why your dog ignores you

Why your dog doesn't listen to you, part 4

Why your dog doesn't listen to you, part 4

Reason #4: You have rewarded the wrong behavior

Again, dogs are simple in terms of understanding what works versus what doesn’t work. This is a personal favorite of mine - it just makes me laugh in my mind as I watch dogs in the world. “I just don’t know what he does this,” exclaims the exasperated dog owner. Usually, it’s because you’ve somehow reinforced the wrong behavior.

I did this today with Heidi the Rottweiler high stepping in the underwater treadmill rather than walking normally.

Why your dog doesn't listen to you, Part 3

Why your dog doesn't listen to you, Part 3

Dogs they operate in black and white as nature intended, they do not understand gray areas. Your dog spends every interaction with you learning - be sure they are learning what you want. These animals have evolved watching our every move and learning how to live with us.

Consistency in dog training is important with both reinforcement and negative consequences. All organisms seek pleasure and seek to avoid discomfort, save for maybe a few weirdos but that is a totally different conversation.