When Does Your Dog Need Obedience Training?

Pets, especially dogs, are great at relieving stress and anxiety. There’s nothing more comforting than coming home to see them wagging their tail in excitement, anticipating your return.

However, if your dog holds their tail straight up, barks threateningly, growls, or lunges often, these could be signs of aggression. Behavioural problems can occur at any stage of life. They may cause issues indoors and outdoors, which is why you should consider enrolling your pet in dog obedience classes.

Read on to learn about signs that will help you decide whether your pup needs obedience training.

6 Signs that Indicate Your Dog Needs Obedience Training

Trying to Attack

Dogs show aggression towards strangers and other dogs. Fear, pain, insecurity over food, and protectiveness are typically the primary cause of the aggression. For example, they may try to attack or bite someone to protect their food or their owner’s property. They may also be guarding something they highly value. These are some of the top warning signs your pet urgently needs obedience training. Expert dog trainers can help your pup become a calm, friendly pet that responds safely. They will assess your pet’s behaviour and plan tailored training techniques to help you.

Barking Continuously at People

There are several reasons your dog may excessively bark. It could be because they are scared of something outside the house or following their instinctive behaviour to protect you. It helps to understand that using your dog to avert strangers from entering the property can cause them to react this way upon seeing strangers. This is why they could try stopping relatives or friends from entering the house, perceiving them as threats. Enrolling them in a reputable dog obedience class can help educate them on differentiating between friends and unwelcome visitors.

Chasing Their Tail

You may find it cute when your dog chases their tail incessantly. However, this can signify an underlying issue that you need to address immediately. Typically, dogs begin doing this when bored or under-stimulated. They may lack physical activity, such as going for a walk or playtime. A professional trainer can help you determine the right cause and plan a training course accordingly.

Jumping on Everyone

You might like when your dog welcomes you home by jumping onto you. But if they do the same to everyone who enters the house, they likely need professional intervention. Some pets may love to jump and put paws onto visitors to say hello. Unfortunately, this behaviour can be dangerous, especially when children and older adults are around. Dog obedience classes can help train them and learn positive door behaviour.

Ignoring Your Commands

A well-trained dog obeys your commands in front of you and when you are not around. But if that’s not the case, they may think they are the boss. This kind of mindset is potentially dangerous. It calls for dog obedience training to help establish trust between you and your pet. This is because it is crucial that your dog trusts you and listens and understands your commands. Otherwise, it may strain your relationship with them and even lead to mishaps when they are left alone.

Always Pulling on the Leash

Poor leash manners can be dangerous in addition to frustrating. Sometimes, the pulling might be so hard that you hit the ground, or your dog may run onto the street. This can harm you, your pet, or someone else. It is a warning sign that your dog needs proper training and professional guidance. The experts can help your pup learn to walk on a leash safely without pulling or running in different directions.

Choose Our Dog Obedience Classes to Help Your Pup

Whether you’ve recently adopted a pup or are looking to improve the behaviour of a dog you’ve had for a while, training courses can make them safer, calmer, and happier. At Alpha Paws, we aim to help you have a well-behaved dog that is a pleasure to own. From basic commands to advanced training, we use proven techniques to eliminate behavioural issues and ensure your pet connects safely with the surrounding environment and people. We will also help you establish a strong, loving bond with your dog.

Call us at 905-830-9500 or toll-free at 1-877-868-7297 to speak with one of our expert dog trainers. You can also fill out our contact form to learn more about our dog obedience classes. We are always happy to help you.