What if a dog doesn't obey instructions

When we call the dog's name with full anticipation and give commands, longing for it to respond quickly and execute obediently as usual, but only get its indifferent gaze or the back of it playing on its own in return, the sense of loss and helplessness at that moment is beyond words. Looking at the once obedient dog becoming "rebellious", we are both confused and anxious, not knowing what went wrong. A dog's failure to obey commands is not that it is deliberately opposing us. Behind every instance of "disobedience" lies complex reasons and unmet needs. As owners, we need to explore the root cause with understanding and patience, use scientific methods and warm love to re-establish effective communication with the dog, and let it become that well-behaved furry friend again.

From the perspective of professional pet behavior science, there are various factors that may cause a dog to not obey commands. Firstly, improper training methods are one of the common reasons. If during the training process, the commands are not clear and explicit enough, or the ways of giving commands are inconsistent, the dog will feel confused and not know exactly what the owner wants it to do. For example, sometimes we say "sit down", and sometimes we say "sit properly". For the dog, these may be two different commands, thus causing it to be unable to execute accurately. In addition, the timing and environment of training are also crucial. If the training is carried out when the dog's attention is not focused, such as when there are other things that attract it around, or if the command is given in a noisy and chaotic environment, it is very difficult for the dog to focus on the owner's command, and naturally, it cannot obey. Just as it is difficult for us to concentrate on completing a task in a noisy environment, the dog also needs a relatively quiet training environment with fewer distractions.

The lack of an effective reward mechanism will also make the dog lose its enthusiasm for obeying commands. Dogs learn and remember commands through conditioned reflexes. When they complete an action according to the command and do not receive timely and sufficient rewards, such as delicious snacks, enthusiastic praise, or gentle strokes, they will think that obeying commands is meaningless, thus reducing their willingness to execute commands. On the contrary, if a dog gets the owner's attention (even if it is criticism) when it behaves wrongly, for example, when it does not obey the command, it may mistakenly think that this behavior can attract the owner's attention, and then become more reluctant to obey commands.

The dog's physical and psychological state will also affect its degree of obedience to commands. When the dog is not feeling well, in a state of pain or illness, it will focus its attention on its own discomfort and have no energy to pay attention to the owner's commands. For example, if a dog suffers from arthritis, the joint pain will make it difficult to move. At this time, asking it to execute commands such as "stand up" or "jump" is naturally impossible. In terms of psychology, if the dog is in emotions such as anxiety, fear, and tension, it will also affect its acceptance and execution of commands. For example, when it arrives in a new and strange environment or encounters something that scares it, the dog will ignore the owner's commands due to unease.

In addition, the differences in dog breeds and personalities are also factors that lead to the failure to obey commands. Some dog breeds are naturally independent and have relatively low obedience, such as Huskies and Afghan Hounds. Training them to obey commands may require more time and patience. And each dog has a unique personality. Some dogs are lively and active and are easily distracted by external things; some dogs are more stubborn and reluctant to obey easily.

In the face of a dog's failure to obey commands, we need to adopt scientific and effective solutions. Firstly, we should optimize the training methods. Ensure that the commands are simple, clear, and consistent, and use the same tone of voice and actions to give commands every time. For example, when training the "sit down" command, say "sit down" every time and at the same time, cooperate with a downward gesture, so that the dog can gradually form a fixed conditioned reflex. Choose a time period when the dog's attention is concentrated and the environment is quiet for training. For example, when the dog is hungry, its desire for food will make its attention more concentrated, and the training effect at this time is better. You can start with simple commands and gradually increase the difficulty, following the principle of step by step.

Establishing an effective reward mechanism is crucial. When the dog obeys the command and completes the action, give the reward immediately, so that it closely associates the command with the reward. The rewards can be diversified. In addition to snacks, they can also be playtime, praise, etc. At the same time, avoid giving too much attention when the dog behaves wrongly, and reduce the reinforcement of wrong behaviors. If the dog does not obey the command, do not scold it loudly or physically punish it. Instead, patiently guide it to execute again, and give the reward when it completes the action.

Paying attention to the dog's physical and mental health is equally important and cannot be ignored. Take the dog for regular physical examinations to ensure its good health. If you find that the dog is not feeling well, treat it in a timely manner and carry out training after it recovers. In daily life, interact with the dog more, understand its emotional state, and give it sufficient company and love. When the dog is in a strange environment or encounters something it is afraid of, the owner should soothe it in a timely manner, help it relieve anxiety and fear, and make it feel safe.

For dogs of different breeds and personalities, personalized training methods should be adopted. For dog breeds with strong independence, more patience and understanding can be given during training, and the methods of guidance and encouragement can be used to stimulate their initiative. For lively and easily distracted dogs, the interest of training can be increased, such as using toys for interactive training to attract their attention. For stubborn dogs, the owner needs to be more determined and patient, and use a gentle but firm attitude to let them understand the importance of obeying commands.

A dog's failure to obey commands is a manifestation of poor communication between it and us. As owners, what we need to do is to become their "interpreter", understand the reasons behind their behaviors, and use scientific methods and full love to rebuild the communication bridge with them. Every training and guidance session is an exchange and deepening of the relationship between us and the dog. We believe that with our efforts, the dog will surely obey commands again, cooperate tacitly with us, and jointly enjoy every beautiful moment in life.