🐶 How Dogs Learn (And Why Your Dog Isn’t Listening)

In any good relationship, clear and calm communication is key—and it’s no different with your dog.
But if your dog isn’t listening to you, or seems to ignore you outside, it’s not because they’re naughty or stubborn. Most of the time, they just don’t understand what you want yet.

If you’ve ever thought:

• “How do I get my dog to listen?”
  

• “My dog is stubborn!”
  

• “My dog won’t pay attention!”
  

• “My dog doesn’t listen outside—what’s going on?”
  

…then this blog is for you.

Let’s break down how dogs actually learn—and how YOU can teach them effectively.

🧠 Dogs Don’t Speak English

Dogs don’t understand human language the way we do. To your dog, you’re just making sounds.
Those sounds only start to mean something if they’re linked to an outcome.

Example:
🔊 Whistle = run to owner = yummy treat or fun toy 🎉
That’s how dogs start to learn what words mean—through repetition, consistency, and rewards.

But it takes time.
Think of it like trying to learn a new language. You need to hear things over and over again, and it’s even harder when someone speaks fast or uses a weird accent. That’s what it’s like for your dog in busy places with new distractions.

🐕‍🦺 Why Your Dog Doesn’t Listen (Especially Outside)

Inside the house, your dog might follow your commands just fine. But then you go outside, and it’s like you don’t exist. Sound familiar?

You might be thinking:

• “My dog ignores me outside!”
  

• “Why won’t my dog pay attention at the park?”
  

Here’s the deal: dogs don’t generalise. Just because they learned to sit in the kitchen doesn’t mean they’ll know what to do in the park, at the café, or by a busy road.

They need practice in lots of different environments. And yes, that means starting from the beginning each time, like they’ve never heard the command before.

🧪 Let’s Talk Science: How Dogs Actually Learn

1. Operant Conditioning – Learning through rewards

🐀 Once upon a time, a scientist named B.F. Skinner put a rat in a box. When the rat accidentally pushed a lever, a food pellet dropped out.
The rat quickly learned: push lever = get food.

This is called operant conditioning—and your dog learns this way too.

💡 When your dog gets a treat for doing something (like sitting), they’re more likely to do it again.
If nothing good happens—or something they don’t like happens—they’re less likely to repeat it.

2. Classical Conditioning – Learning by association

Remember Pavlov’s dogs?

🔔 Bell ➡️ Food ➡️ Salivation
After a while: 🔔 Bell alone ➡️ Salivation

The dogs learned to associate a sound (the bell) with a reward (food).

With dogs, this shows up in real life like this:

• Your dog gets excited when you grab their leash 🚶‍♀️
  

• Or they run to the kitchen when they hear the treat jar open
  

That’s classical conditioning in action.

🍖 So… How Do I Teach My Dog to Sit?

Good question! Let’s walk through how to teach a dog to sit, the right way:

1. Use a treat to guide your dog into the sitting position
   (Raise it slowly above their head. As their head tilts up, their bum naturally goes down.)
   

2. The moment their bum touches the floor, say “YES!” or “GOOD!” (This is your reward marker.)
   

3. Give them the treat 🎉
   
   Repeat this a few times until your dog is reliably sitting when you raise your hand.

🗣 Now, Add the Word

Here’s where most people go wrong. They say “Sit” while showing the hand signal—or even after.

Instead, say “Sit” BEFORE you move your hand.

Why? Because the word must predict the action—just like Pavlov’s bell predicted the food.
If you say “sit” and immediately follow with the hand signal, your dog starts to learn the word means action is coming.

After enough repetition (10–20 times), your dog may start to sit just on the word alone. 🎉 When they do, mark it with “Yes!” and give a treat!

If they don’t sit on the word alone yet—don’t worry! Just keep practicing. The key is timing and consistency.

🌳 What If My Dog Doesn’t Listen Outside?

Ah, the big question:
“How do I get my dog to listen outside?”
Or even more common:
“My dog ignores me outside!”
“My dog won’t pay attention at the park!”

Here’s what’s happening:

• The outside world is full of exciting smells, squirrels, people, dogs, leaves, noises…
  

• If you haven’t practiced the behaviour in that exact place before, your dog is easily distracted.
  

🛠️ Fix it by rebuilding the behaviour from scratch in new environments.
Practice in quiet outdoor spaces before busy ones.
Use higher value rewards (like cheese or chicken) and be patient.

🕒 Be Patient — This Takes Time!

Teaching your dog to listen in all environments can take months.
But think about it: your dog will (hopefully) be with you for 12–15 years.
So what’s 12 months of patient training, if it means a lifetime of calm, clear communication?

If you're struggling with a dog that won’t pay attention, or you’re wondering how to get my dog to listen, just remember: they’re not stubborn. They just need you to be their best teacher.

🎯 Final Tips:

• Use clear hand signals and consistent words
  

• Reward the moment the correct behaviour happens
  

• Practice in lots of different places
  

• Be patient and go at your dog’s pace
  

And most importantly, have fun! Because training should feel like a game—not a chore.

Ready to Finally Get Your Dog Listening—Anywhere, Anytime?

If "my dog is stubborn," "my dog won’t pay attention," or "my dog ignores me outside" sound like things you’ve said, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to figure it out on your own either.

✅ Whether you’re trying to teach your dog to sit, get them to listen at home, or actually respond outside around distractions—I’ve got practical, proven support that works.

👉 Book a 1:1 Virtual Training Session by sending me an email or WhatsApp message and get personalised help to transform your dog’s behaviour step-by-step.

🐾 Or, if you’re not sure where to start, drop me a message via whatsapp or instagram and tell me about your dog—I’ll point you in the right direction.

Let’s make your dog the one that does listen (even at the park).
📩 emilia@emiliaoharadogtraining.com