Q: My dog seems to ignore me at the dog park, even though he listens perfectly at home. Why does he do this?

A: One of the most common misconceptions in dog training is that a dog who ‘knows’ something at home should be able to do it anywhere. But dogs aren’t generalists; they learn contextually. For example, a sit in the kitchen doesn’t automatically translate to a sit at the park, especially when there are squirrels, smells, and other dogs to compete with your voice.

In the busy outdoor setting when there is a lot going on, your dog is overwhelmed, distracted, or just not yet fluent in ‘outdoor obedience.’ Go back to basics, start with calmer outdoor environments and reward generously before heading back to the dog park to try again.