07/09/2026
Before you assume your dog is being stubborn… ask yourself a different question.
What if they’re hurting?
Woody, a poodle in my Prep School program, didn’t want to sit on Monday.
Could I have corrected him? Absolutely.
But something didn’t feel right.
His rear end looked sensitive, and after training thousands of dogs over the years, I’ve learned that “disobedience” isn’t always a training problem. Sometimes it’s a physical one.
I booked Woody with Victoria at The Balanced Orchid, and she confirmed exactly what I suspected. He had areas of discomfort that were making sitting uncomfortable.
Dogs tweak muscles. They get sore. They compensate. Just like we do.
This is one of the most overlooked parts of dog training. If a dog suddenly struggles with a behavior they previously understood, I always ask, “Could this be physical?” before assuming it’s a training issue.
Both of my personal dogs see Victoria on a semi-regular basis. Massage, bodywork, and laser therapy have become part of keeping them comfortable, performing well, and feeling their best. I’d much rather stay ahead of problems than wait until they’re obvious.
As dog owners, we owe it to our dogs to look at the whole picture—not just the behavior.
A dog that’s uncomfortable can’t always tell us where it hurts. They tell us by changing how they move, how they respond, or what they suddenly don’t want to do.
Have you ever had your dog evaluated by an animal massage therapist or animal chiropractor? I’d love to hear about your experience.
If you’ve never considered it, ask your questions below. There are no bad questions, and if this post gets more people thinking beyond “my dog is just being stubborn,” then Woody has helped educate more than just himself today.
❤️ Share this with another dog owner. It might help someone recognize discomfort before it becomes a bigger problem.
