The Stubborn Dog

Are you trying to train your dog and all you’re getting in return is a blank stare that seems to say, “I don’t do that”? Does your dog just refuse to respond to anything you ask? Well, let’s look at some reasons why your dog is being uncooperative and some possible solutions.

Are you making your commands clear to your dog? Dogs respond best to simple, one-word commands. If you use more than one word your dog gets confused. Also, work on one command at a time. Expecting your dog to figure out four different commands at a time can be daunting for the dog and lead you to frustration.

Are you training a hungry dog? Using treats is an easy way to reward your dog for a job well done. If your dog has just eaten or if they self-feed, you’ve lost one of your best tools to convince your dog it’s fun and rewarding to be trained.

What do you do when your dog ignores you? Do you give them lots of attention trying to coax them to participate? Think about the message this sends. You ignored me, so now I’m rewarding the negative behavior by giving you lots of attention. Next time, you might ignore me twice as much! If this sounds familiar, then try ignoring your dog the next time they ignore you. Save the affection for positive behavior.

Does your dog seem to have trouble remembering the rules? Maybe you’re not being consistent. If you try to train your dog not to jump up on everyone who comes into the house and then you allow him to jump up on you when you get home from work, the dog is getting mixed messages. Sometimes it’s okay to jump, sometimes it’s not. You need to remember that a negative behavior is always a negative behavior. If you can’t remember, you can’t expect your dog to remember, either!