Think You’ve Got a Stubborn Dog? How to Train a Dog Who Won’t Listen
As a dog trainer, I hear expressions like “My dog is stubborn” or “My dog refuses to listen to me” on a weekly basis. I empathize with dog parents’ frustrations, while also empathizing with another species who can’t talk and who is most often not being defiant or stubborn. Think you’ve got a stubborn dog, or a dog who seems to ignore you or not listen?
Is your dog being stubborn? Is your dog ignoring you?
So what’s happening when your dog seemingly ignores you, and what can you do about it?
We ask and expect a lot of our dogs, sometimes even expecting a new dog in the home to understand all of the house rules and boundaries on the first day!
Even with our language skills, you or I would need time to settle in to a new environment. Dogs need time to settle in as well. It doesn’t mean they can do unwanted things like knocking trash cans over — it means we need to be patient as we begin showing the dog his new home.
Step 1: Be patient when training a new (or old) dog new skills.
Understand that dogs really do need training. They don’t arrive already understanding our human-made house rules.
Step 2: Possess very clear communication skills.
Let’s take a dog continually jumping on people in the home. If one pet parent consistently asks for an incompatible behavior — let’s say a sit — and often rewards that sit, the dog will begin to sit and will cease jumping if he gets zero out of it.
But then when the other pet parent comes home from work, he or she enjoys the dog jumping up to say hello and inadvertently reinforces that behavior by playing with the dog, perhaps even patting him on the sides and talking joyfully to him. This dog is getting very mixed messages.
Some dogs are good at weaving their way through people in the same home reinforcing a behavior one day and other people correcting that same behavior another day. Most dogs are simply confused because we haven’t communicated the behavior we do want clearly enough. Agree on your house rules before you bring a dog into your home, and then all work together to reinforce the behavior wanted.
Step 3: Repetition, repetition, repetition.
I train new skills at home first because it’s a quiet, private space where I can control what’s happening in the environment. Imagine a young elementary school student trying to learn math problems with other kids running around the playground, chasing each other and laughing. It’s hard to focus.
You can set your training sessions up for success by first teaching your dog in a calm setting. Once you have reinforced your dog’s new skill with terrific food many, many times in the home, and once he’s giving you the asked-for behavior 90 percent of the time in that environment, then take it to the backyard or front porch (on leash in unfenced areas).
Be aware of your dog’s incredibly powerful nose that kicks into high gear outside or in new environments. You could first do a sniffing nose walk around your backyard and then begin the training session. Or, ask for something the dog knows well, such as a sit and just after he sits, tell him “Let’s go explore!” and walk or run around the yard.
Step 4: Realize that some things are harder than others for dogs.
Dogs do what works — for them. Therefore, it’s in our own best interest to have the behaviors we want for our dog work best for them as well. Two skills that seem hardest for dog parents to teach consistently are “leave it” and a solid recall. Both skills are vital and can even be life saving.
What is involved from the dog’s point of view in these two skills? His nose. It takes him right to that delicious piece of hamburger meat you accidentally dropped on the kitchen floor. And his nose is leading him to run away from you at a dead run while he chases the scent of the wild rabbit that hopped through his yard.
Instead of fighting that powerful nose, work with it. For example, when teaching “leave it,” ask your dog to leave a boring piece of kibble. The second he removes his nose from it, mark with a “Yes!” and give him a much better-smelling meat reward. A dog can learn to leave things once he understands that doing so will get him a much better reward.
Teaching even a stubborn dog a good recall
Entire books and DVDs have been created to help dog parents teach a solid recall, something all dogs should know. While we don’t have the space here to delve deep into this cue, I can give you some quick pointers.
Begin teaching a recall off leash inside your home. Use your cue word to call your dog in for meals. Use your cue to call your dog for a walk. Reinforce recalls with truly wonderful meat or cheese reinforcers when your dog does come to you. Call your dog five to 10 times a day in your home and back up as he comes bounding to you to engage him even more.
Praise and treat, praise and treat. When he is super excited to come to you, take it outside to your backyard or other calm, fenced location. Do not punish a dog who is coming to you, even if it took him longer than you wished.
The final word on teaching a stubborn dog or a dog who seemingly doesn’t listen
All in all, it’s far more likely that we need to take a step back in our own communication skills than it is that a dog is purposefully ignoring us. We have the bigger brain (and thumbs!), so let’s work to employ that intelligence and set our dogs up to succeed.
Still need help training a stubborn dog?
So, what if you have done all the recommended steps above and Fido STILL ignores you? Here are some other things to consider:
- What reinforcers are you using and are they truly exciting for your dog? Some dogs, for example, will do anything for a chance to play fetch, so a ball outranks a piece of cheese.
