Why Won’t My Dog Listen to Me?
There aren’t a few things more frustrating than a dog who completely ignores you. Especially if you have worked for weeks or months to correct bad behaviors, perhaps even paying for pricey training workshops, only to have your furry friend turn around and go ‘Nah, don’t want to’.
Why does this happen? Why do some dogs struggle to learn? And how can you make that training and correcting stick, even when you don’t have a piece of cheese at the ready?
Common Reasons Why Your Dog May Ignore You
There can be a number of reasons for your dog’s behavior, and most of them are normally due to something bigger than just a bad attitude. Try to observe your dog to figure out their responses, as well as any changes.
They Are Scared
Fear can easily throw out a lot of good training. These may not even be big fears, but even smaller fears could trigger your dog. For example, they may tug on a leash because a car startled them, or act aggressively towards a stranger because they’re genuinely afraid.
Sometimes these anxiety triggers can be very odd, or create unusual behaviors that don’t look like normal fear responses. E.g. calmly going the wrong way to get back to the house while on a walk.
In this case, pushing them is completely useless. As annoyed as you may be, try to soothe them or distract them before you resume your training. Try and see the bigger picture, pay attention to their body language, and be patient.
You can try to acclimatize them to their triggers before you start hardcore training. This can include more small-scale socializing, walking at less busy times, and so on. If your dog is very reactive, especially if they respond aggressively, then it may be good to consult with a vet about your options.[1]
They Are Confused
Dog training thrives on consistency. While dogs can learn more complex tasks, they don’t have the ability to reason very well. If you live in a house with multiple people, this can be an issue.
For example, one person could be trying to teach your dog not to jump on the couch, while another invites them up for cuddles. Your dog is not going to understand what’s happening.
This could also be because you are using multiple phrases for the same task. A dog may learn the command ‘sit’ or ‘come’, but if you are yelling ‘sit down’ or ‘come here’ then they may get confused about what they’re actually supposed to be doing.
Try to make sure your whole family is on the same page and are using the same commands. As time goes on, your dog may learn to pick up subtle differences, but consistency is the fastest way to good training.
They Are Distracted
The world is very big and very interesting - while your training commands are not.
Sometimes a dog is just too excited to follow their learning protocols. At other times, they may simply not realize that you are directing a command at them. This is especially true of young dogs and puppies - as they have a much shorter attention span.
Unless it's a dangerous situation, try to stay calm to avoid over-exciting your dog. You may need a little positive reinforcement, such as a treat, to remind them of why it's important to listen to you. You could also try calling their name before issuing the command to make sure you have their attention.
Older dogs may also struggle to keep up like they used to or suffer from issues such as hearing loss or cognitive problems. Dog owners will need to be patient with their old dogs and try to make sure their dog understands what is happening.
Talk to a vet if your older dog has stopped obeying commands that they used to know well.
Stubbornness
Sometimes a dog is genuinely just stubborn. While some breeds are more likely to be obstinate, it may not necessarily be their fault.
Some dogs may have come from a household where they were allowed to get their way the whole time, or they may not understand why they need to obey you or do not respect you as an authority figure.
Of course, dogs don’t understand concepts such as ‘authority figures’, but whether they follow you may depend if they view you as a leader. This doesn’t mean you need to bully or dominate them, but it may involve some changes.
Your dog needs to trust you completely. This means that you need to be consistent. Consistent behavior from you reassures your dog of both your and their positions in the family.
Consistency also involves setting and enforcing boundaries. Do not give in to your dog’s bad behavior. If they are very stubborn and refuse to listen, you can try other methods to stop them, such as using a baby gate to exclude them from the living room if they keep jumping on furniture.
You can exercise your authority and discipline your dog calmly, without becoming overly upset or giving in. Try to be reasonable too. There is a difference between ‘no’ and ‘enough’ commands.
For example, trying to train a dog to NEVER bark is impossible, unlike jumping on guests, it can't be a ‘no’ command. However, you can teach them when barking is inappropriate, such as when they are going to bed, or an ‘enough’ command. This will make it easier for your dog to understand and obey.
My Dog Doesn’t Listen Outside of Training Class!
There could be many reasons why your dog ignores you at home after doing very well in your basic obedience class.
