their owners, their drive to please them is not as strong as those of other more compliant dogs. This trait often gives the owner or the trainer a more hard time during their dog training sessions.
Although, independent dogs are not at all impossible to teach. You just need to know what works with them and what doesn’t so that you may get the most out of your dog training efforts. A word of caution- it is a big mistake to apply power in correcting the habits of your hard-to-train dog. Physical adjustments such as hitting and yanking will only lead to passive resistance on your dog’s part and make your dog training sets close to impossible. Once your dog takes on this stance, it would be very difficult to make him or her obey your commands.
Dominance.
A dominant dog is one who explicitly shows you that he or she cannot be bossed around. While an independent dog will simply ignore your commands, a dominant dog will show you his or her dissatisfaction in being ordered around.
Dominant dogs are natural leaders. With these dogs, you need to prove yourself primarily before he or she recognizes your authority or else, your role will go further down the pack pecking order. Some signs of dominance may involve the following: Dog behavior problems. Displays defensive behavior when protecting territory, foods or toys. Shows readiness to get into a fight. Growls or snaps when they are not let to do what they want
Dominant dogs are trainable. Despite their fearsome and irritable nature, you are able to make them obey your commands during your dog obedience training sessions and further on. All you need to do is establish your role as the one who holds the alpha position. You need to establish your authority through reasonable actions and you will see that everything else will follow. Once the leadership issue is clearly established, your dog training techniques will go on easily without any troubles!