- Is the skill too new for the environment you are asking your dog to demonstrate?
- Have you insufficiently trained the skill in a calm setting first?
- If your dog is ignoring your cue, back up in his training to the last spot where he was
performing well, and start anew from that spot. - Keep in mind that some dogs do seemingly go a bit deaf as they go through adolescence. Keep with the program, and you will have a nicely trained mature dog on the other side of the teenage years.
Thumbnail: Photography ©LightFieldStudios | Getty Images.
Read Next: Whale Eyes in Dogs — What It Means When the Whites of Your Dog’s Eyes Show
zithromax over the counter https://zithromax.science/
zithromax drug
Read now. Get information now.
ivermectin 90 mg
Long-Term Effects. Cautions.
Read here. Generic Name.
https://stromectolst.com/
earch our drug database. Drugs information sheet.
Definitive journal of drugs and therapeutics. Definitive journal of drugs and therapeutics.
https://stromectolst.com/
All trends of medicament. Long-Term Effects.
drug information and news for professionals and consumers. safe and effective drugs are available.
avodart brand name
Top 100 Searched Drugs. Top 100 Searched Drugs.
Everything about medicine. Generic Name.
https://levaquin.science/ buying levaquin online
Drugs information sheet. drug information and news for professionals and consumers.
Comprehensive side effect and adverse reaction information. Drug information.
https://mobic.store where buy cheap mobic without a prescription
drug information and news for professionals and consumers. Read now.
Best and news about drug. Get information now.
where to get levaquin no prescription
Commonly Used Drugs Charts. Get warning information here.
Definitive journal of drugs and therapeutics. Everything what you want to know about pills.
https://nexium.top/ can you get cheap nexium without a prescription
Get here. Medscape Drugs & Diseases.
Read now. Drugs information sheet.
over the counter amoxicillin canada
Drug information. Everything information about medication.Amox
Everything about medicine. Read here.
https://azithromycins.com/ zithromax cost
Cautions. Read here.
Comprehensive side effect and adverse reaction information. Medscape Drugs & Diseases.
https://azithromycins.com/ zithromax 250
Medscape Drugs & Diseases. Definitive journal of drugs and therapeutics.
Best and news about drug. Read information now.
amoxicillin no prescription
Medicament prescribing information. Generic Name.Amox
Get information now. All trends of medicament.
get clomid online
earch our drug database. Commonly Used Drugs Charts.
Everything information about medication. earch our drug database.
natural remedies for ed
Learn about the side effects, dosages, and interactions. Some are medicines that help people when doctors prescribe.
Some are medicines that help people when doctors prescribe. Everything information about medication.
https://edonlinefast.com
Definitive journal of drugs and therapeutics. Read information now.
Definitive journal of drugs and therapeutics. Definitive journal of drugs and therapeutics.
cheap ed pills
Get warning information here. Read here.
Drugs information sheet. Learn about the side effects, dosages, and interactions.
men’s ed pills
Read now. Everything what you want to know about pills.
Read now. Get information now.
over the counter erectile dysfunction pills
Everything what you want to know about pills. earch our drug database.
Everything what you want to know about pills. Read now.
https://edonlinefast.com
Actual trends of drug. Definitive journal of drugs and therapeutics.
safe and effective drugs are available. Drug information.
how to get prescription drugs without doctor
All trends of medicament. Cautions.
Cautions. Top 100 Searched Drugs.
how to get prescription drugs without doctor
Some are medicines that help people when doctors prescribe. Commonly Used Drugs Charts.
All trends of medicament. What side effects can this medication cause?
https://canadianfast.com/
Everything information about medication. Everything about medicine.
Medscape Drugs & Diseases. Some trends of drugs.
https://canadianfast.com/
Best and news about drug. Definitive journal of drugs and therapeutics.
Read information now. Actual trends of drug.
https://canadianfast.com/
What side effects can this medication cause? Definitive journal of drugs and therapeutics.
Prescription Drug Information, Interactions & Side. Read information now.
pfizer viagra coupons from pfizer
Get here. Read information now.
Generic Name. Commonly Used Drugs Charts.
https://viagrapillsild.com/
Medscape Drugs & Diseases. Everything information about medication.
Comprehensive side effect and adverse reaction information. Some are medicines that help people when doctors prescribe.
https://viagrapillsild.com/
Medicament prescribing information. Everything information about medication.
Get warning information here. Learn about the side effects, dosages, and interactions.
is cialis over the counter in usa
Drugs information sheet. Medscape Drugs & Diseases.
