Why Does My Dog Ignore Me? How to Get Your Dog's Attention

Living with a dog can sometimes cause a lot of whiplash (metaphorically speaking). In one moment, they are showing off every cue we've taught them. And in the next moment we're questioning if there's a hearing test for dogs.

Why could they sit last night when we were practicing, but not this afternoon when our friends are here!? This may be hard to hear, but we may need to take into consideration that it's not always about us.

Key Takeaways

• Since dogs are not robots, it's essential for us to take their emotions into consideration when it feels like they aren't listening to us.

• Practicing prior to the times when we need our dogs to listen to us can help give an idea as to our dog's ability to respond to us in different situations.

• Outside comes with its own set of challenges that our dogs need to experience, if we expect them to ignore what's going on around them to listen to us.

The PawChamp app provides ample support in the form of step-by-step programs to work through or 24/7 expert advice, so we don't need to figure out all the answers on our own.

Dogs are not robots, and it's unreasonable to expect them to be able to perform whenever we have a treat in our hand. Additionally, dogs don't lie. Even though it feels like they're choosing not to respond to a cue, it's very likely that something else around them or even internally can be impeding their response.

Is Your Dog Ignoring You or Just Distracted?

Try to consider when going to a new venue, we might be slightly disoriented. Some people's first priority could be finding the bar while others could be finding the bathroom. Until we spend some time understanding how things work, it may take a little longer to decide the next best decision.

Things can be very similar for dogs at home. Every time a person comes to the door, a neighbor passes by on a walk, or even a new animal comes on the TV it may feel like our dogs are ignoring us. But in reality it may be that our dogs feel like they're trying to navigate a new venue — and their body language often gives us subtle clues about what's really going on.

Can We Predict When Our Dog Can Listen to Us?

At a venue as we begin to understand the layout of the land, our favorite vendors, and the schedule of events, we'll become much more confident to make decisions about what to do next.

We can create this familiarity with our dog even in new situations by spending time in the world with them. Instead of waiting to see how our dog may handle a stressful event, maybe there is a way to prepare for it.

Instead of waiting to see how our dog may handle a stressful event, prepare for it in advance by spending time with them in that environment first.

Each of our dogs is a unique individual even from the dogs we have had in the past. They have their own preferences which is a moving target depending on their breed, age, or life experiences.

To get our dog's attention back on us at any given time, we need to know what's important to them in that moment. If this seems like an impossible task, there are an abundance of different courses in the PawChamp app that can give us a starting point from training foundations to breed-specific training and even age-based programs.

Dog Attention Exercises That Actually Work

Working through these programs can give us a starting point to figure out what's most important to our dog. Reminder, dogs don't lie! So, if they keep disengaging from us when we're trying to get their attention, it's clear we're not their main priority in that instance.

Different dogs respond to different motivators — here are some common ones that actually work:

• A ball or puller toy for high-drive dogs

• Treats skillfully thrown towards their mouths

• Praise paired with movement or play

But are these techniques enough to pull our dog's attention away from a squirrel? That depends on how much practice we've put in beforehand.

If the attention games we play inside fall apart when we go outside, our dogs may be telling us they need a second to explore the layout of the land before they're able to hear us.

Even if we go to the same venue, we're going to approach things differently using the information we learned from last time. Allowing our dogs the choice to explore the area we plan on playing or training in can result in a much more focused dog.

Giving your dog a few minutes to explore a new environment before training can dramatically improve focus.

How to Train a Dog to Come When Called?

While it may seem backwards, giving our dogs a choice to explore the environment can give them more of a reason to come back to us when called. Just as we would return to our favorite vendor if we revisited a venue, our dogs are much more willing to come back to us if we give them a chance to explore.

After they've been able to sniff around and see who or what has been in this area and how long ago, then they won't be as distracted when we cue "Come".

Anyone who's had a dog before knows the famous "drive-by" when we cue our dogs to "come". They run towards us, making us think we're the best owners in the world, then they eat the treat and ignore us, dashing away before we even knew they were there.

One might be feeling a little frustrated reading this. "So I need to let them go explore, but they'll never listen to me if they do!" This is where we go back to using the tool that is right for our dog — whether it be a treat, toy, or a full-on dance party.

Anyone who's had a dog knows the famous "drive-by" — when your dog runs over, snatches the treat, and dashes off before you've registered they were even there.

Figuring out why your dog tunes you out — and how to fix it — can feel like solving a moving puzzle. PawChamp gives you the structure and expert support to make that process easier. Here's what you get with PawChamp:

• Step-by-step training programs covering foundations, breed-specific training, and age-based plans tailored to your dog.

• Science-based, positive reinforcement exercises that build genuine focus — not just compliance for the next treat.

• Progress tracking so you can see exactly where attention is improving and where to work next.

• Ask a Dog Expert chat for the moments when your dog stops responding and you don't know what to try next.

Take a quick quiz today and get a personalized training plan built around your dog's focus and listening skills.