jacksonville dog trainer

Why your dog doesn't listen to you, Part 5: Consequences

Why your dog doesn't listen to you, Part 5: Consequences

Now, this is for the dogs that have had some consistent training and understand what is expected of them. Yet, there has never been a real consequence for ignoring a command or poor behavior. Consequences look different for every dog, but they must be timely, fair, and consistent.

This category of why your dog doesn’t listen most often applies to the dogs that have had the “gentle parenting approach” that often leads to misbehaved dogs that do whatever they want and are reinforced, often unbeknownst to the handler, for it.

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.

Bored Dog? A few simple tips to help.

Bored Dog? A few simple tips to help.

There are plenty of fun and safe options to ensure your dog is getting mental stimulation, exercise, and a healthy dose of novelty. It is up to you to provide this – dogs often will not self-exercise, they certainly don’t self-train, and they can easily get bored. Here are a few ways to help ward of canine boredom.