Prepare yourselves… I’m about to disappoint you! ‘Selective hearing’ isn’t really a thing. Yes, I know, your dog listens to you sometimes and not others! Sometimes they surely must have heard you, but they chose to ignore you. That has to be selective hearing, right?
Wrong.
Here are the top 3 reasons why your dog isn’t listening to you.
They haven’t heard you.
How many times have you been busy watching TV or been engrossed in your book and then realised that someone has been talking to you? It happens to our dogs too. It might be that that sniff is just SO good, or maybe they are mid-conversation with the other dog over there.
Sometimes we think that because they have better hearing and we are right next to us, they have to have heard. Well, I have normal hearing, and I’m well known in my family for completely ignoring people if I’m reading a good book, no matter how loud they talk!
It’s not always our ears that are the problem, it’s also our brain. And we all know that our dog’s brains can be one-track-minded.
2. They haven’t understood you.
Dogs really are terrible at generalising. Sitting in the kitchen with no distractions is very different to sitting in the street with dogs walking by. Focusing on you when you have a treat in your hand is very different to focusing on you when you don’t have a treat but there is yummy food on the floor.
This doesn’t mean that they are ignoring you. It’s just that if you’ve only taught a cue in the house, your dog likely doesn’t understand it means the same thing outside. Or maybe you’ve only taught a cue when there’s nothing else going on. Again, it is likely your dog genuinely doesn’t know what you’re asking for when that dog is right there.
3. Your dog doesn’t think it’s worth it.
On this one, it’s actually the case that your dog does understand and has heard you. But, previous to this time, you’ve taught your dog that it isn’t worthwhile doing it.
When we ask our dogs to do something, they either have to find it reinforcing, or WE have to reinforce them for it. For example, if I asked my dog to find her sheep toy, she finds that reinforcing because a) she loves to sniff out things, and b) she loves to put things in her m
outh, and c) her sheepy is her favourite toy. But if I asked her to sit and stay, that’s boring. She does not find that reinforcing. That means I have to reinforce it for her. So, when I ask her to sit and stay, I will then make sure I reward her. Not only do I need to reward her, but I need to reward her with something worthwhile.
I hear the phrase “well I’m treating them but they still won’t do it” all the time. If you went to work and didn’t get paid, you wouldn’t go back. What if you got paid a penny a day? You’re still getting paid, so why not?? Because it’s not worth it. Your dog also won’t work for free, and they won’t work for something naff either!
Be fair, be generous, and be consistent!
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