Training Your Otterhound to Listen to You
Why Won't My Otterhound Listen To Me?
This is a common question that most first-time Otterhound 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 Otterhoundlisten to your commands?
- Do you have to raise your voice every time you want your Otterhoundto listen to you?
- Does your Otterhoundalways 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 Otterhound trainer and an ideal pet parent.
Get Your Otterhound To Listen To You
Before you begin any training, you must first establish yourself as the "ALPHA dog" of your family. Your Otterhound 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 Otterhound something to eat only after you've finished your meal;
- Don’t circle around your Otterhound when he is lying on the floor - make your Otterhoundmove out of your way instead;
- Don't let your Otterhoundset the rules - pay attention to him when you think fit and not whenever he demands;
- Don’t permit your Otterhound to sleep with you in your bed - demarcate his sleeping area clearly.
Once you successfully established yourself as the Alpha, training your Otterhound and making him listen will be a lot easier than you can imagine. Remember, if your Otterhound does not learn to "listen", all your training efforts will be in vain!
Does your Otterhound know his name? Does your Otterhound look at you whenever you call him by his name? This is the first and the most critical step involved in Otterhound Training. If your Otterhound doesn't respond to his name, you cannot have his attention for teaching him any other commands.
To make sure that your Otterhound recognizes his name, take a treat in your hand and hold it away from your body. Call your Otterhound's name. He is most likely to look at the treat in your hand. Continue calling his name until 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 Otterhound 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 Otterhounds respond far better to positive reinforcement than they do to coercion or force.
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