How to Train a Stubborn Dog with Mental Stimulation
I’ll be honest — I used to think my dog was just “stubborn.” No matter how many times I repeated commands, she would either ignore me or do the opposite. It was so frustrating — until I realized the problem wasn’t my dog’s attitude. The real issue was that she needed more mental stimulation to stay engaged and focused during training.
In this post, I’ll show you how I used brain training to turn a stubborn dog into an eager learner — and how you can too. If you want the full program that worked for us, here’s my personal link:
Brain Training for Dogs — Click here to check it out
Table of Contents
Why “Stubborn” Dogs Aren’t Really Stubborn
Most so-called “stubborn” dogs aren’t disobedient on purpose — they’re either bored, mentally under-stimulated, confused, or lack the impulse control to focus.
Repeating the same old commands over and over just makes things worse — your dog tunes out and loses interest.
That’s why adding mental stimulation to training sessions makes such a big difference — it works your dog’s mind in positive ways and teaches them how to think, focus, and cooperate.
How Brain Training Helped My Dog
When I started using brain games with my “stubborn” dog, I noticed huge improvements:
- She paid more attention to me
- She responded to cues faster
- She stopped tuning out during training
- She became more eager to work and learn
- Our bond became stronger
The Brain Games That Worked for Us
1. Focus and Engagement Games
I taught my dog to check in with me and stay engaged — instead of tuning out or chasing distractions.
2. Impulse Control Exercises
Games like “wait”, “leave it”, and “stay” helped my dog learn patience — and stopped the “stubborn” behaviors.
3. Scent Work
Scent games built confidence and gave her a healthy outlet for energy — which helped with overall focus.
4. Trick Training
Adding fun trick training kept my dog mentally stimulated and excited to learn — no more stubborn “no’s.”
If you want a full plan that walks you through these games, this is what I used:
Brain Training for Dogs — Full Program Here
The Results
Within a few weeks of daily brain training, my “stubborn” dog was:
- Eager to participate in training
- More focused and attentive
- Responding faster to commands
- Happier and more connected to me
And training finally became fun — for both of us!
Final Thoughts
If you’ve been frustrated trying to train a “stubborn” dog, the solution isn’t more corrections or harder drills — it’s mental stimulation.
For me, brain training turned everything around — and helped me build a better relationship with my dog.
If you want an easy plan that works, I highly recommend this program:
Brain Training for Dogs — Click here to check it out
Trust me — once your dog’s mind is engaged the right way, those “stubborn” behaviors start to disappear!
Before I started using mental stimulation with my dog, I wasted so much time thinking she was just “bad” or “hard-headed.” But once I shifted my approach and worked her mind, it was like I had a whole new dog.
A big part of the problem was that my dog simply wasn’t interested in the repetitive training I was trying to do. Without mental engagement, she tuned me out. Once I started using brain games, she became curious and motivated to work with me.
One of the biggest lessons I learned? Stubborn dogs are often the smartest ones — they just need the right kind of challenge to stay engaged.
And you don’t need hours a day to make this work. Just 10–20 minutes of mental training each day was enough to start changing my dog’s behavior.
If you’re unsure what types of brain games work best for “stubborn” dogs, this is the exact program that gave me the tools I needed:
Brain Training for Dogs — Full Program Here
Another benefit I noticed was better impulse control — which helped in all areas of life. My dog stopped grabbing food, pulling on the leash, and reacting impulsively.
And because brain games build confidence, my dog also became less reactive to new environments — something we had struggled with before.
If your dog shuts down during typical training or seems disinterested, this method will help reignite their motivation to learn.
I also noticed that these games made training sessions more positive — no more frustration on my part, and my dog loved the fun, rewarding structure.
Even for older dogs, this approach works beautifully. It’s never too late to shift from frustration-based training to positive mental stimulation.
I also love that brain training helps build a stronger bond between you and your dog. Instead of seeing me as a “drill sergeant,” my dog learned to enjoy our training time and look forward to it.
And when your dog is mentally satisfied, many “stubborn” behaviors — like ignoring commands or refusing to come — naturally start to fade.
If you’ve tried traditional obedience classes and felt like your dog “just doesn’t listen,” please give this approach a shot — it made such a difference for us.
If you want a simple plan that makes it easy to start, this is the program I recommend:
Brain Training for Dogs — Click here to check it out
Now, instead of battling through training, my dog and I enjoy it — and those old “stubborn” behaviors are a thing of the past!
Another bonus I discovered is that once my dog’s brain was engaged regularly, her ability to generalize commands improved. Instead of only obeying in the kitchen or living room, she started responding in new places — like the park or during walks.
That’s because mental stimulation helps dogs develop better focus, even in distracting environments — which is often where so-called “stubborn” behavior shows up the most.
I also noticed that after a short brain training session, my dog was more relaxed overall — less hyper, less vocal, and more content to settle. That shift in mindset carried over into the rest of the day.
If you’re ready to stop the frustration and start seeing real progress with your “stubborn” dog, this is the exact program that worked for me:
Brain Training for Dogs — Full Program Here
I wish I had started sooner — it would’ve saved me so much time and stress!
Remember, no dog is truly stubborn — they just need the right kind of mental challenge to bring out their best behavior.