10/02/2026
10 Ways to Help Your Puppy Listen
If your puppy “isn’t listening,” they’re not being stubborn, they are possibly too distracted or overwhelmed by everything going on around them. Group puppy classes can be fantastic but they can also be overwhelming. It's up to you to pay close attention to your puppy and support them when they need it.
As mentioned in class, they’re responding perfectly to what’s working for *them* in that moment.
Our job is to change the picture so listening becomes the best option.
Here’s a recap of what we covered 👇
**1️⃣ Talk Less**
As spoken about in class, repeating cues turns them into background noise. Say it once. Mean it. If you have to move away from a distraction then do so.
**2️⃣ Be Worth Listening To**
If the environment is more rewarding than you are, your puppy will choose it every time. This is why value matters. We discussed working with different values treats and rewards.
**3️⃣ Stop Nagging**
Louder doesn’t mean clearer. As mentioned in class, if a cue fails, repeating it won’t fix it. If your puppy is at the end of their leash, completely ignoring you then go to them, walk inf onto, get that nose working for you and then re-engage.
**4️⃣ Drop the Grump**
Puppies don’t follow frustrated humans well. Calm, clear communication always beats cranky energy. Remember, we can always walk away, take a moment and reset. Everyone's training journey is different, don't compare yours to the pair next door.
**5️⃣ Reward the Almost**
As discussed, small choices lead to big behaviours. We reinforce progress, not just perfection. I'll be discussing more about behaviours chains and laddering cues next week.
**6️⃣ Tone Matters**
Dogs hear emotion more than words. Keep your cues consistent in tone, not just vocabulary. Remember, using slow and low cues. Our frantic, fast and high pitched cues result in excitement and energetic puppies. There is a time and a place.
**7️⃣ Manage First**
No recall yet? No off-lead. As spoken about in class, training without management just rehearses failure.
**8️⃣ Proof Properly**
If it only works at home, it doesn’t truly work. We build skills gradually, not all at once. Biggest point, as I mentioned in class, practice, practice, practice in all sorts of environments.
**9️⃣ Use Real Reinforcement**
As mentioned in class, a reward isn’t a reinforcer unless your puppy would happily work for it again.
**🔟 Fulfil the Dog**
When a puppy’s physical and mental needs are met, listening stops being a constant battle.
**Final thought (as we wrapped up in class):**
Puppies listen to what works, what pays, and what makes sense in *their* world.
Fix the system, and the behaviour follows.
Photograph of my girl Brandy when I first adopted her.