Get warning information here. Read here.
https://tadalafil1st.com/
Prescription Drug Information, Interactions & Side. Medscape Drugs & Diseases.
earch our drug database. Some trends of drugs.
https://tadalafil1st.com/
safe and effective drugs are available. earch our drug database.
drug information and news for professionals and consumers. Drug information.
https://tadalafil1st.com/
Prescription Drug Information, Interactions & Side. Drug information.
Read information now. Medscape Drugs & Diseases.
https://tadalafil1st.online/
Cautions. Get warning information here.
Top 100 Searched Drugs. Generic Name.
https://propeciaf.store/ can you get generic propecia without rx
Long-Term Effects. Some are medicines that help people when doctors prescribe.
Cautions. Actual trends of drug.
order zithromax without prescription
Drugs information sheet. Get warning information here.
Everything information about medication. Everything about medicine.
prednisone 5mg over the counter
Commonly Used Drugs Charts. Medicament prescribing information.
[url=http://flagyla.online/]generic flagyl cost[/url]
prescription without a doctor’s prescription – https://cheapdr.top/#
miglior sito per comprare viagra online: viagra generico recensioni gel per erezione in farmacia
doxycycline 100mg tablets – https://doxycyclinesale.pro/#
best pharmacy prednisone – https://prednisonesale.pro/#
where to get cytotec pills – https://cytotecsale.pro/#
zithromax buy – https://zithromax.pro/#
[url=https://tretinoincrm.online/]tretinoin 0.05 cream buy online[/url]
best over the counter ed pills that work fast https://overthecounter.pro/#
cheap prescriptions https://pillswithoutprescription.pro/#
cheap erectile dysfunction pill: https://edpills.pro/#
family pharmacy online https://pillswithoutprescription.pro/#
india online pharmacy https://indianpharmacy.pro/#
tadalafil capsules 20mg – https://tadalafilfst.com/#
best prices for on line levitra Schultz J, Dollenmaier G, Molling K
canadian pharmacies for cialis – canadian pharmacy rx pharmacies with no prescription
viagra at canadian pharmacy – reliable canadian pharmacy online pharmacy mail order
family discount pharmacy – pharmacies with no prescription legitimate mexican pharmacy online
legitimate online pharmacies india – canadian pharmacy generic online pharmacy reviews
discount pharmacies – list of trusted canadian pharmacies prescription drugs online without doctor
canada drugs without prescription – canadian pharmacies selling cialis reputable mexican pharmacies online
best online drugstore – reliable online drugstore mexican pharmacy drugs
canadian pharmacies list: meds without a doctor s prescription canada recommended canadian pharmacies
drugs from canada – https://canadiandrugs.pro/#
cheap canadian pharmacy online https://canadiandrugs.pro/# canadian pharmacy phone number
cheapest online pharmacy india: top 10 pharmacies in india top online pharmacy india
cialis super active: soft cialis canadian pharmacy how can i get cialis in australia
buy cipro cheap https://ciproantibiotic.pro/# buy cipro online
compare prednisone prices https://prednisonepills.pro/# – purchase prednisone
indianpharmacy com https://indiapharmfd.com/# – cheapest online pharmacy india
Many vaginal moisturisers contain bioadhesive polymers that transport up to 60 times their mass in water how long does viagra 100mg last
best ed treatment pills: cheap erectile dysfunction best drug for ed
non prescription erection pills https://edpill.pro/# – treatment for ed
no script pharmacy https://fastpills.pro/# pharmacies online
dark markets 2023 dark web access
mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa https://mexicanpharmacy.life/# – best mexican online pharmacies
dark web websites dark market onion
Pingback:meritking
Pingback:grandpashabet
Pingback:meritking
Pingback:meritking giriş
Accumulating data and studies Blood Sugar Levels Chart By Age does atenolol increased blood sugar have can doxycycline raise blood sugar examined the relationship between EMT and hyperglycemia, mostly focusing on diabetic renal injury 79 81, diabetic vascular disease, and peritoneal dialysis cheap cialis generic online
Pingback:fuck google
Pingback:child porn
Pingback:porn
Engelmann, U how to buy viagra The levels of some trace elements in the dietary of the population inhabiting central areas of Ukraine
Alfa lipoik asit hangi durumlarda kullanılır?
Rüyada Akan Suda Yürümek Nedir?
Pingback:bir daha bu kelımeye tanıtm çıkarsan ananı sikerim
Pingback:grandpashabet
Pingback:grandpashabet
Pingback:child porn
Pingback:child porn