Is It the Dog… or the Relationship?

“When your dog is the actual third wheel in the relationship drama… and honestly? He’s not impressed with either of you.”

By Samantha Scarborough, A Dog’s Life Inc. — Charlotte, NC

Let’s just rip the Band-Aid off :Sometimes, the problem isn’t the dog.It’s the relationship.

Yep. I said it.

Before you click away or start drafting a “But you don’t know my dog” email, hang with me for a sec.

Because this isn’t about blame—it’s about understanding.

And once you shift the way you relate to your dog, you’ll start seeing behavior change way faster than you thought possible.

Dogs aren’t stubborn. They’re confused.

Most of the time, your dog isn’t ignoring you to be defiant or “alpha.”They’re ignoring you because they’re unclear, unmotivated, or don’t believe you yet.

If you’re saying “Sit” five times, and your dog is like, “Cool story, human,”—that’s not dominance.

That’s a breakdown in communication.

And here’s the twist: it’s not always about more training.

It’s often about how you’re showing up in the relationship.

Here’s what I mean by “the relationship”

Your dog doesn’t just listen to commands.They read your energy, your tone, your patterns, your timing, your confidence (or lack of it).They know if you mean it—or if you’re unsure.

They know if “Off” means “Get down” or “She’ll give up and pet me in 5 seconds.”

If you’re sending mixed signals, your dog will take the lead. Not because they want to rule your household, but because someone has to create clarity—and right now, they don’t trust you to do it.

Ouch, right? But also empowering.

Because once you realize this, you’re no longer stuck blaming your dog. You’re in control.

Here’s how to fix it:

You don’t need to dominate your dog.You don’t need to become a drill sergeant. But you do need to become a clear, confident, trustworthy leader.

That means:

✅ Following through when you ask for a command.

✅ Being consistent with what’s allowed and what’s not.

✅ Setting boundaries without guilt.

✅ Learning how to coach—not beg—your dog through decisions.

Relationship-based training is the game changer

At A Dog’s Life, we don’t just train dogs. We coach owners.

Because dogs aren’t machines you can just program and forget.

They’re emotional, responsive, thinking animals.And the strongest behavior change happens when you change the relationship dynamic—not just when you teach new commands.

Let’s reset your relationship.

If you’re tired of feeling like your dog only listens “sometimes”…If you’re walking on eggshells to avoid a meltdown at the front door…Or if you just want a dog that listens because they trust you, not because you bribed them…

Let’s talk.

We’ll help you rebuild the relationship in a way that feels natural, empowering, and actually fun.

Because when the relationship is right, everything else gets easier.