Changing your Dog’s Poor Behavior

Training your dog is a journey, not a sprint. Just as we give ourselves time to overcome our fears and bad habits, we need to understand that our dogs also need patience and time to change their behavior. It is not a 30-minute fix.

Your poorly-behaved dog knows you. He understands how firm or soft you can be, how uncertain and inconsistent you have been, and how far they can push you.

Like any dysfunctional human relationship, where one side has allowed themselves to be trodden upon and then learns how to stand up for themselves (have and state boundaries and impose consequences for crossing them), they are met with push-back and disbelief—your dog will do the same!

You wouldn’t be surprised if your human counterpart needed many repetitions, reminders, and considerable convincing that the new you is, in fact, a real, permanent, required-to-be-taken-seriously you—and that denial and push-back of this new you will not only be useless but will also have consequences.

When we start asserting our leadership, setting rules and boundaries, and enforcing our expectations, we should be prepared for the fact that it will take time and many repetitions to convince our dogs that this new approach is to be taken seriously.

Scientifically sound and behavioral-based dog training can be monotonous and tedious. Dogs need time, repetition, and patience.

Even though it is hard to get that leash and training plan out every day and do the work, just do it. Remember, it is all for your dog's long-term improvement. With patience and commitment, you will see significant, long-term improvement.