Your dog is not plotting against you. On this episode of The Daily Dog, Nicole Forto draws the line most owners miss: understanding a behavior is not the same as tolerating it.
Jumping, leash pulling, counter surfing, and a stolen sock are not revenge. They are patterns that paid off. Nicole walks through the third option between "he's disrespecting me" and "he's just being a dog": teach the behavior you want, set the boundary, and follow through every time.
Key points
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Disrespect is a human word. Dogs learn by what happens next.
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The useful question is not "why is he defying me?" It is "what is he getting out of this?"
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A growl is communication. Take it seriously. Do not punish the signal and leave the situation in place.
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A boundary is not a punishment. It is the rule of the house, and it only exists if it holds when you are tired.
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Repeating come, or swapping in "come here" and "come on, buddy," teaches the dog the first word does not count. Official cue: COME. Release is BREAK.
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A solid sit in the living room is not a solid sit at the trailhead. That is a training gap, not stubbornness.
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You can have expectations without being angry.
This episode's question
Before you say "my dog is disrespecting me," ask: does my dog actually understand what I am asking, in this place, right now?
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This episode was recorded on the Shure SM7B and a Rodecaster Pro II
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