Always End on a High Note

It is really important that we always end training sessions with our dog on high note. In other words the last thing we do should be fun and successful. This is not to say we will always be successful with what we are working on that day, especially if it is something brand new or especially challenging. There may very well be times that we come across something our dog has difficulty learning and that’s totally normal. No big deal, just come back to it later or on another day. Getting frustrated or grinding away at it for too long will only lead to frustration. Frustration, be it yours or your dog’s is not going to be productive. On the contrary, frustration will only serve to be counterproductive. The key is to make the training fun and end the session with both you and your dog feeling good. So, with that said, we need to realize that this might mean going back to something really easy that your dog already knows or just playing tug, fetch or anything that feels good for you both.

This, like most things in life, is simple in theory but easy to overlook when caught in the moment. Competitive, perfectionist types may find this especially challenging but trust me when I tell you that this is the best way to achieve that perfection. Think of it like a good work out. You always warm up before getting into the hard stuff and then cool down before calling it quits. If you just went to the gym, tried to lift something too heavy a few times, got upset with yourself and quit you’d probably just be sore the next day and not go back.

We need to set ourselves and our dogs up for success. Warm up with easy stuff and get them engaged then ease into the “work” portion which could be adding challenges to known behaviors or teaching something brand new. If you have success with the new behavior or challenge then great! You can end the training there, give lots of love and throw the ball or just let your dog run around and pee on stuff or whatever. Good job! If on the other hand the challenge is not going so well or your dog “just isn’t getting it”, take a breather and then go back to something easy.

Clearly, if you are not seeing improvements over a reasonable amount of time something is wrong and you may need to rethink your approach or get some professional help. If you're already in an obedience class don’t be afraid to ask questions. It is easy to get lost in the crowd so make yourself known and get your money’s worth. I can’t speak for all trainers but I love questions. It shows that you care plus it keeps me on my toes. I also appreciate people who show up early or stay after class when they need some extra help.

The main idea here is to accept that it all doesn’t have to happen today. The idea is to end your training session on a high note so both you and your dog will want to do it again tomorrow.

Chad Culp–Certified Dog Trainer, Behavior Consultant, Certified Holistic Chef for Animals

Always End on a High Note

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