4 reasons why ignoring unwanted behaviour isn't working and what you need to do instead...

1. Your attention might not be the reinforcer 

All behaviour has a function and as long as the behaviour is working to meet that function, the behaviour will continue.  

If the function has nothing to do with your attention, withholding your attention will have absolutely no impact because the reinforcement is not connected to you. 

1. Ignoring behaviour leaves a void for them to fill with other behaviour 

Your dog is trying a behaviour in an effort to get your attention, but that doesn’t work for them…so then what?  

They have this big gaping void to fill with other behaviours in an effort to get access to what they want.  It's highly likely you will have a similar aversion to their next behaviour choice too! 

1. Being ignored and not having an expectation met is incredibly frustrating 

Imagine spending the first few months of life saying “hello” to start a conversation, then one day everybody started pretending like you didn’t exist when you said “hello”.  

That frustration and confusion would push you to shout louder and try harder. 

This is essentially what we do to our dogs when we wake up one day and decide we no longer like jumping up now they are bigger and more excitable.  

Frustration, plus a gaping void to fill is not a good combination!  

1. Practice makes permanent 

Leaving your dog to continue going through the motions of that same behaviour again and again will keep the neural pathways strong, making it an easier behaviour choice with every repetition.

If you have a frustrating behaviour you’d like to change, there are two things you need to do alongside each other, and one will not be effective without the other...

1. Prevent the existing behaviour from being rehearsed 

How this looks will depend on the behaviour you are trying to change.  It could be using a lead, installing a baby gate, crate training, utilising enrichment feeders, changing environments, etc.  Whatever the behaviour, you need a reliable and realistic management strategy to prevent the rehearsal of it.  

1. Choose a replacement behaviour to teach and reward the heck out of

It's not enough to say “I don’t want them to jump up” or “I don’t want them to pull on the lead”. What DO you want from them in that context? You need to get specific about this because this is essential information that your dog needs.  

Choose a behaviour, teach it, and reinforce it. Rehearse it over and over again in achievable situations giving the dog plenty of help and support until the behaviour becomes habituated in that context.  If you want it to apply to multiple contexts and in multiple environments - you’ve got to train it in multiple contexts and environments. Dogs don't generalise well. 

Important to note... 

If you've had to teach a new behaviour to replace an existing one, that’s because it wasn’t a natural behaviour choice for your dog.  That means it’s important to continue reinforcing the behaviour YOU have decided is appropriate if you want it to continue and remain a habit.  

If you have an existing behaviour you’d like to change and need some suggestions for steps 1 and 2, let me know at liz@dogscentric.co.uk

Liz Whelan GTA-AD 020 ABTC-ATI

Owner of DogScentric

Accredited Instructor with the Gundog Trainers Academy (GTA-AD 020)

Accredited Animal Training Instructor with the ABTC (ABTC-ATI)

FdSc Canine Behaviour and Training (Hull University)