06/08/2025
Can dogs be stubborn?
In short: not really.
Before you jump into the comments with - “You’ve clearly never met a bulldog!” - hear me out.
Stubbornness means refusing to change or comply despite understanding, evidence, or reasoning. In dogs, we often call them stubborn when they "should know better" but don’t listen. But this assumes a level of human-like reasoning that dogs don’t have.
If a dog:
(a) Knows what’s being asked, and
(b) Understands they'll get something they really want if they do it, and
(c) Knows they'll experience something unpleasant if they don’t
..then they will do the thing. It really is that simple.
The problem is, most dogs don’t clearly understand what we want, or they aren’t motivated by the rewards or consequences we think should work.
And funnily enough, the breeds often labelled as “stubborn” (think bulldogs, terriers, livestock guardians) have been selectively bred to work independently of humans. Unlike your average collie or shepherd, they aren't naturally inclined to follow cues just because you said so.
They may not care about food. They may not care about toys. They may not care about praise. That doesn’t make them stubborn! It means you haven’t yet figured out how to motivate them.
And if it’s not a motivation issue? Then it’s likely confusion. If a dog knew that doing X would definitely get them something they really want, and not doing X would lead to something they dislike, they’d pick X every time.
So if your dog isn’t responding, chances are:
- They don’t actually understand what you’re asking
- The “right” choice hasn’t been made clear or rewarding enough
Why does this matter? Because calling a dog “stubborn” often ends up like calling them “dominant”. It becomes a vague excuse that justifies harsh methods, poor training, and frustration.
Dogs are honest creatures, while we are the reasoning sort.
