05/26/2026
Putting a dog in Training mode is NOT reality... (pet dog training)
We often get the comment when we do refreshers with clients whose skills are lacking. "They only listen because it's you guys!"
Yes and No. But it's not what you think.
And here's why.
1 We (the trainer) have a different relationship with your dog. They know that if anyone of our team handles them. They have a 100% guarantee that we will
1.uphold the law,
2. Give them clear and correct information and
3. Your dog sees us as the Safe Zone. We are NEVER negative in the dogs eyes.
We have also worked your dog in the highest state of drive and proofed their ability to perform under distraction in multiple environments or "pictures"
The dogs know We are in charge not "trying" to be in charge. All dogs respond to this confidence and clarity once they've gone through our training process.
I can take ANY dog Fabian or any of our assistant's have trained and vice versa and the moment we take the leash, that clarity and knowledge transfers right down the leash to the dog.
We also are confident in the fact that this dog is trained 100% to our standard therefore we can prove your dog can handle the scenarios they were failing before training.
2. You (the owner)
1.are in the middle of your learning phase, so mistakes are imminent. 2.You're not as confident in knowing what to do so your timing is off. You're likely holding the leash wrong, repeating commands, "trying" to be in charge.
3. You're EXPECTING the dog to listen so you're not prepared to give the correct information. This is the #1 cause of conflict by the way. By not being prepared, you will resort to your old ways of getting mad, yelling and making the dog see YOU as the negative which will almost always result in a failed effort and the dog will have not learned anything other than you as the owner have no control over anything they do. Or worse they become afraid of you.
4. You skip the steps of the process you were taught in your lessons. Ask yourself this. If you missed any steps in the process to drive your car from A-B, how likely is it the car will fail to perform? How many steps to making the car "go" is there?
Unlock, open door, sit in position, foot on brake, key or push start, put in gear etc etc etc. if you are not thinking about your dog training process like this, likely you will have major communication gaps which ultimately lead to failure and frustration. Our dogs are trained specifically in steps that are backchained into the end result. We build in the discipline under the radar so when it's done. The dogs have a 100% understanding of the full and complete job paired to each command or behavior. Skip steps and they will not understand what you want from them.
5. You're separating "Training mode" with freedom or off duty. There must be a blend in order to live with your dogs in the reality of life. You must work distracted scenarios in reps so they know how to behave when someone rings the bell or they take off after a squirrel. This goes back to always being prepared! You cannot set aside time for "training" then have no rules in life.
6. You get your dog home and give them all the freedom without rules and baggage that they came to training with. 🫣. We probably see this the most. Congratulations. You just threw your money down the drain! We can get you back on track. But you blew the most important phase and that was your Do over. Your "Clean Slate". You blew the first opportunity to really teach your dog how to behave in your own environment.
This is so incredibly unfair to your dog. They just went through 2-3 weeks of rewiring and learning a useful understanding of how to follow rules in a free will state of mind. We absolutely hate this the most. Because we have grown to love your dog and have a special bond with them. It makes us very sad to get the frustrated client call blaming the dog. "He's doing this and she doesn't listen" etc etc. this is where WE become the advocate for your dog. This is why WE stay with you for the life of your dog. For THEM. not the owners per se.
At the End of the Day... your dog is living in a foreign country not understanding the language, guessing and playing charades through life. Some get close and some people have a natural tendency to give "good enough"
Information.
For dogs. Putting them in "Training Mode" is not Reality.
So when we come do an in home visit 100% of the time. After 1 correction. Or merely when we handle the leash... they never make a mistake again. Not because it's "us". It's because of the "Familiar Picture" we provide the dog. We come from a place of Zero baggage, no negativity and ultimately the dogs trust us. These sessions are usually only valuable for the owners to see that THEY are the problem THEY are carrying the baggage of the past relationship. Not the dogs.
