When Your Dog Is Ignoring You

Always remember that your dog is not ignoring you because he is mean or trying to get back at you. Dogs do not think that way. He is not respecting you because is not looking up to your leadership and go about his everyday life with a behavior that has worked for him so far.

And he has done a good job training you to respond to his behaviors the way he wants.

If you have a dog that has no respect for you it is important that you change and modify his behavior for safety purpose to start with. Life with a dog should be fun and enjoyable. Who wants to leave with an unruly companion?

You will have to change your attitude first. It is your actions and non actions that have gotten you in this situation in the first place. You must  learn more about your dog, understand his body language, how he communicates and the kind of leadership he needs.

On the other hand do not blame yourself either. You did the best you could with the information you had at the time. Now it is time to learn more about your canine friend and get some help.

I strongly suggest you hire the help of a live dog behaviorist. This is a professional that  can help you identify where you went wrong, observe your dog, observe both of you interacting together and design a game plan that will work for both of you.  An experienced professional will help you build the confidence you need to change the rules and retrain your dog. It is very doubtful that you will solve the situation on your own.

Keep in mind that not all dog trainers understand dog’s behaviors modification. Talk to your vet, other dog owners and pet professionals and get referrals. Do not be afraid to ask questions, make sure you feel comfortable with the trainer and his/her methods.

Dog training solutions: “A dog training guide for humans” understanding your dog and how he communicates, effective leadership