What to Do When Your Dog Ignores You

1. Understand Why It Happens

Your dog isn’t trying to be stubborn — they may be distracted, unsure of what you're asking, or not finding a reason to respond. It’s not disobedience — it’s a communication gap you can close with clarity and reward.

2. Rebuild Foundational Communication

• Start with eye contact and name response
• Use a consistent tone and body posture

3. Make Commands Clear Again

Review and reinforce basic cues like “sit,” “come,” and “stay” in low-distraction spaces. This gives your dog a safe, focused environment to practice success — before you challenge them on busy sidewalks or in the yard.

4. Practice Around Distractions

Just like building physical endurance, command reliability grows with challenge. Use distance, better treats, leash guidance, and lots of reps to help your dog stay focused when the world gets more distracting.

5. Use Timing and Rewards to Your Advantage

• Deliver praise or treats instantly when your dog responds correctly
• Let them know they got it right — enthusiasm matters!

6. Reframe the Cue

If a word like “come” is ignored, start fresh with a new word like “here,” and re-teach it from scratch using high-reward games. This resets the meaning and gives you a clean slate.

7. Build Engagement Over Obedience

Training isn’t about obedience — it’s about connection. When your dog sees you as fun, clear, and rewarding, they’ll choose to listen — even when they have options not to. Relationship always beats repetition.

For more leash-based issues, check out our leash pulling guide.