Why won't my puppy listen to commands when distracted by people?

Hi there! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Yes, there are things that you can do. I recommend treats. It all comes down to positive reinforcement. Puppies love treats so you just need to make sure you associate these commands with positive things such as treats to distract him. It will require persistence and consistency so stay there, you are doing well. Puppies just require some time while they learn but he will get there. Good luck and have a good evening!

Hi there. If you have access to a good puppy kindergarten class in your area, I would definitely recommend signing up - the instructor can show you how to start working with your pup to help her understand what you want and develop a good relationship with her. This normally involves using treats or other rewards your pup enjoys, and teaching her that good things happen for her when she pays attention to you. I also highly recommend the book "Perfect Puppy in 7 Days," by Dr. Sophia Yin. It's a great resource for more detailed information on raising a puppy.

Percy is still very young so it will take some time and training. I would consider taking him to a trainer for the best results. You can try clicker training or treats if he is food motivated. You can also put him on a leash if he tends to get excited and run off during training. Below I have included on links of training. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/what-is-clicker-training-a-great-way-to-shape-your-dogs-behavior/ https://www.clickertraining.com/15tips https://www.cesarsway.com/dog-training/obedience/how-to-get-your-dog-to-listen-to-you https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/teaching-your-puppy-to-listen/ http://www.dogtrainingbasics.com/why-wont-dog-listen-to-me/

You mentioned that Ryder was 3 weeks old, but she is listed as 3 months old in the description, so I am going to presume that she is 3 months old. Pit puppies are generally very food motivated and eager to please, so you do not need or want her to be overly hungry or energetic before trying to do a training session. Take her on a walk first and let her get her energy out before a training session. And keep her training sessions short. Puppies have VERY short attention spans. When you are working with her, make sure you are not bending over or putting the treat too close to her that she is air nipping. You want to be able to stand up and give her a command and have her pay attention. Another trick you may want to use is to use a clicker or squeaky toy to get her attention when using her name, then treat reward her. There are a number of good training techniques. You may want to look into clicker training or working with a trainer for a puppy class to get you started. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and gives you some ideas. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Consistency is key. I would also use treats and/or a clicker to elk with training. You could also get a training to come in just a couple of times to help pin point what is keeping him from listening. It sounds like he is young and probably has a lot of energy therefore, doesn’t want to listen and sit still. You can also try a calmin chew like composure or composure pro. Keep working on training everyday. I would try to take 10-20 minutes everyday to work on commands without any distractions. Use small chewy training treats so he doesn’t get distracted by the process it takes to chew up a large crunchy treat. I hope this helps.

Ideally, a dog should work for your praise rather than a treat or toy. The fact that she walks away when you try a recall tells me that you are working her off-lead before she has become reliable on-lead. And when you go after her, it turns into a game of "catch me if you can" for her.If possible, enroll her in a basic obedience class. Do all of her training with her on the leash until she performs well every time. Keep practice sessions short--about ten minutes--but always end on a positive note. If you need more info, you can click on the prompt to initiate a consult. By the way . . . I have Suomenpystykorva, FInland's National Dog! Good luck with your training.

Hi and thanks for posting on PetCoach! Attention span will get better with age, but implementing a new training technique can help grab and keep his attention too. One simple technique can you try is introducing the 'watch me' command. Say "watch me", point to yourself, and when Jack looks at you, give a high value reward such as very tasty treat. Practice this technique daily. I have linked a helpful video to help you get started. https://youtu.be/BgGi2CqQ8Xw I hope this helps!