Stubborn or Overwhelmed?

Monty, a one year old miniature American Shepherd waits paitently for his agility class to begin.

We’ve all heard it before. "He knows this. He's just being stubborn."

It’s a common phrase in dog training, especially when a dog seems to blow off a known cue. But what if we stopped assuming intentional defiance and started looking through a different lens—one grounded in behavioral science and compassion?

When a dog doesn’t sit when asked, comes only sometimes, or breaks a down-stay, it’s easy to feel like they’re giving us the finger. But behavior, as the late Dr. Susan Friedman reminds us, is communication. What we label as “stubborn” is often a mix of competing motivators, unclear cues, under-trained behaviors, or emotional overwhelm.

Jean Donaldson, in The Culture Clash, points out that many behavior problems stem not from dominance or disobedience, but from unrealistic expectations and a lack of understanding of what motivates dogs. Dogs don’t come preloaded with a desire to please us; they learn through consequences. If a behavior has a solid reinforcement history, it sticks. If something more reinforcing is present(a squirrel, an interesting smell, or the urge to flee) they’ll take that instead. It’s not stubbornness. It’s behavioral economics.

Sarah Stremming of The Cognitive Canine often talks about "The Four Quadrant Fog," where pet owners and even some trainers default to punishment or frustration without clarity on what is being reinforced or punished. If your dog isn't responding, the first questions should be: Have I trained this thoroughly? Is the cue clear? Is the environment overwhelming? Is my reinforcement strong enough?

When we start asking those questions, we open the door to curiosity and real progress. Instead of labeling our dogs, we troubleshoot like scientists. We work with the dog in front of us—not the one we imagined.

Your dog isn’t being stubborn. They might be confused. They might be scared. They might be distracted. But with positive reinforcement, patience, and solid training mechanics, they can absolutely learn.

References:

• Donaldson, J. (1996). The Culture Clash. James & Kenneth Publishers.

• Stremming, S. (2021). The Four Quadrant Fog. The Cognitive Canine.

• Friedman, S. (2004). "What's Wrong with This Picture? Effectiveness Is Not Enough."