Why Your Dog’s Behavior Isn’t Getting Better
Why Your Dog’s Behavior Isn’t Getting Better — And Why It’s Not Your Fault
You’ve tried everything.
You’ve read the blogs, watched the videos, tried the training collars, bought the treats, maybe even hired a local trainer or two.
And yet… your dog is still barking at the window, pulling on walks, jumping on guests, whining for attention, or just generally acting like a wild thing.
At this point, you’re probably wondering:
“Am I doing something wrong? Is my dog just untrainable?”
Let us stop you right there.
It’s not your fault.
It’s not your dog’s fault.
You’ve just been given the wrong approach.
Most Dog Trainers Don’t Actually Solve Behavior Problems
We say this with respect — but also with urgency:
Most trainers out there today can’t fix the problems you’re dealing with.
Because most trainers only teach obedience — not behavior.
They’ll show you how to teach your dog to sit, stay, come, or shake. And your dog might learn those things… in your living room… with a treat in your hand.
But as soon as there’s a distraction?
As soon as another dog walks by, a guest enters your home, or you step outside?
All that obedience goes out the window.
Because obedience isn’t enough.
Obedience Won’t Fix Barking, Jumping, Lunging, or Pulling
Obedience is like the icing on the cake.
But if there’s no cake underneath — nothing solid — then the obedience doesn’t mean much.
Your dog may know how to sit.
That doesn’t mean they respect your authority when they’re overstimulated, bored, frustrated, or triggered.
That’s why the “standard advice” fails you:
“Give them more treats”
“Redirect the behavior”
“Ignore it — they’ll grow out of it”
“They just need more exercise”
“It’s the breed — nothing you can do”
Sound familiar?
We hear from dog owners every day who have done all the right things, only to feel like their dog is getting worse — not better.
Behavior Change Starts with Leadership, Not Commands
Your dog doesn’t need more commands.
They need more clarity.
They need to know who’s in charge — and that it’s not them.
When a dog doesn’t trust their owner to lead, they take charge. That looks like:
Barking at every noise outside
Jumping on guests to control the space
Pulling on the leash to decide where you’re going
Ignoring you when they’re overstimulated
They’re not being bad.
They’re doing what dogs naturally do in the absence of calm, consistent leadership.
The Truth No One Tells You: It’s Not About the Commands
You don’t correct these behaviors with “sit” and “stay.”
You correct them by establishing respect first — and that’s what nearly every training program gets wrong.
They start with obedience.
We start with relationship.
At Team SamIvy, we believe in a clear hierarchy:
Trust
Respect
Obedience
Only when your dog sees you as a calm, confident leader will obedience actually work under pressure, in distraction, in real life.
Until then? It’s just theater.
Your Dog Is Not Untrainable — You’ve Just Been Misdirected
If you’ve felt judged, dismissed, or blamed for your dog’s behavior… we get it.
You’re doing your best.
You care. You’re trying. And you’ve probably been burned by advice that was way too simplistic for the real-life challenges you’re facing.
That’s why we do things differently.
We don’t train your dog for you — we teach you how to train your dog.
We help you establish rules, reinforce boundaries, and lead your dog in a way they understand and respond to.
We build foundations
— and from there, everything else gets easier.
Final Thoughts: You Haven’t Failed — The System Has
If your dog is acting out… if they seem out of control, pushy, needy, wild, or just plain stubborn… don’t assume they’re a lost cause.
They’re not.
You just haven’t been taught the right way to reach them.
And once you do? Everything changes.
Respect first. Obedience second.
That’s the SamIvy -difference.
👉 Ready to learn how we help dog owners build calm, respectful behavior that lasts? Click here.
