If you’re sitting there wondering, why is my dog suddenly ignoring me? The great news is that you’re not alone.
So many dog owners are gazumped as to why their usually super-friendly canine companion is all of a sudden giving them the cold shoulder. And for no apparent reason.
It’s strangely common for dogs of all breeds to be your best friend one minute, and the next thing you know, they’re totally ignoring you.
Why do they do this? Is it something you’ve done? Or perhaps something you’ve not done?
You might think your dog is annoyed with you for nipping out to the shops the minute you got back from work. Or perhaps you think they’re ignoring you because you kicked them off the sofa before you settled down for the evening.
But whatever the reason they’re ignoring you, it can be frustrating.
Anyway…
Before digging into some of the reasons why your dog might be ignoring you, take a minute to check out this FREE and super effective video series, teaching you The Easy Way to an Obedient Dog. (see video below)
It’s packed full of great content and can save you thousands of dollars on training fees, so be sure to check it out to learn how you can develop a better relationship with your dog.
So, without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the reasons why your dog might be suddenly ignoring you.
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Why is my dog suddenly ignoring me?
Your dog can ignore you for a whole host of reasons, so don’t panic; it’s not that he’s necessarily fallen out of love with you all of a sudden.
I’m going to take you through several things that might be the reason why your dog is suddenly ignoring you. But be mindful that it might be a combination of several reasons, as will be evident below.
Lack Of Training
I’m not having a dig at you here! You might have invested a lot of time and money into training your dog, and you might have finally started to see some progress.
But then, one day, he seems to be totally blanking you and going about his own business.
If it’s down to training, ask yourself the following questions:
- Did I get the timing right? The first principle of dog training is that behavior that gets rewarded gets repeated. Because dogs are truly creatures of the moment, if you don’t reward them straight away, it can result in them thinking they did something wrong.
- Is he enjoying the treats I’m giving him? Don’t underestimate the importance of a tasty treat! Most dogs will happily be obedient for something that’s worth the reward.
- Did I lose my temper? Remember, when training your dog, patience is vital. Even raising your voice can upset some dogs, so be kind and patient when encouraging them to repeat certain behaviors.
They don’t see you as the pack leader
Don’t forget, dogs are pack animals. If your dog doesn’t see you as the leader, they may well ignore some of your commands, particularly if they’re feeling lazy or sleepy.
Continually reminding your dog who’s in charge and rewarding them for their obedience is the best way to gain trust. Which will ultimately result in them obeying your commands and seeing you as his pack leader.
Fear/Anxiety
When a dog is feeling anxious, it’s common for them to shut down totally. Of course, they might be showing physical signs of anxiety (tail between their legs, shaking, etc.). But they might also just be stationary and not willing to listen to you.
Dogs are anxious for a whole host of reasons, so be mindful of the following…
- Loud noises, such as fireworks or construction work.
- Fear of abandonment, especially if your dog thinks you’re going out without them.
- Children or other pets may have upset your dog and caused them to retreat into their shell.
- You might have lost your temper with them.
Dogs thrive in calm environments, particularly when at home. So if your dog’s exposed to too many unsettling stimuli, they may well become anxious and become less responsive to your commands.
They’re feeling depressed
Believe it or not, some dogs will become depressed over time. It’s terribly sad, but it’s a part of life. When they’re depressed, some dogs will refuse food, while others will lose interest in activities like playing and going out for walks.
It can be difficult to understand why your dog is depressed. But it can be a result of several factors, including:
- You’ve moved to a new home, and they’re not used to the surroundings.
- A new pet or baby has arrived, and they’re receiving less attention.
- You’re working away from home more, and your dog misses you.
Other times it’s more subtle than that and can come across as if they’re ignoring you or trying to hide. It’s heart-breaking to see, but it is a common reason why your dog might start ignoring you all of a sudden.
They have an ear infection
Ear infections are relatively common in dogs and present themselves as a build-up of wax. In addition to this, you might notice they’re scratching their ear more often than usual.
If your dog’s experiencing pain, they might just be more subdued than normal, or they might genuinely not be able to hear your commands.
If you suspect your dog has an ear infection, take them to the vet to get some treatment.
They’re losing their hearing
Some dogs might appear to be ignoring you because their hearing is deteriorating. It’s common in older dogs, as it is in older humans, for their hearing to worsen as they get older.
If your usually responsive and obedient dog seems to be ignoring you when you call, it might be a sign that they’re losing their hearing.
If this is the case, you may have to change how you communicate with your dog to get them to respond to you.
How To Get My Dog To Listen To Me – The Quick & Easy Way
So, you’ve established that your dog is ignoring you all of a sudden. Although it’s frustrating, please don’t panic, as it’s not the end of the world!
As much as we love them, it’s really challenging to understand why our dog does certain things, so trying to second-guess their behavior is a thankless task!
