04/09/2026
On a training walk with my client today, we did exactly this.
Sometimes we forget that just being is an important part of their lives, and ours too.
Just relaxing and watching the world go by, blissful! ✨️
🐾 Not every moment with your dog needs to be a training session.
We’ve become very focused on constantly reinforcing dogs.
Treats. Food scatters. Markers. Engagement. Giving them something to do.
And at the other end of the spectrum, we can be just as quick to correct them when they get something “wrong”.
But there’s a sweet spot in the middle that I think is hugely underrated:
The dog that needs neither.
No treats.
No instructions.
No constant reinforcement.
But also no shouting, correcting or punishing.
Because the dog is simply at ease.
They can watch a person walk past without needing to react.
Notice wildlife without becoming fixated.
Stand, sit or lie down without being told to.
They’re not performing a “settle”.
They’re not waiting for their next treat.
They’re just… being a dog, completely comfortable in their environment.
That’s something I love seeing develop in my Walk & Train dogs.
We spend so much time teaching dogs what to do.
Maybe we should spend a little more time teaching them that sometimes nothing is required of them at all. 🐾
Does your dog have places where you can just stop together and do absolutely nothing? I’d love to hear what this looks like for you and your dog — or whether it’s something you’re still working towards.
