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
- Disrespect is a human word. Dogs learn by what happens next.
- The useful question is not “why is he defying me?” It is “what is he getting out of this?”
- A growl is communication. Take it seriously. Do not punish the signal and leave the situation in place.
- A boundary is not a punishment. It is the rule of the house, and it only exists if it holds when you are tired.
- 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.
- A solid sit in the living room is not a solid sit at the trailhead. That is a training gap, not stubbornness.
- 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?
FAQ
Most frequent questions and answers
Dogs do not do disrespect. They repeat what has worked: a chase, attention, access to the kitchen, getting where they want to go. The useful question is what the dog is getting out of the behavior.
No. Explanation is not permission. You can know why a dog jumps and still require four feet on the floor.
Usually the cue was repeated, swapped for “come here” and “come on,” or followed by the end of the fun. One word: COME. Follow through the first time. Release with BREAK.
A growl is communication. It can mean discomfort, fear, guarding, or frustration. Take it seriously. Manage the situation and teach a different response. Do not treat the growl as a moral failure, and do not ignore it.
No. Dogs learn in context. A behavior that holds in the living room still has to be taught at the trailhead.
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Dr. Robert Forto
is Alaska Dog Works’ training director.
Michele Forto
is the lead trainer for Alaska Dog Works.
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