WHY IS MY DOG IGNORING ME?
So your dog is ignoring you and you dont like that. Nobody likes being ignored. It even makes some people very angry. They are the ones that tend to get ignored even more as a result.
We like to say that a dog disobeys commands mostly for one of two reasons:
1) They dont understand you.
Because dogs are responding more to your tone than the actual words you are using, if your tone contradicts your command, you may not be giving your dog a clear idea of what you want him to do.
Another related mistake is the practice of asking a dog to do something rather than telling. So, if you say, "Bob, come here" in way that sounds more like "Could you please maybe come here please??? Then you are effectively giving Bob a choice. So tell Bob to come. You dont have to yell or demand, just make it clear that you mean business.
Also, make sure your commands are simple enough. If you are blessed with a dog who understands "Bob, bring me a beer from the fridge," then you dont have to worry too much about this one. Most of us, however, do. Keep your commands short and simple. Make sure they dont sound too alike.
If youve worked through all of these possibilities and your dog still does not seem to understand you, then you likely need more training. For older dogs, there is the added possibility that the hearing is going, so do consider that if it applies. Its another case where hand signals can go a long way.
2) They are ignoring you.
When your dog ignores commands, it means they understand what you want them to do but are deciding not to do it.
But, you ask, how can you tell? How can you tell if your dog is in fact understanding the exchange but has no intention of obeying?
The answer depends a lot on the body language of your dog. If they are showing signs of fear when you are giving training commands (submissive posturing, avoiding eye contact, ears back, tail tucked), then it is more likely that they dont understand. In these cases, owners can make the situation worse by being more forceful. By contrast, if your dog is posturing confidently, and they do not appear stressed, then it is more likely that they have opted not to listen. They may even be defiant - making direct eye contact, even barking at you, and running away when you approach.
This suggests a dominance issue. You will have to take active steps to establish yourself as the top dog, in addition to being a fun person to play with. But there are also a few immediate steps you can take to have more success with a stubborn mutt. Lets return to that all too common scenario of a wayward dog and the heard but unheeded command to "come."
Always:
• use a positive, happy, even excited tone of voice.
• try squatting down when calling. Open your arms as if to suggest an embrace or praise when they arrive.
• if you can, try walking the opposite way. This forces your dog to make a decision: Stay and get left, or go home with you and get dinner.
• Praise your dog whenever they come, no matter how long it takes.
• Praise your dog when they come to you without being asked. Create an environment in which they absolutely love coming over to you.
Never:
• chase after a dog that wont come, unless safety is an issue.
• call your dog to you to reprimand them.
• call your dog over for something they clearly do not enjoy (getting their nails clipped, taking a bath, etc.).
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INFORMATION SOURCE: BY DANIEL STEVENS- "SitStayFetch"
