Episode 323: Why Dogs “Ignore” Commands

Why dogs “ignore” commands has less to do with defiance and more to do with education. When a dog doesn’t respond, it’s easy to label it as disobedience, but what that moment actually offers is feedback on what the dog has learned. In this episode, I’m breaking down the difference between commands and cues, how Antecedent, Behavior, and Consequence shape understanding, and why dogs respond to pictures rather than words alone. When cues are taught with intention, reliability grows naturally, and responses become confident, joyful, and consistent, wherever you are.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

The difference between giving a command and cueing a behavior.
Why a dog not responding isn’t disobedience, but feedback on their education.
How Antecedent, Behavior, and Consequence work together in training.
Why dogs think in pictures and not in words.
What causes cues to fall apart in new situations.
How food can unintentionally become the focus instead of the behavior.
A real-world “sit” example with Kim’s dog, Belief.
Why reinforcement isn’t about eliminating rewards, but about evolving what is reinforcing for the dog.
What well-taught cues have in common under distraction and distance.