STOP CALLING THEM STUBBORN: A Lesson in Finding the Right Reward

The Myth of Stubbornness For years, I heard the same feedback: "You're difficult," "You're stubborn," "You're uncooperative." I'd internalize it, wondering why I couldn't just "fit in." What I've come to realize is that these labels often miss the point. Just like a "stubborn" dog, sometimes the issue isn't a lack of willingness, but a mismatch in motivation and method.

Understanding Currency The truth is, high-drive dogs aren't "stubborn." They simply have a very specific set of high-value motivators, or "currency." A Malinois isn't going to stand still for polite praise if there's a tug toy to be chased. They're seeking the highest return on their effort.

My Personal Experience Reflecting on my "difficult" past, I wasn't being stubborn; I was often being asked to perform in ways that didn't align with my highest currency. My currency wasn't always a pay raise—it was autonomy, the challenge of solving complex problems, or the freedom to innovate.

The Takeaway Our job isn't to "break" individuals; it's to find the key that unlocks their drive.

Coming Soon: The "No Such Thing as a Bad Dog" Masterclass!

Tired of being told your dog (or your team) is "untrainable"? I’m pulling back the curtain on the exact system I used in shelters and handling to turn "red zone" cases into reliable partners. Join the waitlist to be the first to know when we go live.

About the Author

April Suhr is the founder of 4PAWZLV and the creator of The Balanced Lead. Her journey is defined by a life lived in the trenches of animal welfare and behavior, moving from the front lines of rescue to the precision of professional handling.

April started their career on the ground floor as a Shelter Employee, eventually rising to Shelter Manager. It was there, managing high-volume, high-stress environments, that they learned how to lead teams and animals through chaos. To deepen their understanding of the biology behind the behavior, they transitioned into the medical field as a Veterinary Technician, gaining a clinical perspective on stress and recovery.

Today, as an Canine Handler, she ’ve combined that "in-the-trenches" grit with technical expertise to create a unique approach to leadership.

April knows what it’s like to be written off—both as an employee who didn't always fit the corporate mold and as a handler holding the lead of a dog labeled "untrainable." This perspective is exactly why they founded The Balanced Lead.

Her  mission is simple: No Such Thing as a Bad Dog. By stripping away labels and Training with Heart, April proves that whether you are in a kennel or a high-pressure workplace, success happens when you stop correcting and start connecting.

At 4PAWZLV, we don’t just train dogs; we advocate for the misunderstood.