09/01/2026
Training isn't just about teaching your dog a list of behaviors. It's about helping them practice the skills we want to see more of in everyday life.
Because here's the thing: dogs get better at what they practice. The more they practice coming when called, settling, disengaging from distractions, calmly watching the world, or making good choices, the easier those skills become.
But the same is true for behaviors we don't want.
If your dog regularly practices barking at the window, pulling toward other dogs, jumping on guests, or stealing things, they're getting better at those skills, too.
We don't need our dogs practicing bad habits!
That's where management comes in. Management isn't giving up or avoiding training, it helps prevent your dog from rehearsing behaviors you don't want while you teach and reinforce the ones you do.
So instead of asking, “How do I stop my dog from doing this?” try asking:
“What would I like my dog to practice instead?”
Then find ways to give them lots of opportunities to practice that.
