Why dogs do it
My dog doesn't listen to commands
Dogs do not generalize as well as people expect. A sit learned beside the fridge, with a treat visible and one person asking, may be a different exercise entirely on a busy sidewalk. Before calling a dog stubborn, it is worth an honest look at where the cue was taught, who uses it, and what state the dog is in when it falls apart.
Last reviewed October 4, 2026
The honest diagnosis
Three reasons a known cue falls apart.
Unproofed cues are the usual suspect. Proofing means practising a behaviour with distance, duration, and distraction added gradually, until it holds in new places. A dog who only responds when you are facing them, holding food, or standing in the living room is showing you where the training stopped. Test it: ask for a sit with empty hands and your body half turned away.
Inconsistency shows up as confusion rather than refusal. If one person says down for lie down and another uses it for get off the couch, the dog is guessing. Arousal looks different again: a dog who is panting, spinning, pulling, or barking often cannot process a cue at all. If commands fail only when excitement climbs, the problem is the state, not the vocabulary.
- Works only with food visible
- Different words across family members
- Fails only when excited
- Fine at home, gone outside
Where to start
Lower the difficulty before raising the volume.
Tonight, write down every cue your household uses and agree on one word and one meaning for each. Then pick a single cue and practise it in a new room, then the backyard, rewarding generously. If the dog cannot seem to settle at all, or a once-reliable dog suddenly stops responding, have a vet rule out pain or hearing changes. Sudden change deserves that check.
Our how-to on proofing cues lays out the step-by-step method. Complete On-Leash Foundations ($1,865 + GST) works on sit, stay, down, place, and everyday distractions, with lifetime phone and email support. A $150 + GST Private Training session suits owners who want to do it themselves with guidance. If commands collapse alongside lunging or barking, ask about a behaviour assessment. The consultation names the lightest option that fits.
Asked and answered
The questions people ask us.
Why does my dog listen at home but not outside?
The cue has probably only been practised in low-distraction places. Dogs need each behaviour rehearsed in new settings, a step at a time, before it holds outdoors.
Is my dog being stubborn when he ignores commands?
Usually not. A dog who does not respond is often confused, distracted, or overexcited. Make the cue easier to get right and see what changes.
Why does my dog only listen when I have treats?
The food has likely become part of the cue. Fade it by keeping your hands empty and rewarding from a pouch or a nearby counter, so the reward comes after the behaviour, not before.
Should I repeat a command until my dog does it?
Repeating teaches the dog that the first ask is optional. Say it once, help the dog succeed if needed, and set up the next attempt to be easier.
Keep reading
Make cues hold anywhere
Book a consultation to talk through where your dog's cues break down and which format suits your household.
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