Your Retriever has endless energy and doesn’t seem to listen.
Your Spaniel ignores you completely the moment their nose hits the ground.
You’ve tried everything, and nothing seems to stick.
I hear you. I’ve been there too.
Here’s what I want you to know: this isn’t about disobedience — and it’s definitely not a recall problem.
The Sporting Dog You Fell in Love With
Let’s talk about Sporting breeds — Pointers, Retrievers, Setters, and Spaniels.
These dogs were developed to work closely with humans, responding to subtle cues, reading body language, and making quick decisions in complex environments.
We built them to be our partners.
And that’s exactly what they’re still trying to be.
Why They Can’t Hear You
Here’s the key thing most people miss:
When your dog is overwhelmed by excitement, instinct, or pent-up energy, they’re no longer in “listening mode.”
It's like trying to talk to someone who's completely absorbed in a thrilling movie at the cinema—lost in the story, heart racing with the action.
They're not choosing to ignore you; they're genuinely so captivated that your voice can't break through.
Your voice is there, but their instinct is louder. In that moment, everything else—including all their training—simply fades into the background.
When Instinct Has Nowhere to Go
Here’s what many of us don’t realise when we bring home a Sporting breed:
You didn’t adopt a pet who happens to work.
You adopted a worker who happens to live in your home.
And when a working dog’s instincts have nowhere to go, it doesn’t look like a calm, bored dog on the sofa — it looks like this:
Your Spaniel “Ignores” You on Walks
When he locks onto a scent, every fibre of his being says, “Follow this.”
Ignoring that instinct would be like you ignoring a fire alarm.
Your Retriever Has Endless Energy
You come home after a long day, and your Retriever is spinning, mouthing, or unable to settle.
These dogs were bred to work for hours — swimming, running, and retrieving.
That drive doesn’t disappear just because they live indoors.
Your Pointer Pulls Like a Freight Train
She’s scanning the horizon for movement — birds, scents, shadows.
Pointers were bred to freeze when they found game, laser-focused and intense.
Without an outlet, that instinct shows up as pulling, fixating on squirrels, or going deaf when a bird flies overhead.
It’s Not a Behaviour Problem — It’s an Unmet Need
If you have a Sporting breed and you’re seeing “selective hearing,” excessive jumping, pulling, or relentless attention-seeking, ask yourself:
Is their roadmap being honoured?
✅ Are they getting daily opportunities to sniff, run, and be independent?
✅ Are they getting mental stimulation through games or problem-solving?
✅ Are they getting genuine human connection, not just being near you?
If the answer is no — and I completely understand, modern life can be demanding —
you’re not dealing with a behaviour problem. You’re dealing with an unmet need.
The Real Solution: Meeting Their Needs First
Before any training technique can truly work, it’s essential to address what’s missing in your dog’s daily life.
This doesn’t mean you need to become a professional trainer. It’s about finding realistic, creative ways to honour what your dog was bred for.
Even 20-30 minutes of genuine running, sniffing, or playing can make a massive difference. A long walk where they can actually explore (not just heel by your side) gives their body and nose the workout they crave.
For the mental stimulation:
Scatter feeding, snuffle mats, or hiding treats engages their problem-solving brain.
Remember — these dogs were bred to think, not just move.
For their connection with you:
This doesn’t have to be complicated. Sitting together on the sofa while you gently stroke them (if they enjoy that), offering a chew while you relax, or just a few minutes of play or training all help. What matters is that they feel seen and included in your world.
The beautiful thing? When these needs are met—even imperfectly—the "problem" behaviours often reduce dramatically on their own.
Training That Helps: Teaching Them to Think
Here’s the hopeful part: because these dogs were bred to work closely with us, they are incredibly fast learners.
But even when their needs are being met, many of these dogs still need help managing all their arousal and excitement. That’s where training comes in — not as a way to control them, but as a way to help them cope and communicate.
In my work through online consultations, I focus on helping dogs learn how to make good choices and communicate with us, even when they’re excited or overstimulated.
Instead of trying to control them once they’re overwhelmed, we teach them how to express themselves before they reach that point.
The Power of a Default Behaviour
You can do this by teaching a “default behaviour.” Instead of waiting for a command, your dog learns to offer a sit, down, or eye contact to ask for something.
For example, with my own dog, I began rewarding him whenever he offered a sit on his own. He quickly learned that offering this behaviour was a powerful way to ask for what he wanted — toys, food, or for the door to be opened.
I learned this from the amazing dog trainer Leslie McDevitt, author of Control Unleashed: The Puppy Program. As Leslie explains in her book, your dog learns that he makes access to those things happen with his own behaviour.
It’s really about communication — helping your dog learn to problem-solve and self-regulate in different environments, rather than relying entirely on our direct commands.
He has agency. We have a conversation.
How to Get Started
1. Pick the Behaviour
The default behaviour doesn’t have to be a sit — it can be a sit, down, or even eye contact. It can be anything you’d like it to be. For dogs with joint issues, eye contact is often the best choice.
2. Capture the Choice
Watch your dog. When they offer the behaviour — for example, when they sit — praise them and give them a treat.
3. Apply it to Real Life
Start using this default behaviour in daily routines. Before giving access to food, toys, or the garden, simply wait for the sit (or other behaviour) before rewarding. That polite sit your dog offers before dinner? It’s the first brick in developing self-control, patience, and communication.
Over time, this behaviour becomes their natural way to ask politely for things, creating a foundation for calmer, more thoughtful interactions throughout the day.
You’re teaching them to pause, think, and communicate — the foundation of self-control.
You’re Not Failing
I know how it feels to think you’re failing your dog. But you’re not.
You just didn’t realise you brought home an elite athlete with a PhD in human partnership — and no one gave you the manual.
The relief comes when we shift our perspective.
When we understand why our dogs do what they do, we stop taking it personally.
We stop feeling like failures — and start building the partnership we always wanted.
Need Support?
If you’re feeling overwhelmed and need help applying this in real life,
my online consultations are designed to help you create a personalised plan that fits your dog’s instincts — and your lifestyle.
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