04/29/2026
This is something I teach at every seminar and shadow program. And while it might seem wildly simplistic, or wildly obvious, or wildly incomplete⌠itâs also wildly helpful if applied with a bit of thought.
I find far too many trainers (and owners) focusing on preset, cookie-cutter training systems and adviceâand then theyâre left with behavior, attitude, and relationship issues still unaddressed.
And while having a foundational set of skills and behaviors you teach all dogs is of course normal, and smart, if it stops there it leaves a large gap as to what needs a deeper focus for the individual dog.
Which is where the behavioral problem solving compass comes in. What is the dog overly intense about doing, and what is the dog overly intense about not doing?
If a dog is polite, patient, and only mildly excited about coming out of the crate, and also happily walks into the crate when askedâdo you need to spend a bunch of time on crate drills? No. Because thereâs no behavioral, attitude, or relationship value to be gained by doing so.
Conversely, if the dog begins to spool up and levitate as you approach the crate door, and once itâs opened a hair, they attempt to blast through it, AND when you ask them to go in the crate they perform the canine version of Spider-Man and absolutely refuse to enter the crateâdo you need to spend a bunch of time on crate drills? You freaking bet. Because thereâs a ton of behavioral, attitude, and relationship value to be gained by doing so.
If you extend this out to all your daily interactions with your dog, and you scan the behavioral horizon for any âMan, Iâm SO gonna do that, ainât no one gonna stop me!â moments, and any âMan, I SO donât want to do that, ainât no one gonna make me!â moments, youâll be focusing your training energies in the right placeâand youâll be making tons of behavioral, attitude, and relationship progress.
PS, this doesnât mean your dog canât be excited about something, and that every moment needs to micromanaged and controlled. And it also doesnât mean your dog canât be reluctant about something, without being forced to deal with it. Remember at the top where I said this needs to be applied with a bit of thoughtâaka common sense. Itâs a simple guide to assess where there might be problems worth addressing, and also how much time and energy you should dedicate to the issue⌠or not.