06/08/2025
Can dogs be stubborn?
In short: not really.
Before you jump into the comments with - âYouâve clearly never met a bulldog!â - 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 donât listen. But this assumes a level of human-like reasoning that dogs donât have.
If a dog:
(a) Knows whatâs 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 donât
..then they will do the thing. It really is that simple.
The problem is, most dogs donât clearly understand what we want, or they arenât motivated by the rewards or consequences we think should work.
And funnily enough, the breeds often labelled as âstubbornâ (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 doesnât make them stubborn! It means you havenât yet figured out how to motivate them.
And if itâs not a motivation issue? Then itâs 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, theyâd pick X every time.
So if your dog isnât responding, chances are:
- They donât actually understand what youâre asking
- The ârightâ choice hasnât been made clear or rewarding enough
Why does this matter? Because calling a dog âstubbornâ often ends up like calling them âdominantâ. It becomes a vague excuse that justifies harsh methods, poor training, and frustration.
Dogs are honest creatures, while we are the reasoning sort.
