#Middlebury
DEAR PAW’S CORNER: I have an 11-month-old Golden Retriever puppy, Jake, that I adopted from the shelter about six months ago. Jake won’t listen to any of my commands. My roommate said that I’m too shrill and that I’m not consistent, neither of which make sense to me. How can I get Jake to listen? – Roberta S., via email
DEAR ROBERTA: Without being on hand to see you give commands, I’m going to guess that your roommate feels your voice is too high or doesn’t have enough “authority” when giving Jake commands. The other part – that you’re not consistent – could be either that the correct command isn’t given consistently, or that Jake doesn’t get regular obedience training sessions.
You may feel you work with Jake plenty of times during the week and he should be catching on. A professional trainer may feel differently.
And that’s what I’m going to suggest: Take Jake to a professional trainer. Group classes are affordable, or you can schedule one-on-one sessions. A combination of both is often very effective and provides an opportunity to socialize Jake. You’ll need to be present at all the sessions, because you will get training, too.
One thing you’ll learn is how to develop a “voice” for giving commands. A trainer can give you instant feedback on how to shape your voice so that Jake recognizes that You Mean Business. You’ll learn how often to work with Jake at home on basic obedience. You’ll get solid techniques that will have Jake responding quickly to your commands, with no sidelong looks.
Look up a pro ASAP. The faster you and Jake learn to work together, the happier you’ll both be.
Send your questions, comments or tips to ask@pawscorner.com.
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