There are going to be situations where you find that your dog is struggling. You’re going to try to train your dog and they are just clearly not getting it. You see other dogs that seem to pick up on tricks or commands fast, and you feel like something must be wrong with your dog – your dog is failing where other dogs succeed.

There are individual differences between dog breeds.

There are individual differences between dogs.

But, often, the problem is not with your pet. The problem is elsewhere. We call our services “Dog Training.” But that’s not entirely accurate. It’s not really dog training.

It’s people training.

When we work with “your dog,” we’re really training you. We’re showing you how to get your dog to sit, stay, walk on a leash come on command, and more. Our focus is not on your dog. Our focus is on you, because your dog doesn’t need to go home and listen to us. They go back to your house and they need to listen to you.

So, if you’re having trouble training your dog, it’s a good idea to take a step back and consider where you might need to improve:

• How consistent are you being with your commands? Dogs thrive on repetition and clarity. If you change your tone, wording, or timing, your dog may not know what you’re asking.
• Are you rewarding at the right moment? Positive reinforcement works best when it is immediate. Even a delay of a few seconds can cause confusion about what behavior is being rewarded.
• Do you fully understand your dog’s motivations? Some dogs work for food, others for play, others for praise. Training works best when the reward matches what your dog finds most valuable.
• Are your expectations realistic for your dog’s age, breed, and background? A young puppy will not respond the same way as an older, experienced dog, and certain breeds will learn faster or slower depending on their instincts.
• How much patience are you bringing to the process? Training is not something that happens overnight. Even dogs that learn quickly may need weeks of reinforcement before a behavior becomes consistent.
• Are you stressed or nervous or frustrated? Dogs pick up on how you feel. If you’re not in the best place to train, then your dog may not be in the best place to learn, and you may have to calm yourself in order to calm your dog.

Dogs can only respond to the environment, guidance, and consistency they are given. If training isn’t working, it rarely means the dog has failed - it means adjustments need to be made in how the training is approached.

That is why we place such an emphasis on working with you. The more confident, consistent, and knowledgeable you become in your role, the easier it will be for your dog to understand and follow your lead. When both the owner and the dog are working together, success is inevitable.

If you need help with training your dog, reach out to Chicago Dog Trainer, today.