Nate Schoemer Dog Training Podcast Ep. 28 - Say It Once – Why Your Dog Ignores You & How to Fix It
Apr 23, 2025
Tired of repeating commands? Discover why dogs tune us out and how to remedy it! Learn about "learned irrelevance" and why clarity in verbal cues matters. Hear effective strategies to increase motivation, including using food play and adjusting reward schedules. Explore the importance of giving commands with patience and consistency. Find out how to build engagement through fun games and exercises, while preventing common training mistakes. Get ready to transform your communication with your furry friend!
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Learned Irrelevance Explains Ignored Commands
- Dogs learn which sounds are relevant based on what those sounds predict in their world.
- Repeated human speech that doesn't predict value becomes learned irrelevance for dogs.
Don’t Name Commands Until You Love Them
- Avoid naming a command until you can get the behavior reliably with a physical cue.
- Saying a word repeatedly before it predicts the action teaches dogs to ignore it.
Make Dogs Play For Food To Raise Drive
- Increase your dog's motivation by withholding free food and making them play for it.
- Use movement or toy play to convert weak food drive into useful training drive.
