The Weekly High Five 🐾

One Quick Win 🙏 One Video to Watch 👀 One Post I Loved

Hey Reader, I bet you've practiced “Sit” a hundred times, then, out of nowhere, they act like they've never heard the word before.

Frustrating, right?

Here's the thing: your dog isn't being stubborn. And they're not dumb.
​
There are five specific reasons dogs ignore commands, and once you understand them, everything changes.

​
One Quick Win 🙏

This week's Quick Win focuses on "The Motivation Audition":

1. Gather different potential rewards: various treats (chicken, cheese, freeze dried liver), different toys, and consider non-food rewards like belly rubs or play time.
2. One at a time, show your dog each option and watch their reaction closely.
3. Note which ones make their eyes light up, which ones they go crazy for, and which ones they couldn't care less about.
4. Rank your dog's favorites from most exciting to least exciting.
5. Use your top-tier rewards only for the hardest commands or training challenges, and save medium rewards for everyday practice.

Dogs won't work for free any more than you would.
​
Once you know what your dog actually values, you have leverage.
​
If your dog would sell their soul for a specific squeaky toy, that's your recall reward. If freeze-dried liver is their weakness, save it for the behaviors you're struggling with most.

​
One Video To Watch 👀

Motivation is just one piece of the puzzle. In this week's video, I reveal all five reasons your dog ignores you, and number four will surprise you!

From distractions and inconsistent training to mixed signals from family members and even hidden health issues, these reasons explain why even well-trained dogs sometimes act like they've never been trained at all.
​
Understanding what's really happening is the first step to fixing it.

​

​
Here's Where Most People Get Stuck

The motivation trick I just gave you? That'll help. And the video breaks down the other four reasons clearly.
​

But listen. Understanding the reasons and actually applying the solutions to your specific situation are two different things.

​
Maybe your dog's distracted but you're not sure how to train through distractions.
​
Maybe your family gives mixed signals, and you don't know how to get everyone on the same page.
​
Maybe you've tried everything, and you're wondering if something deeper is going on.
​

That’s why I’m inviting you to take me up on an offer for a free 15-minute strategy call.
​
Our dogs don’t care that it's a new year; they’ll ignore you all the same.
​
This call isn't a sales pitch. It's a conversation about what's actually happening with your dog and what makes sense for you.
​

We'll talk about your biggest challenges, what you've already tried, and I'll help you figure out your next steps.
​

This is for you if you want your bond with your dog to improve, if you actually want to enjoy life with your dog instead of feeling frustrated all the time, and if you're willing to put in the work to make it happen. Book Your Free 15-Minute Call​

​
Here's to dogs who actually listen in 2026!
​
Pam,
CPDT-KA
​

PS. Check out this Reel of a Golden Retreiver who just wants his Parents to go to bed with him… a friend of mine has a Sheepadoodle who acts the exact same way, his favorite time is when it’s the toddlers bedtime!
​​
​​
​Enjoy this Weekly High Five? Please forward it to another Dog Owner. My goal is to positively impact as many dog owners as possible.

​