05/07/2026
This is something I’ve been thinking a lot about too! When I was looking for my first puppy I had a VERY strict list of exactly what I was looking for personality wise. Many dogs later, I have learned to simply enjoy the experience of training each individual dog and figuring out their personalities. Instead of trying to turn each and every dog into my most ‘successful’ dog, I now take my time and take each lesson each new dog gives me. And you know what? It’s going pretty well regardless. ❤️
Something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately with my own dogs…
Learning to actually see them for who they are.
Not who I expected.
Not who I wish they were.
Not what someone else’s dog looks like.
Each dog has their own strengths, struggles, quirks — and if you don’t take the time to understand that, you end up working against them without even realizing it.
I still catch myself doing it.
But when you slow down and really look at the dog in front of you, things start to make more sense.
You can meet their needs better.
Find outlets they actually enjoy.
And guide them through the harder stuff in a way that’s fair.
That’s a big part of what I focus on with clients too — understanding the dog first, so we’re not forcing a one-size-fits-all approach.
That’s where everything starts.
Understanding first. Everything else builds from there.
📸
