06/08/2026
One of the most common things I hear is:
“He knows it. He just won’t do it outside.”
Most of the time, that’s not what’s happening.
A dog can know a cue perfectly well and still struggle to respond when they’re overly excited, frustrated, worried, or focused on something else in the environment.
Think about a walk.
Your dog notices another dog, a squirrel, a person, or something they’ve been watching for half a block.
Their attention shifts.
Their body changes.
Their focus narrows.
At that point, asking for a sit isn’t always a training problem.
It’s often a state problem.
The dog isn’t choosing between listening and not listening.
They’re trying to process everything happening around them.
One of the reasons I spend so much time helping owners recognize when their dog is starting to get worked up is because that’s usually when you have the most influence.
The earlier you recognize it, the more options you have.
The longer you wait, the harder it becomes for both of you.
A lot of dogs aren’t refusing to listen.
They’re telling us they’re having a hard time.
