It’s Probably Your Fault that Your Dog is “Stubborn”
It’s important to understand our role in our dog’s actions. The label of “stubborn” puts the onus on the dog, when it’s more than likely on us.
Many dog owners experience moments when their singing dogs seem to be stubborn or unresponsive to them. It's important to understand that dogs are not inherently stubborn.
Stubbornness is a human concept.
Labeling a dog as “stubborn” can be misleading. A dog’s behavior is influenced by a combination of factors. This includes their breed traits, training methods, clarity of communication, and especially the environment they exist in.
Breed Traits and Individual Differences
Dogs belong to different breeds, each with unique characteristics and tendencies. Some breeds are more independent by nature. New Guinea singing dogs fall into that category. It is important to research and understand your dog's breed traits. All dogs are individuals, but learning about a breed’s tendencies can help you tailor your training accordingly.
Remember that what you perceive as stubbornness might simply be an expression of your dog’s individuality or specific breed traits
Communication Gap
Dogs communicate primarily through body language. They rely on visual and auditory cues to understand and respond to human commands. This can create misunderstandings if owners fail to communicate effectively or misinterpret their dog's body language.
Imagine how confusing it must be for a dog to constantly hear “No. Yes. No. No. Stop. Go!” near new stimuli.
With all of these conflicting words, how are they supposed to know which cue to follow? How would they know what those human words mean at all?
It’s up to you to take the time to learn and observe your dog’s specific signals and to practice clear and consistent verbal cues.
Pay attention to yourself, your body movements and your language choices. You’ll see that human communication styles are actually pretty confusing.
Dogs thrive with clarity and consistency. Keep that in mind whenever you interact with your dog, especially during training sessions. Their “stubbornness” might simply be confusion because you aren’t communicating clearly.
Training Methods
Your dog’s behavior and responsiveness is greatly influenced by the training methods you use. Positive reinforcement techniques, such as rewarding desired behaviors with treats or praise, have proven to be more effective than punishment-based methods. They are also more humane.
Dogs thrive when they are motivated, engaged, and rewarded for their efforts.
Positive reinforcement training builds optimism and engagement with your dog. An optimistic dog is far more likely to be invested in having an experience with you. When you have a positive shared experience, you build a stronger, cooperative relationship with your dog. This encourages the dog to perform the behaviors you want to see.
Environment and Context
Environmental factors play a significant role in a dog's behavior. Dogs are sensitive to their surroundings. External stimuli, everything they can hear, see, and feel, can affect their focus and response to you. Competing with too many distractions, stimuli, stress, or discomfort may seem like stubbornness. In reality, they are simply reacting to their environment.
Minimize distractions during training sessions until your dog can offer near 100% reliability in a situation. Then gradually expose your dog to incremental environmental stimuli. This gradual approach will help them adapt and stay engaged.
New Guinea singing dogs have a natural curiosity about the world. We need to be patient to understand our role in providing them clarity and exposure.
Patience and Consistency
Patience and consistency are essential when working with your dog. You want to build up a strong learning history using fun and repetition. You want your Singer to feel highly reinforced during training times.
As the most ancient breed of domestic dog, Singers have a lot of personality and can take a bit longer to master some tasks. Avoid rushing or becoming frustrated with your dog. Singers can be sensitive! If your dog senses that you are frustrated or angry, it can negatively impact their willingness to engage with you.
Be patient with your New Guinea singing dog. Be consistent in your training methods, cues, and expectations. This helps them understand what is required of them and reinforces positive behaviors over time.
Seeking Professional Guidance
If you and your Singer are facing challenges building engagement or addressing specific behaviors, it is good to ask for help. You can seek professional guidance from a certified dog trainer or ask us. We are here to help.
Remember that understanding your NGSD’s behavior requires a holistic approach. You want to take into account their natural traits, the training methods they’ve been exposed to, the methods of communication from their human, and the environment they are experiencing.
By reframing the notion of "stubbornness" and recognizing the factors that influence behavior, you can build a stronger connection with your singing dog. Patience, consistency, positive reinforcement, and effective communication are key to fostering engagement and creating a harmonious bond between the two of you.