You adopted a new dog and thought training would be a breeze. You were certain that by now, your dog would have not only mastered basic commands like sit and stay but also leash training and recall. As it turns out, dog training is proving a little more difficult than expected. Is it time to sign up for professional dog training in DFW? Let’s discuss five clear signs that indicate professional intervention could be beneficial.
- Your Dog Won’t Focus on Training
You’re pretty sure you’re taking the right steps and using the best methods, but your dog just won’t stay focused long enough to learn. Maybe she gets distracted easily or spends your training sessions trying to engage with you playfully. Maybe she seems sleepy or disinterested, even when you’re offering high-value treats. A professional trainer can help you identify why she isn’t focusing properly and show you what you can do to make training sessions more productive.
- You Can’t Overcome Serious Problem Behaviors
All dogs need training, even if they have a calm disposition to begin with. However, some dogs may need more hands-on training than others, especially if they exhibit concerning behaviors such as:
- Leash reactivity
- Resource guarding
- Territorial instincts
- Fear of specific people or things
Unfortunately, these types of behaviors can make your dog a risk to their own safety and the safety of others. You’ll likely need the help of a professional trainer (and possibly even a behavioralist) to help your dog feel safer and display more desirable responses to their triggers.
- You’re Noticing Some Behavioral Regression
Maybe you were making fantastic progress for the first few weeks or months with your new dog, but now she’s backsliding. This can look like the return of old behaviors, like bad leash habits, or it can look like the appearance of all new (but definitely unwanted) behaviors. Behavioral regression can be incredibly frustrating, but it’s not all that uncommon, especially for adolescent dogs. A professional trainer can put you back in control and ensure that this regression isn’t long-lived.
- You Have Scheduling Constraints
Professional dog training isn’t just a benefit to dogs. It’s also a really handy resource for dog owners. Training produces the best results when you train on a consistent schedule, even if that’s just for 15 minutes a day at around the same time. If you can’t get into a good rhythm with your training efforts, you may want to invest in board-and-train classes. Outsourcing your training is a perfectly acceptable approach to encouraging good behavior.
- You Don’t Know Much About Dog Training
Professional dog trainers exist for a reason: dog training isn’t intuitive. If you feel like you don’t know the first thing about dog training, you’re not alone—and with the right help, you’re just as capable of learning as your pup!
At All Dogs Unleashed, we help dogs and their owners learn the skills needed to foster great communication and behavior. Learn more about our dog training classes to find out if we’re the right fit for your family.