Though usually associated with a behavioral issue or a failing conditioned response, your dog may be ignoring you for a medical reason. If your dog suddenly starts ignoring you, appears off-balance, and seems to startle easy, he may be suffering from a ruptured eardrum.
They Have Medical Issues Like an Ear Infection or Dementia. Having a dog that ignores you out of nowhere can be stressful. You might think that it's a behavioral issue, but it could actually be a medical one. For example, a dog might suddenly ignore you because they have an ear infection or some sort of eye problem.
The reasons your dog may not be listening might be medical in nature, but most often, if your dog will not come to you or ignores you completely, it is because of a training or a behavioral issue. Once you feel you have ruled out potential illness, training and conditioning your dog will improve his recall ability.
Here's The Short Answer to Why Your Dog is Suddenly Ignoring You: Perhaps the reason why your dog ignores you is that they are afraid of you. For example, you might have scolded, hit, or yelled at them in the past. Or it could be they are sad because you have not paid enough attention to your dog.
Perhaps you've been too busy at work and you're spending less and less time with your pooch. This abrupt change in their routine and your less active participation in their life can also make them distant and by ignoring you they might want to get you to notice them more.
The Root of the Behavior Overprotection in many forms simply comes from jealousy. A dog who receives too much attention during their younger years or one who has to compete with another dog for the human companions attention will often develop overprotective or aggressive behaviors.
Your dog is most commonly obsessed with you due to a lack of exercise or food, behavior issues such as separation anxiety, external changes (new home, pregnancy, period), or simply positive reinforcement especially if you have a velcro dog already.
Your dog snuggles to feel the love. “We also know that, when dogs get close to us, they can smell the oxytocin that our body releases from their contact,” Dr Joanna Woodnutt, MRCVS, a veterinarian tells Romper. “When they smell this hormone, their body releases their own oxytocin in response.
Because dogs try to hide discomfort, a dog who suddenly starts acting differently around his favorite human might be trying to keep an ailment or injury to himself. A dramatic change in behavior like this could warrant a visit to the vet.
You may be on to something when you say your dog may not be aware of you – sometimes they get so focused on one thing (or lots of things) that they don't think about the rest of their surroundings, including their company. Another possibility is that she may have inadvertently been 'trained' to ignore you.
Your dog is too distracted to listen. You can teach your dog to ignore distractions, it just takes some practice. You may want to start working on training by the front of your house, in your backyard, or another place that might be a little bit more distracting than your living room, but not overwhelming.
If you suspect your pet is losing her hearing, test her by calling her name or making a loud noise when she is looking away from you. Try several different levels in the tone of your voice because some dogs may be able to hear a higher or lower pitched sounds.
Dogs are known for their sense of smell; they have the sharpest nose. Your scent can attract other dogs if you're a dog owner. You could have the scent of your dog on you or their food and other essential products. So if you find dogs sniffing you very often, it is because they love your scent.