Why won't my dog listen to me?

I had a training appointment several towns over.  I had asked the owner for specific directions.  Once I was off the main roads, my directions became unclear and incomplete.  The forth right turn was actually the sixth left.  The name of road changed once I crossed an intersection, a point of necessity they failed to give me.  I back tracked a few times and where they said they were, well, they weren't.  An hour later and 6 phone calls with no answer, I finally found the house.  The owner apologized and admitted to not really knowing the road names.  Yes, I now have a GPS!

 

Over the past 30 years as a professional dog trainer, I have had many conversations with dog owners and infinitely more with dogs.

I find dog owners to be good people seeking to live in harmony and calm with the dogs they love dearly.  I also find that our dogs are looking for the same thing from us.

Rarely is the perfect dog seemingly never in need of training found.  You know the ones' I speak of, the dog that appears to needs little or no training, seems to understand every word you say, is devoted and completely focused on your every need.  You know, the dog other people have had the good fortune of getting instead of you!

These ideal pets never seem to experience the normal puppy stages of teething, chewing, barking, jumping and have manged to house train themselves according to some unwritten code of conduct.

As many of you, I have never found one of these dogs either.  Whether adult or puppy, all my dogs have needed to be taught and learn what I need them to do to live with me and maintain my sanity.

What I have found is most of the dogs who are dedicated problem dogs are also very smart, creative problem solvers and can be trained very nicely with clear and consistent information that helps the dog find balance in their behaviors.

Dogs are not born bad, they are born as well, dogs.
What makes it possible for dogs to live within our social structure and become our companions, sport and service dogs is unique to dogs alone.
No other animal lives with nor does for us the same way a dog can.
They speak a language we as humans are just beginning to understand more fully, yet for over 15,000 years, dogs have been not only a working partner but a loving companion.  Somehow, without benefit of modern day behavioral studies into how dogs think and learn, we as humans and dogs have managed to live together in a successful and productive partnership.

Dogs are honest.  They tell you everything they will do or become, we just have to learn to listen, observe and be willing to teach what they will need to live with us as a companion.
Their learning is series of building blocks.  If they can do A, then B will surely follow as the next step. If you call your dog and they don't come right away and you go to get them, then "Come" now means don't move forward but stay still, someone will come and get you.  Lets go to step B.  When you call and the dog steps away to see if you will follow, then "Come" means move away.  Step C becomes chase and finally the command to "Come" mean run away really fast.
You dog has been listening to you!

We are confusing and conflicted with speech, manner and expectations.
Just as with getting or giving directions, we become unclear and confusing.  We may know exactly what we mean but have difficulty in expressing it in such a way to make it clear for others to follow and understand.

How many different ways do we say "sit" having the same expectation but a variety of meanings in both language and manner for our dogs.  "Sit down," "Sit there," "Sit, sit, sit!"

Our dogs are listening very closely to what we say.
If they are not doing what you want, then many you are not saying it clearly enough for them to understand,