The class probably takes place in an environment that your dog is used to and is easy to focus in. Meanwhile, it can be a lot harder to use those same principles when they are now in a distracting environment that could make them anxious or excited. This can normally be improved with a bit of consistency.
Moving Away From Reward Based Training
Another reason your dog may follow basic commands from you in class but not at home is because there is a treat readily visible in your hand. While positive reinforcement is vital to training, it won’t take them too long to learn that the command in class means treat, while at home means no treat.
Unless they’re in a habit, your dog doesn't really want to do something if there's nothing in it for them. But you can’t go on giving them treats every time forever, right?
Moving away from constant treat-based training should be done slowly. For example, instead of holding the treat in your hand when giving verbal commands, consider placing it on the table in sight of your dog. If they follow the command, then give them the treat. After a while, this can go from a treat for every command to a treat for every second command, and so on.[2]
This doesn’t mean you need to stop giving treats entirely. You can also save tasty high value treats for special occasions while giving less fatty treats (such as kibble) for more mundane everyday tasks.
Never go “cold turkey” on treats, as this will probably just undo all of your training and frustrate your dog. Focus on treats becoming more of a reward than an automatic reaction. You can also substitute other rewards, such as giving them a head pat or an ear scratch for a job well done.
Avoid Punishments When Training
This isn’t just for the sake of your dog. Punishments when training can often be counterproductive. For example, yelling at or smacking an over-excited dog is only going to excite them more.
On top of that, many dogs will just resort back to the behavior when the punishment stops. Locking your dog away for misbehaving may give them a chance to calm down and de-stress, but they may just go back to their previous behavior once they are out of confinement. The same can be said for collar pressure and other common punishments.
If you must use punishments, it is better to use ‘distance punishments’ such as a spray bottle that they don’t see in your hand. However, rewarding the behavior you want to see is a lot more effective than punishing bad behavior, as it gives the dog motivation to obey.[3]
Set Reasonable Expectations
Be reasonable in what you expect from your dog. It's unlikely you are going to be able to completely cure them of every bad behavior. Some dogs may also just have an easier time learning and following instructions than others.
You can try to make following good behaviors a little bit easier by trying to tend to your dog's needs. This doesn’t mean giving in, but rather providing accommodations.
For example, if you know your dog is reactive, try walking them at a time when there aren’t many people around. If you don’t want them sleeping on furniture, make sure they have a comfortable bed near you.
You can also try to accommodate them and ease training through lifestyle and equipment changes. For example, a dog howling at night might be anxious, consider getting a vet’s opinion or giving them a comfortable vest.
If your dog has a problem with pulling the leash, consider getting an anti-pull harness. There are many stylish options available. If you are interested, consider checking out Sparkpaws’ Comfort Control No-Pull Dog Harness Collection.
NOTE: This does not mean neglecting your training. It is still vital for a dog to learn to behave when walking, not bark excessively, etc. Rather, consider certain changes that can help your dog stick to their training a little bit easier, rather than struggling to obey it.
Conclusion
Dogs don’t have the intelligence to act with malicious intent. They tend to avoid listening to you because-
- They are scared and their fear overrides their training.
- They are confused, especially if you are using multiple commands for the same action.
- They are distracted because they are either too excited to listen and obey, or they don’t realize you are giving the command to them.
- They are stubborn because they have been previously allowed to get away with misbehavior and don’t respect you as an authority figure.
Consistency is a big part of training. Using consistent, easy-to-understand commands regularly will help a dog to understand what is expected of them. This, along with enforcing rules and boundaries, helps your dog to respect, trust, and follow you more readily.
Some dogs don’t listen because they are in a more distracting environment compared to their training class, or because they don’t receive treats. It is good to move away from food-based training, but you should never stop giving treats altogether.
Avoid punishments when training. At worst, they will just upset and frustrate your dog, and at best they are likely to just ignore them when the threat is gone. Rather, focus on rewarding good behavior.
Try to help your dog by being reasonable. This can involve being patient with them, reducing unreasonable expectations of behavior, and providing accommodation to make obedience a little easier.
At the end of the day, patience and consistency are the two biggest things that are going to help your dog to listen. Continue with your training and keep calm.
Happy Walking!
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