Why Your Dog Isn’t “Stubborn” — They Just Don’t Have the History (Yet)

We ask a lot from our dogs.

We want them to sit politely at the park. Come when called — even if there’s a squirrel nearby. Stay calm around distractions. And follow cues in new, exciting, or even stressful places.

But when they “don’t listen,” many dog owners assume their dog is being stubborn or disobedient.

Here’s the truth: It’s not about being stubborn. It’s about reinforcement history.

What Is a Reinforcement History?

A reinforcement history is your dog’s lived experience of what behaviors have been rewarded — consistently, clearly, and in a variety of situations. Every time you reinforce a behavior (with food, play, praise, or access to something your dog wants), you’re making a deposit into their “training bank account.” The more deposits you make, the more likely that behavior is to “stick” — even under pressure.

No behavior is strong without a history of reinforcement behind it. If you only paid your dog once for coming when called, and then expected it to hold up around distractions… that’s like expecting a part-time employee to keep showing up without a paycheck.

Why a Strong Reinforcement History Matters

Dogs learn through repetition and reward. And behaviors that are reinforced more often are more likely to:

• Be reliable in new places
• Hold up around distractions
• Feel safe, familiar, and worth doing

In contrast, a behavior that’s only been rewarded a few times — or only in easy situations — isn’t going to feel like a strong, trustworthy choice when the stakes are high.

This is especially important for:

• Recall (coming when called)
• Loose leash walking
• Check-ins and engagement
• Calm behavior in stimulating environments

Without reinforcement, those skills fade fast. With it? They become habits.

Ask Yourself:

If your dog “won’t come” at the park…

• Have you rewarded recall enough times in low-stakes environments?
• Have you reinforced it with something your dog actually values?
• Have you built it slowly before adding distractions?

If your dog “won’t check in” on walks…

• Has checking in been more rewarding than pulling?
• Have you paid attention to what your dog finds reinforcing?

This isn’t about blame — it’s about clarity. When you understand reinforcement history, everything about your dog’s behavior starts to make more sense.

The Reinforcement Bank: Make More Deposits

Think of every training session, every check-in, every little win as a deposit.

• Reinforce the behaviors you want to see more of.
• Do it consistently.
• And don’t fade rewards too quickly — especially in new or harder environments.

Over time, you’ll build a solid reinforcement history that lasts. One your dog can lean on — even when they’re unsure, distracted, or excited.

Final Thought: You’re Not Behind

If you’re reading this and thinking, “Oops… I definitely haven’t reinforced enough,” don’t worry.

You’re not behind — you’re learning.

• Start where you are.
• Start today. One reward, one check-in, one success at a time.
• And you’ll be amazed at what your dog can do.

Want help building stronger food motivation and reinforcement habits?

Grab a copy of my Building Food Motivation in Dogs guide on Etsy.

It’ll walk you through:

• Why some dogs “aren’t food motivated” (and how to fix it)
• How to increase engagement and focus using food
• How to progress through the learning phases
• What a solid reinforcement history actually looks like in real life

Whether you’ve got a picky eater, a distracted learner, or you just want to build stronger habits — this guide is packed with actionable, real-life help.