The reasons for this are numerous, ranging from just an age related phase, not adequate training, fear, or just simple distraction issues. The first step a frustrated owner should take is to try to assess WHY their dog is not taking a command, as the solution differs for each reason.
Start by making sure your dog can follow a command with no distractions. Then, work on the command with people in the environment talking, eating, engaging with each other. Then, work on the command out in the yard and start with minimal distractions and work up to more significant distractions.
Consider why your dog is misbehaving.
The dog may not understand the cue given; they may not have had enough practice to do it reliably; they may be too distracted, stressed, or afraid. To figure out what the issue is, consider this: The dog is not giving you a hard time, but rather, they're having a hard time.
When done correctly and when combined with proactive training, ignoring unwanted behavior can work. However, the time it takes depends on your dog's reinforcement history and their own personal enjoyment of the behavior. For some dogs, they get through an extinction burst quickly, while others can take quite a while.
You can teach your dog to respect and listen to you by showing them you are the leader. Simple techniques such as not rewarding demanding behavior, walking through the door first, and creating structure and rules, will all help your dog to be respectful.
Getting your dog to reliably come when called is known as recall, and it's important for all dog owners. Some reasons dogs don't come when called include distraction, confusion, or fear. Gradual training and positivity are ways to help build a reliable recall so your dog will come when called.
There is nothing wrong with using the word “no” properly when training your dog. “No” should be said calmly and should mean, “That is not a behavior that I want.” “No” can also be a “no reward marker.” It can just mean that the dog will not get a reward for that behavior.
Methods such as alpha rolls and physical corrections (via the leash and a choke chain or by smacking the dog on the nose or by shaking their scruffs) were often recommended as a way for humans to establish dominance over their dogs.
If you've got a stubborn dog who pulls on the leash, get some really good treats (chicken, steak, hot dogs, etc.) and cut them into pea-sized pieces. Take your clicker and these treats with you on your walk. When you step out the front door, wait for your dog to look back at you.
It's never too late to start dog training
Behaviours such as pulling on the lead, fighting with other dogs, jumping up or running away are all hard on elderly joints. By training your older dog, you are helping to avoid health issues.
Whether it's hitting, tapping, or bopping a dog on the nose as means of discipline, this aversive technique still falls short of the success found with using reward-based or positive training. Contemporary experts urge against all uses of physical discipline.
On top of potentially evoking defensive aggression, hitting dogs may cause them to become insecure. They may cower, engage in submissive urination and have low self-esteem. They may no longer walk with their heads high; they will rather walk with their tail between their legs and their head carried low.
Dogs who exhibit attention seeking behaviors because of anxiety often need help from a professional to get better. If you think that your dog is anxious, speak to your veterinarian. Attention seeking behaviors can often be extinguished (eliminated) by simply ignoring the puppy.
Recall can fail due to
If you fail to divert the urge to run before it happens – often happens in a prey driven dog, so work required in focus and attention diverting as well. Expecting too much too soon, require less distractions and more base line work with use of long lines.
Stay in the same room as the dog, but don't make sudden movements. Use a quieter and soothing voice as well. Gradually decrease the distance between the two of you as the dog starts to relax.
Not inflicting pain or instilling fear in the dog. Influencing an animal's behavior without the use of force. Constructive disciplinary techniques such as removal, time outs, taking something of value away, ignoring behavior and interrupting negative behavior with a vocal interrupter.
However, experts have explained why you shouldn't shout at your dog, and that shouting can actually do more harm then good when trying to teach your pup to be well behaved. In fact, not only is it likely to make them naughtier, it can even lead to even stress and depression.
The effectiveness of barking it out is often limited and does not deal with your dog's fear. Instead, there are specific training techniques that you can use to manage your dog's barking. It's best to teach an alternative behavior in place of the barking, especially if the behavior is fear-based.
Some trainers recommend teaching your dog to bark on command; this will help him learn how to be quieted on command as well. Remember that hitting a barking dog will not solve the problem. It will actually increase a dog's anxiety and fear, which can lead to more barking.