10 Reasons Why a Dog Might Not “Obey a Command”

The homework for L2 in the Steps To Success is: “Why might a dog not “obey a command”? Give 10 possible reasons.”

I wanted to think of this is terms of why my dog might not “obey a command,” so this is the same list for both dogs.

Magnus

1. is tired
2. is not hungry
3. I don’t have high value enough treats
4. I’m not giving high enough reinforcement rate
5. finds the environment more rewarding than me or my reward
6. has a developed history of a more rewarding behavior, such as a bad behavior (getting in the litter box) or a default behavior (down)
7. has been reinforced for an alternate behavior too much so only offers that
8. is afraid
9. is young with a short attention span
10. is confused by poor or inexperienced handling
11. I am being a lumper not a splitter, so am asking for too much too soon
12. I added a cue too soon before he really knew the behavior so the cue doesn’t mean anything yet, or the cue is new to him.
13. training session is too long
14. he’s a teenager

Okay, so I threw in the last one because the dreaded adolesence is rearing it’s nasty head. I suppose the more official version would be:

14.  dog is physically unable to complete the asked for skill due to hormonal changes rendering his brain as much use as pudding.

Oh wait, it seems my low opinion of the adolescent stage of a small male puppies’ life has colored my rhetoric again!

I seem to have strayed, so getting back on track. . .

Maizey’s list was a little harder. She rarely doesn’t do as asked, she loves to shape and is a skilled offerer, so thinking of why she didn’t do things was harder.

Maizey

1. there are strange dogs around
2. is anxious/afraid
3. is reactive and “can’t” hear me
4. truly didn’t hear me (usually accompanied by a head tilt, “heh? Whadcha say there Crazymomlady?”
5. my instructions were unclear and she is confused
6. she’s physically unable to do the asked for skill(as in the case with her knees and refusal to hop on things as a puppy.)
7. is distracted by Magnus the “I’m a Teenager” Destroyer
8. finds the environment more reinforcing than me
9. is offering me 26 other things than the one we are aiming for
10. has a default stronger than the asked for behavior
11. she’s thirsty

One thing evident from this list is how many of these reasons are actually about me, not them. In Magnus’ list 9/14 reasons are more about my handling or lack thereof! That’s a humbling realization.

We’ve all heard the all too common, “my dog’s just stubborn.” The 4legged lesson here is one that applies to 2legged creatures too: there are many reasons a dog (or human) may not perform a desired task and it’s rarely because they’re, “just stubborn.”

Remembering this may help us all be more patient with one another no matter how many legs we have!

Two of my favorite references on this subject:

Kathleens: 10 Reasons a Dog May Not Perform a Required Behavior
Eileens: The Missed cue