Why Your Dog Ignores You (And How to Fix It!)
Every dog owner has been there—you call your dog’s name, and they look the other way, keep sniffing the ground, or act like they didn’t even hear you. It’s frustrating, but the good news is that there’s a reason behind your dog’s lack of response, and even better, there are ways to fix it! Let’s explore why your dog might be ignoring you and how to get their attention back.
1. Your Dog Hasn’t Learned What Their Name Means
Dogs aren’t born knowing what their name means, and if you haven’t reinforced it consistently, they may not recognize it as something worth responding to.
Fix It:
Play the Name Game by saying their name and rewarding eye contact.
Use high-value treats and practice in low-distraction areas first.
Avoid repeating their name multiple times without a response.
2. Competing Distractions Are More Interesting
If your dog is too focused on another dog, a squirrel, or an exciting smell, they may not even register that you’re talking to them.
Fix It:
Train in progressively more distracting environments.
Use an upbeat tone and make yourself more interesting than the distraction.
Practice recall drills with high-value rewards to reinforce responsiveness.
3. You’ve Accidentally Taught Them to Ignore You
If you frequently call your dog when something unpleasant happens—like bath time, leaving the park, or ending playtime—they may associate their name with something negative and choose to ignore you.
Fix It:
Call your dog and reward them often without any negative consequence.
Occasionally call them just for praise and a treat, then let them go back to what they were doing.
4. Your Reward System Isn’t Motivating Enough
Dogs respond best when they find value in listening to you. If your rewards aren’t exciting, they may decide that ignoring you is a better choice.
Fix It:
Find your dog’s highest-value reward (cheese, chicken, tug toys, etc.).
Keep training sessions short, fun, and engaging.
Use varying rewards to keep things exciting.
5. Inconsistent Training & Expectations
If your dog sometimes gets attention for ignoring you (e.g., you chase them when they run away), they may learn that ignoring leads to fun.
Fix It:
Keep your dog on leash until you trust that they won’t run off.
Be consistent with training cues.
Avoid chasing your dog if they run off.
Set up structured training sessions to reinforce responsiveness.
6. Your Dog Doesn’t Understand What You Want
Sometimes, it’s not defiance—it’s confusion. If training hasn’t been clear or consistent, your dog may not actually understand what you’re asking.
Fix It:
Keep commands clear and concise (e.g., “Come!” instead of “Come here right now, buddy!”).
Reinforce with positive associations so they learn cues reliably.
Use hand signals to reinforce verbal commands.
Need Professional Help?
If your dog consistently ignores you despite training efforts, Pawmora’s private training sessions can help. Our expert trainers will assess your dog’s behavior, strengthen their recall, and improve their responsiveness in real-world scenarios.
📅 Book a training session with Pawmora today and start getting your dog’s attention back!