But if he’s not listening to you, and he’s usually obedient, there are several things you can do to get him to listen to you once again. Let’s take a look at them in detail now.
Rule out any medical issues first
Naturally, the most important thing is to ensure the health and wellbeing of your dog. If you’ve noticed a behavioral change and your dog is no longer listening to you, particularly if they’re sullen and looking sad.
It might be one of the following issues:
- Ear infection
- Hearing loss
- Underlying health condition
If you suspect your dog is ignoring you because of a medical condition, it’s best to take him to the vet for a check-up.
Sudden changes in a dog’s behavior can often be a result of an undiagnosed medical condition. So to be on the safe side, it’s always a good idea to have a vet examine him before you do anything else.
If he gets a clean bill of health, that’s great news! But if he’s still ignoring you, you might want to try some of the other solutions listed below.
Be consistent with training
Training your dog isn’t easy, and it’s a process perfected over time.
The trick is to be consistent with your commands and rewards.
If you’re not consistently rewarding your dog for good behavior, chances are they’re not likely to repeat it.
Remember that to a dog, a lack of consistency is confusing and disrupts all of the good work and effort you’ve put in already.
And while you should always be consistent with treats and rewarding good behavior, you also need to be consistent with commands.
Although there’s only a slight difference between ‘sit’ and ‘sit-down.’ To a dog, they’re worlds apart and don’t represent the same meaning.
If you’re not careful with what you say and how you speak to your dog, you’re unlikely to motivate them to respond to you.
Remember, the more consistent you are with your dog’s training, the more responsive he will be. So following a set routine will improve your dog’s responsiveness.
The take-home message? …Try and keep things as normal and consistent as possible.
For instance, feeding and walking your dog at the same time each day is an excellent way of managing their behavior.
As an added bonus, it’s also likely your dog won’t become restless and/or disobedient when awaiting their exercise and food.
Manage any excess energy
It stands to reason that a hyper dog is less likely to listen to your commands, as he’s too busy enjoying himself!
It’s super important that you enable your dog to let off any excess steam if you want them to respond to your commands.
For younger dogs in particular, you should ensure they get regular exercise every day by taking them on at least one walk, but two is better.
Try and walk them at the same times every day and if they are particularly active, take them further.
If they’re still pent up after their daily walks, playing with them during the day can tire them out and help them settle. If you have space in the garden, throw and retrieve is a great way for your dog to let off some steam.
If you can help your dog let off some steam, they’re much more likely to listen to your commands when they’re relaxed.
Related Post: How To Calm An Overexcited Dog – Instant Calming Techniques
Keep their emotions in check
Dogs thrive in calm and peaceful environments. That’s why it’s super important to try and keep their emotions in check.
Always getting them excited will mean they’re overstimulated and will result in them becoming undisciplined and ignoring your commands.
Conversely, if you ignore your dog and don’t interact with them. They might return the favor or worse still become subdued, sad, or even anxious, which will also result in them ignoring you.
This is why it’s essential to strike a perfect balance when it comes to interacting with your dog. Because not only do you want to show them that they’re loved and appreciated, you also need them to understand who’s boss!
Keeping your emotions in check will ultimately help you control their behavior and ensure they listen to you when issuing commands.
Don’t rely on verbal commands only
At dog training sessions, we learn the importance of issuing clear and concise verbal commands to our dogs to ensure they enact a specific behavior.
But for some dogs, verbal communication is insufficient, and this is undoubtedly the case if your dog is hard of hearing.
For instance, pointing and gesturing really helps to reinforce verbal communication.
While pointing to the floor to your dog to get off the furniture or holding out your hand when requesting a paw will undeniably help your dog become more responsive.
What’s more, if your dog has historically been responsive to verbal cues but has suddenly stopped listening to you. Consider the fact that something might have changed in the way you’re issuing commands.
This could be as simple as sitting down when you used to stand up, completing other tasks…
…Or even holding something in your hand that you never used to when communicating with your dog?
All of these subtle changes influence a dog’s behavior, so make sure you are aware of your communication methods when it comes to getting your dog to listen to you.
If none of the above have helped, and your dog I’d highly recommend checking out The Easy Way to an Obedient Dog from Dan Abdelnoor over at The Online Dog Trainer.
You’ll find it packed full of useful information and will help you keep your dog under control and motivated to listen to your commands.
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Closing Thoughts
It can be upsetting and frustrating when our dog ignores us.
Despite our best intentions, we can’t always control our dog’s mood, so sometimes we’ll just have to accept his behavior for what it is.
However, if the behavior is consistent, you might have to do a little detective work to get to the bottom of the issue.
Whatever it is, remember to persevere and be patient, as losing your temper won’t get you anywhere.
Remind your dog how much they’re loved, but remind them who’s boss too! With a bit of patience and some trial and error, you’ll get them back onside sooner rather than later.
