Why Your Dog Ignores You and How to Get Their Attention

Is your pup tuning you out like last night's leftovers? If you’ve ever found yourself calling your dog for what feels like the hundredth time with zero tail wags or eye contact in return, you’re not alone. Many Kiwi pet parents ask the question: “Why does my dog ignore me?” The good news? With a little understanding, consistency and help from the experts (that’s us!), you can rebuild your dog’s attention and trust. Because at Petdirect, We Get Pet.

1. Understanding Why Your Dog Is Ignoring You

Dogs may ignore their humans for a bunch of reasons — and most of the time, it’s not because they’re being naughty. Here are some common causes:

• Mixed signals: If different family members use different words or gestures, your dog can get confused.
• Unclear training: If your dog hasn’t fully learned a command, they might not respond consistently.
• Distractions: The world is pretty exciting! Birds, smells and other dogs can pull their focus away.
• Medical issues: Hearing loss or discomfort could be the culprit. If your dog has suddenly started ignoring you, it’s worth getting them checked by your vet to rule out health concerns.
• Negative associations: If every time you call your dog it means something unpleasant (like bath time), they might avoid you.

Remember, ignoring isn’t the same as disobedience. It’s your dog’s way of saying they’re unsure or distracted – not defiant!

2. Strengthen Your Bond Through Positive Reinforcement

Building a strong connection with your dog is the first step toward improving their focus on you. Dogs thrive on routine, positive interactions, and trust. Here’s how to get them choosing you over everything else outdoors:

• Reward good choices: When your dog pays attention to you, offer them a treat, toy, or a big “good dog!”
• Use high-value rewards: Find their favourite training treat — whether that’s a chewy chicken chunk or a freeze-dried delight.
• Keep it short and sweet: Short training sessions are key. Think 5–10 minutes a few times a day.
• Celebrate the little wins: Every sit, stay, or turn of the head in your direction is progress.

Explore top training reward options in our Training & Reward Treats range to make learning tasty and fun!

3. Be Consistent With Your Commands

Dogs are creatures of habit, so when it comes to training, consistency is more than helpful – it’s crucial.

• Stick with one cue per command: If you want your dog to come when called, choose one word (e.g., “Come”) and stick with it.
• Ensure everyone’s on the same page: If each family member trains differently, your dog might not know what to do. Make a simple training plan together.
• Use timing to your advantage: Reward right after your dog responds correctly. Timing helps them connect behaviour with reward.

It’s also worth exploring training accessories like clickers or treat pouches to keep rewards ready at all times. Little tools can make big training wins!

4. Focus Their Attention With Interactive Play

If your dog isn’t listening, they might just need a bit more proactive engagement. A bored pup can quickly become a distracted one!

• Enrich their day: Toys like interactive dog toys challenge your dog physically and mentally, keeping their focus sharper.
• Use play for training: Fetch, tug-of-war or puzzle feeders can all be turned into fun teaching moments ("drop it", "wait" and "find it").

Looking for enrichment inspiration? Our smart tech toy collection is full of fetch-worthy favourites that make listening irresistible.

5. Stay Calm and Patient With Progress

Your dog isn’t ignoring you out of spite. Training takes patience — especially when undoing habits. Celebrate the progress and know that setbacks are part of the learning process.

• Be mindful of tone: Dogs respond better to calm signals than raised voices.
• Stay encouraging: Even if your dog fumbles, keep reinforcing the behaviour you want to see.
• Manage expectations: Learning to listen takes time. Keep things fun and pressure-free!

If you think your dog is feeling stressed or overwhelmed, you might want to explore calming supplements and aids to help support their mood and focus.

Turning Ignored Moments Into Tail-Wags

If your dog sometimes ignores you, you’re not alone — and you’re not doing anything wrong. Like us, dogs have moods, off-days and distractions. With the right techniques, a sprinkle of positivity, and support from the Petdirect team, you can turn those "selective hearing" moments into tail-wagging responses.

Explore our full range of dog training solutions and top-rated essentials to make every day a step closer to a more responsive, better-bonded pup.

And don’t forget to join our Pet Perks loyalty programme for exclusive treats, discounts and points toward rewards on every purchase. Because at Petdirect, We Get Pet.