Can Labradoodles be Stubborn? The Keys to Handling a Stubborn Dog

It’s simple to see why Labradoodles have become such a popular dog breed. They are sociable, outgoing, and non-aggressive. They enjoy everyone and everything. They’re also hypoallergenic, which attracts a lot of dog allergy sufferers. This breed is a hybrid between a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle, and while it has many positive characteristics, it also has a touch of stubbornness.

So, Can Labradoodles be stubborn? Labradoodles can be stubborn; taking from both Labradors and poodles, this mix can be a bit stubborn during training, even with their positive character and eagerness to please, reasons why they act stubborn maybe illness, pain, lack of training, or incomplete obedience training.

To know how to handle your labradoodle’s stubbornness and why they are acting stubborn in the first place, keep reading this article.

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Can Labradoodles be stubborn?

Labradoodles are labeled as obstinate when they do not follow their owners. When this happens, the issue of how to teach a stubborn Labradoodle dog arises.

In general, dogs are not born with obstinacy. They opt not to heed instructions as time passes and as they gain experience in this realm. While an obstinate dog may be incorrect in the eyes of his owner, he is correct in his own judgment.

When their dog appears to be getting obstinate, many Labrador owners become irritated. Fortunately, if you understand the cause of your Lab’s obstinacy, you may start to solve the problem and have a better connection with him.

7 Reasons why your Labradoodle is stubborn

The causes for your Labrador’s stubbornness are listed below, along with what makes them more likely to be the major cause.

He/she hasn’t been taught to pay attention to you.

If you haven’t given your Labradoodle any training, it won’t know how to act and will do whatever it wants. It’s doubtful that the way he/she feels like acting will be the same as the way it feels like behaving. This is why it is critical to provide them with extensive training.

You’ve been training him/her while they’re occupied

If you’ve been training then, it’s possible that there’s a problem with the training technique you’ve been employing. If you train them in a distracting setting, it’s possible that there are too many distractions around and they’re not paying attention to you.

You ceased to train him/her

If you have previously trained your dog, he/she may be acting stubborn now because you have stopped training them. This is more likely if they have gotten increasingly obstinate over time. It’s critical to keep providing your Labradoodle training in order for them to remain receptive to your commands.

He/she discovered that listening to you results in receiving stuff he/she doesn’t desire

If you penalize your Labradoodle for doing what you say, he or she may have learned not to do what you say. If you reprimand them when they come to you after misbehaving, for example, they will most likely learn not to come to you instead of misbehaving.

Instead, it would be beneficial to provide them with a lot of positive reinforcement training, beginning with the basics and progressing from there.

All at once instead of step by step

If you did train them, it’s possible that your training approach was the problem. When it comes to training your Labrador, it’s best to begin by teaching it simple commands and work your way up.

He/she is bored

Labradors are supposed to get exercise on a regular basis, and if they don’t, they might start behaving strangely. In general, healthy adult Labradors should get at least an hour of activity every day.

He/she is ill

It might be because he/she is unwell or damaged if he/she has suddenly become stubborn. This is especially likely if he/she has been displaying other symptoms of illness or injury. In this instance, the best course of action is to take them to a veterinarian.

How to train a Stubborn labradoodle?

The first thing to keep in mind while training a Labradoodle is that it will take time and patience, a lot of patience.

Your Labradoodle, on the other hand, will usually pick up training quite fast. But only after you’ve gotten him to listen in the first place. Here are a few tips for properly teaching a Labradoodle while maintaining your bond.

Positive Reinforcement – When training a Labradoodle — or any dog, for that matter – always utilize positive reinforcement. Ignore errors and lavish praise on accomplishments.
Find Their Currency – If your Labradoodle has a favorite object, use it as his currency while training. Labradoodles are extremely intelligent dogs. Yours will pay more attention once he realizes he’ll get his favorite thing.
Repetition — As I previously stated, Labradoodles are intelligent. Because your Labradoodle will most likely make you work to keep his attention, repetition is necessary. When you combine this with short sessions, you’ll need to perform a lot of repetition.
Patience – To balance out a Labradoodle’s silly personality, it takes a lot of patience to train him.
Brief Training Sessions — Due to the Labradoodle’s high energy level and tendency to be flighty, short training sessions are recommended. Training should always be enjoyable, and short sessions assist to maintain it that way.

For a step-by-step guide on training a stubborn dog, make sure to check out my guide to training a stubborn Labrador here. Since Labradoodles are part Labrador, these steps will work just as well with Labradoodles.

And don’t worry, this is a proven-and-tested theory.

5 Mistakes to avoid when handling a stubborn labradoodle

There are numerous intricacies to dog training, but avoiding these typical mistakes will ensure your dog’s success, which will speed up the process. That’s deserving of a couple of joyful tail wags!

Nagging command

Command nagging is one of the most serious issues. When your dog doesn’t answer to a command, you keep repeating it. This is known as command nagging. This frequently occurs when the word “coming” is used. You say it; your dog refuses to comply, so you repeat it again.

Your dog will eventually stop paying attention until you say the term five or six times. You’ve taught your pet that he doesn’t have to answer right away by repeating the cue, and your cue is now “come, come, come.” It’s critical to only say the prompt once. It’s best not to say anything if your dog is distracted and you don’t think he’s listening. Instead, see if you can draw his attention to yourself first.

Misassociation of the cue

Another pitfall that many new trainers get into is poisoning their signals. This happens when you unintentionally link a cue or action to something your dog dislikes, and he stops responding.

For example, you’ve finally caught your dog “come,” but now you’re using it to get him to take a bath, which he despises.

You summon him, he arrives, and you bathe him. When you ask your dog to come the next day, he hesitates. Maybe he won’t come back at all.

If your dog has a particular aversion for anything, avoid utilizing signals in reference to that activity when you initially begin training. You might be able to get away with it once that cue has been reinforced, but not when he’s awake.

Skipping practise sessions in between lessons

A common blunder made by owners is failing to practice in between training sessions.

We all know that practice makes perfect, and dog training is no exception. If you just go to a class once a week, you won’t be able to train your dog to be well-behaved. Make sure you practice every day, but just for short periods of time.

Dogs have the mindset of a human toddler, and their attention spans, like toddlers’, may be brief. You’ll get greater results with 5-to-10-minute sessions for most dogs.

Repetition of training is pointless.

Another no-no in dog training is repeating the same behavior and expecting a different outcome. If you keep using the same training approach and your dog isn’t responding to the cue, STOP! Evaluate your pet’s reactions and devise a fresh strategy.

Training your dog while you’re in a bad mood

Finally, avoid exercising if you’re in a foul mood. When we’re cranky, our patience wears thin, and we’re more likely to become angry at our dog for not doing things right the first time.

Play fetch with your dog or spend some time snuggling if you’ve had a terrible day at work.

To learn more about training your stubborn dog, make sure to also check out my guide to training a stubborn golden retriever here.