How does a mouse eat an elephant?

A bit like most things in life, successful dog training doesn’t happen overnight. There's no quick fix, miracle cure, or amazing hack that will solve all your issues instantly. Training your dog, building that trust and bond takes time, commitment and consistent effort from you.

Often, what we perceive as dog training issues are simply natural behaviours for our dogs. They're just being dogs—running, chasing, digging, barking, and exploring. While these behaviours can be frustrating for us, they are normal for them. So, how do we address this? Let's explore the concept of LEGS: Learning, Environment, Genetics, and Self.

LEGS: Understanding Your Dog

Learning: What has your dog learned so far? Consider both intentional and unintentional lessons. For example, if jumping up and barking gets your attention, or picking up your shoes leads to a fun game of chase, your dog has learned these behaviours through experience.

Environment: Is your dog's daily routine structured to meet all their needs? This goes beyond just daily walks. Does your dog have time to rest, receive mental stimulation, and engage in physical activities appropriate for their breed, age, and personality?

Genetics: What was your dog bred to do? Guardian breeds will guard, scent hounds will follow their noses, and herders will herd. These instincts are deeply ingrained and won't just disappear because they're inconvenient for us. Genetics are not an excuse for bad behaviour, but they are an essential factor to consider.

Self: Not all dogs are social butterflies. Some prefer quiet, solitary environments over busy parks and pubs. Understanding your dog's individual personality is crucial. Some dogs thrive in social settings, while others are more reserved. Recognizing and respecting these preferences is key.

Working Together for Success

When you work with me, we focus on the whole dog. It's not just about a single training exercise; it's about understanding why your dog behaves a certain way. For example, why do they jump up, pull on the lead, or ignore recall commands? Often, it's because we haven't taken the time to understand the reason why, focused on the negative (stop doing that!) and not taught them what we actually do want from them. At Bark-ology we go beyond quick fixes and consider the steps needed to get positive long-lasting results.

Take loose lead walking as an example. Why does your dog pull? It could be because we're not walking fast enough, the world outside is exciting, or they've been indoors all day and are eager to explore. Standard training exercises might work temporarily, but consistency and understanding are key to long-term success.

Teaching, Not Just Correcting

Teaching your dog what you actually do want rather than correcting the behaviour you don’t is effective because it builds your training skills, strengthens your bond, and enriches your dog's life. It's not always quick, but it's effective and rewarding.

The exercises themselves are simple. The challenge is consistency, patience, and kindness. Start at home, move to the back garden, move areas of higher distraction and gradually build up your skills. Consider their LEGS—have you met their needs?

This often isn’t quick or instantaneous but it does a few things, builds your training skills and relationship, it is mentally enriching for your dog, it builds focus and long term is really effective. 

Let's Work Together

So how does a mouse eat an elephant ……………………………………………………………………..

One bite at a time.

Simply put no matter how daunting the task it is a process taken one step at a time. If you're ready to transform your dog's behaviour and strengthen your bond, reach out today.

Karen