Samoyeds are working dogs that are intelligent and independent problem solvers. However, these inherent characteristics can cause some issues when training Samoyeds as they can be disinclined to follow anyone they don’t see as above them.
Are Samoyeds stubborn? Yes, Samoyeds can be stubborn since they are intelligent dogs and try to take charge if they think they can. Our job as owners of Samoyeds is to take control first and set boundaries to keep our Samoyeds in check.
Today we will talk about Samoyeds being stubborn, and how to turn them into obedient dogs. Keep reading to learn how best to train a stubborn Samoyed and how obedient these dogs can be once they have the proper training.
Are Samoyeds Stubborn?
Samoyeds have a mind of their own and will not do something if they don’t want to. Samoyeds wish to be the boss and be stubborn if they think they can get away with it. It’s essential that their owners not only take charge of them but consistently show that they mean what they say. Otherwise, their Samoyed is likely to ignore any commands.
The trick is to be firm but not mean with a Samoyed. Force isn’t going to work with them, and it is more likely to have the opposite effect. Samoyed owners should show a lot of excitement when their dogs obey a command, so the Samoyed knows that following their owner’s wishes will result in a more fulfilling relationship.
Are Samoyeds obedient?
While it may take some time to start training a Samoyed, they are incredibly loyal dogs that bond with their owners, making them perfect candidates for obedience training. Once they have some training, Samoyeds are very dedicated to their owners and will gladly follow commands because they want to make their owners happy.
However, remember that Samoyeds are easily bored, so unless there’s enough to keep their attention, they may decide to go off and do something else that they find more entertaining. Samoyeds are smart enough to know that their owners can’t make them do anything they don’t want to, so it is crucial to have a good relationship between the owner and Samoyed.
Are Samoyeds hard to train?
Samoyeds respond best to voice commands and will gladly follow the orders of a fair and consistent owner. However, it can be challenging to train them if their owner hasn’t taken the time to establish a working relationship with their Samoyed.
Due to the difficulty of establishing a good working relationship with their Samoyeds, owners are encouraged to attend a training class to help them. Not only with this help owners ensure that their dogs know they are in charge, but it will also allow their Samoyeds to socialize with other people and dogs.
What makes Samoyeds challenging to train?
Samoyeds have a few personality traits that can make it challenging to train them, which is why most Samoyed owners seek professionals to help. These difficult traits are:
- Stubbornness: Samoyeds are some of the most stubborn dogs out there and will refuse to do something if they don’t want to do it. Since training is all about getting a dog to behave in a certain way to voice commands, Samoyed’s stubbornness can make training very difficult.
- Boredom: Samoyeds are very intelligent, which means they can learn all manner of tricks and commands once their training is complete, but it also means that they are easily bored if the training isn’t engaging enough. They are likely to wander off to play with a toy and dig up the yard if their training doesn’t entertain them.
- Independence: Samoyeds like to feel free to wander around outside and do as they please with their time. If they feel like their owner is taking away their freedom, they act up during training, making it almost impossible to work with them.
Is training a Samoyed myself a good idea?
After finding out how difficult it can be to train a Samoyed, many owners may be discouraged from training their dog themselves. It’s best to start training while they are still puppies and can develop better habits. Habits like wanting to make their owners happy and finding joy in playing obediently with them.
However, older Samoyeds can be far more challenging to train since they already have habits that dictate whether they will be willing to obey a command or not. In this case, most owners are better off seeking professional help with training.
How much time does training take?
As I mentioned above, Samoyeds have a few personality traits that can make training challenging, so how much time should their owners expect to put into training? Is it something they should do every day or will that bore their Samoyed?
Samoyeds are intelligent dogs, but they can’t remember a rick or task they’ve only done once. TRaining only once or twice a month won’t be enough to let the training stick, so you will need to schedule consistent times to train with your dog or take them to a professional trainer.
The more frequently a Samoyed trains, the better, but that doesn’t mean overworking or stressing them. A young Samoyed should only train for 45 minutes maximum in a single day, so they don’t get tired or bored. A Samoyed who takes well to training may increase their training time to 60 minutes, but anything over will be too much.
What should I look for in a dog trainer?
Many Samoyed owners decide to get a dog trainer instead of trying to train their Samoyed themselves. Enrolling them in an obedience class is an excellent way of giving them a good foundation for their training, especially if they are still puppies.
To pick a dog trainer:
- Find someone who lets the whole family take part in the training. Everyone in the family will eventually interact with the Samoyed, so it’s best to have everyone get involved in the training. Hence, they know how to interact correctly with their dog, and the Samoyed knows to obey them. Even children should take part in the training.
- Find someone who understands how dogs learn. The trainer should have a firm understanding of how dogs know and understand tasks, how they communicate, and why they behave as they do.
- Find someone who is friendly. A dog should learn in an environment they feel safe and happy, so a friendly trainer is the way to go. However, the trainer should also be friendly towards the owners since they will need to work together regularly to establish a working relationship between dog and owner.
- Find someone with previous training experience. Never work with a dog trainer that doesn’t have a background in dog training. It would be best to find someone with a Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers to have peace of mind about choosing a trainer.
It may take a few tries to find a dog trainer that gets along not only with the Samoyed but their owners as well. Keep looking, and don’t be afraid to move on from a trainer that doesn’t seem to fit.
How do you discipline a Samoyed?
While a Samoyed’s owner will need to assert that they are in charge, harsh training methods will not help them with their training. If a Samoyed doesn’t respect their owner, they are doubtful to obey any command given to them.
Owners will need to be firm and consistent when disciplining their Samoyeds. If we want to train them not the bark, we will need to constantly tell them “no” and “stop” in a firm but not aggressive voice whenever they start barking. If we want to keep them off the furniture, we have to ensure that we never allow them to lay on the couch or our beds.
Final Thoughts
Sayomeds can be very stubborn if they believe they can get away with it. This stubbornness is why it’s best to start training a Samoyed while still puppies and have yet to get into the habit of disobeying commands. The best course of action is to establish a strong working relationship between the owner and Samoyed to know that they should follow commands.
Consistent training of a Samoyed is the best way to ensure that they don’t let their stubbornness get in the way of a fulfilling relationship with their owners. Samoyed owners can choose to train their dog themselves as long as they know they can keep up with it daily, or they can hire a professional trainer to help establish the best practices with their dog.