How To Train Your Dog To Obey Commands When Distracted
Posted on: 28 June 2022
If you've recently opened your heart and home to a new canine companion that you plan on including when you go on road trips, camping, hiking, or other fun outings, you're undoubtedly looking forward to many happy adventures with your furry friend. However, you may also have heard tragic stories of dogs disappearing during these types of outings, never to be found. This scenario typically occurs when the animal has been distracted by something, such as a rabbit racing through the woods or an unfamiliar sight, smell, or sound while traveling or camping. Often, these mishaps could be entirely prevented if the dog had been exposed to the right type of training.
Many dogs easily learn to come when they're called and to sit, stay, and lie down on command, and it's not at all uncommon for them to learn more advanced commands and tricks. However, many dogs haven't developed the ability to completely ignore distractions and focus on the command itself, which is why dogs often get lost while visiting unfamiliar surroundings with their owners. For instance, if you're on a road trip and your pet slips out of the vehicle when you stop for the night at a motel, it might be so distracted by the noise and confusion that it doesn't come back when you call. Following are three ways that you can help ensure that your dog can respond to commands even in highly distracting environments.
Start with Small Distractions in the Home
After your dog has mastered several basic commands, start introducing small distractions into the mix and work with the dog until it no longer allows these distractions to interfere with its ability to focus on the command. Gradually increase the intensity of the distractions as the dog learns to handle them.
Continue Distraction Training Outside of the Home
Once your dog is fully capable of carrying out commands in the face of multiple distractions in the home, it's time to move the training outside of the home. Use the same strategy of introducing small distractions and gradually increase them.
Enroll Your Dog in Group Dog Training Classes
Group dog training classes offer an ideal environment for acclimating dogs to distractions — after all, few things are more distracting to dogs than other dogs. A wide range of distractions will also be simulated at different points. As an added bonus, you and your dog will both benefit from the advice of experts during the training class.
Contact a company like Top Dog Training to learn more.
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