3 Signs You’re Trying to Make Something Work (But That Dog Won’t Hunt)

March 26, 2025

Back when I was just a young frog, I used to hear old-timers say, “That dog won’t hunt.” I figured it had something to do with actual dogs and hunting, but I learned real quick it meant something much bigger.

When a dog won’t hunt, it means no matter how much you call, whistle, or shake a bag of treats, that hound’s just gonna sit there looking at you like you’ve lost your mind. It’s a way of saying something just isn’t gonna work, no matter how much you wish it would.

I’ve seen plenty of folks—including myself—waste time trying to convince a non-hunting dog to, well, hunt. We all do it, and I don’t mean hunt. Whether it’s a job, a relationship, or an idea we just don’t want to give up on, sometimes we push and push, ignoring all the signs that it just ain’t meant to be.

If you’re wondering whether you’re holding onto something that’s not working. Like trying to make a dog hunt when it doesn’t want to hunt. There are three clear signs that you might be chasing after something that won’t hunt. [viewmore]

1. You’re putting in all the work, but nothing changes.

If something’s meant to work, effort makes a difference. But if you’re the only one trying, and nothing ever improves, that’s a sign. It’s like trying to start a fire with damp wood—no matter how much you fan the flames, it won’t catch.

I once knew a fella who spent years trying to make a business work that just never took off. He tried everything—new strategies, different locations, long hours—but the market just wasn’t there. The moment he let go and switched paths, things started falling into place. Sometimes, it’s not about effort. It’s about knowing when to stop wasting it.

If you’re not sure whether it’s time to move on, [here’s an article on recognizing when you’re forcing something that isn’t working.]

2. You keep making excuses for why it’s not working.

When something isn’t working, it’s easy to blame timing, bad luck, or outside forces. But if you constantly find yourself justifying why something should work when all signs say otherwise, you might be ignoring the truth.

I’ve done it myself—tried to convince myself that if I just waited a little longer or tweaked a few things, everything would turn around. But deep down, I knew the truth. Some things just aren’t built to last, no matter how much we want them to.

3. The thoughts of letting go feel like failure.

One of the hardest things to admit is that we’re holding onto something for the wrong reasons. Sometimes, we stick with something just because we’ve put so much time into it. We tell ourselves that quitting means failing. But that’s not true.

Letting go of something that isn’t working isn’t failure—it’s making room for something better. It’s not quitting, it’s adjusting course. There’s no shame in realizing that something isn’t the right fit. The real mistake is staying stuck just because you don’t want to admit it’s time to move on.

Know when to walk away.

At some point, you’ve got to step back and ask yourself: Am I putting my energy into something that actually has a chance? Or am I just holding onto it because I don’t want to admit it won’t work? Life’s too short to waste chasing things that aren’t meant to be. The best opportunities don’t require you to beg, struggle, or force things into place. When something fits, you’ll know.

So if you’re out there right now, wrestling with something that just ain’t working, take a step back. Ask yourself if you’re trying to get a non-hunting dog to go after a rabbit. And if you are, maybe it’s time to hang up the leash and look for a new path.

— Archie (Chief Philosopher)

P.S. And if you ever need a reminder, well, I just so happen to know a graphic t-shirt that’ll do the trick. The t-shirt is included in our Archie’s Southern Sayings series.