Training Your Schipperke to Listen to You
Why Won't My Schipperke Listen To Me?
This is a common question that most first-time Schipperke owners ask me. Before I answer your question, let me ask you a few instead:
- Do you use cookies, collars, head halters or clickers to make your Schipperke listen to your commands?
- Do you have to raise your voice every time you want your Schipperke to listen to you?
- Does your Schipperke always come or sit on command - anytime and anywhere you want him to?
If your answers are mostly in the negative, its time you seriously reconsider your role as a sincere Schipperke trainer and an ideal pet parent.
Get Your Schipperke To Listen To You
Before you begin any training, you must first establish yourself as the "ALPHA dog" of your family. Your Schipperke must know that you’re the leader of the pack and it is YOU who is in charge.
Here is a list of simple DO's and DONT's that you must follow if you want to be the Alpha:
- Always go out or come in through the door first - remember you are the leader;
- Always eat first - give your Schipperke something to eat only after you've finished your meal;
- Don’t circle around your Schipperke when he is lying on the floor - make your Schipperke move out of your way instead;
- Don't let your Schipperke set the rules - pay attention to him when you think fit and not whenever he demands;
- Don’t permit your Schipperke to sleep with you in your bed - demarcate his sleeping area clearly.
Once you successfully established yourself as the Alpha, training your Schipperke and making him listen will be a lot easier than you can imagine. Remember, if your Schipperke does not learn to "listen", all your training efforts will be in vain!
Does your Schipperke know his name? Does your Schipperke look at you whenever you call him by his name? This is the first and the most critical step involved in Schipperke Training. If your Schipperke doesn't respond to his name, you cannot have his attention for teaching him any other commands.
To make sure that your Schipperke recognizes his name, take a treat in your hand and hold it away from your body. Call your Schipperke's name. He is most likely to look at the treat in your hand. Continue calling his name untill he turns and looks at your eyes. Give him the treat immediately. Repeat this exercise by holding the treat in the other hand. Once you're sure that your Schipperke has learnt to recognize his name, just call his name and reward him for looking at you by petting or with a hug.
You must understand that Schipperkes respond far better to positive reinforcement than they do to coercion or force.
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