“My dog knows this … he just isn’t doing it!” Have you ever said this before? I think we all have. When we’ve witnessed our dog perform a command many times, it can be tempting to think that they “know” the cue and they are ignoring us when they suddenly won’t do it.
It is important to make sure that your dog does, in fact, KNOW the cue. If they are not doing what you have asked, consider:
– Have they learned the skill in this environment?
– Can they cope with this level of distraction?
– Have we done enough homework on this skill?
– Does my dog feel safe here?
If the answer to any of these questions is “no,” then keep working with your pup to make sure they truly know what you are asking for.
Happy Training!