Playing Deaf or Being Clever? Decoding Your Dog’s Ignorance to Calls

Understanding Why Your Dog Is Ignoring Your Commands

• Inconsistent Training

  Consistency is key in dog training. If commands are not used consistently, or if different family members use different commands for the same action, it can confuse the dog and make them less likely to respond.

• Insufficient Training

  Dogs may not fully understand what is being asked of them if they have not been adequately trained. This can result in them appearing to ignore commands.

• Distractions

  Dogs can easily become distracted, particularly in environments with lots of activity or new smells. If your dog is more interested in what’s happening around them than in listening to you, they might ignore your commands.

• Lack of Motivation or Reward

  Dogs are more likely to obey commands if they know there’s something in it for them. If commands are not paired with rewards or if the dog doesn’t find the reward motivating enough, they might choose to ignore the command.

• Negative Association

  If a dog has associated a command with a negative outcome in the past, they might choose to ignore that command in the future. For example, if “come” always means the end of playtime, a dog might start to ignore this command to prolong their fun.

• Physical or Cognitive Issues

  Health-related problems can also result in dogs ignoring commands. Hearing loss, cognitive dysfunction, or other physical ailments can prevent a dog from responding to commands they once knew.

Signs Your Dog Isn’t Responding to Calls

• Selective Acknowledgement:

  As I’ve mentioned, dogs with selective hearing will often acknowledge that they’ve heard you, but they decide not to respond. The key to spotting this behavior is watching for those brief moments of recognition before they return to their distraction.

• Distraction Overrules:

  If your dog comes when called inside the house but not at the park or during walks, it’s a pretty clear sign of selective hearing. The external distractions are far too compelling for your dog to heed your call.

• Inconsistent Recall:

  Sometimes, your dog comes when called, but other times, they completely ignore you. This inconsistency can be a sign that they haven’t completely understood the importance of the recall command.

• Running the Other Way:

  If upon hearing your call, your dog not only ignores you but also increases the distance, it might be a sign that they are associating the recall command with negative experiences.

• The Look:

  Sometimes, your dog will give you a brief look when called and then purposely go back to what they were doing. It’s like they’re saying, “Yeah, I heard you, but this grass smells way too fascinating.”

Triggers for Ignoring command of dogs

• Distractions:

  Let’s face it, the world is full of exciting smells, sights, and other dogs! Sometimes, the appeal of a new scent or the sight of a squirrel running up a tree is just too strong to resist. This is especially true for dogs with a high prey drive, like terriers or hounds. So, if your dog is ignoring you, they might just be too engrossed in exploring the world around them.

• Inconsistent Training:

  Dogs thrive on consistency. If we’re not consistent in our training, our dogs can become confused. For instance, if we sometimes call our dogs for fun things like walks or treats, but other times we call them to end their playtime or to take medicine, they might start to see the recall command as a gamble. They’re not sure if it’ll be a positive experience or a negative one, so they might decide it’s safer just to ignore it.

• Lack of Proper Training:

  On a similar note, it’s also possible that the dog isn’t fully understanding what’s expected when they hear its name or the recall command. This is often a sign that the dog needs more training to understand what these commands mean.

• Fear or Anxiety:

  If a dog associates their name or the recall command with punishment or scary situations, they may start to ignore these cues to avoid the perceived threat. It’s essential to always ensure your dog feels safe and secure when responding to your call.

• Breed Temperament:

  Some breeds are known for their independence and might not be as responsive to calls as others. Breeds like Siberian Huskies or Basenjis, for example, are known for their independent natures and can be more challenging to train in recall.

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Conclusion

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)