Training Timelines

     As part of my life's work as a dog trainer and Canine Behavioral Consultant, I sit down with clients and prospective clients to discuss what plans and goals they have for their companions.  More often than not, I hear frustrated tales of how these loving pet parents have read or heard that their objectives should have been achieved by a certain span of time.  This is not always the case.  In the real world, there are no "magic buttons", and the "quick fixes" can often have unintended ramifications in the long run.  

     When I sit down to talk about how I can help a pet owner navigate a particular situation, I am always completely honest about the effort and time that would be necessary to get there.  This is a critical part of determining the success of any venture.  People must be made aware of what options they have, what they are committing to do, and approximately how long it will take. If not, disappointment will occur before any solution is met.  A resolution can always be reached when the involved parties are well enough informed.  

     The majority of dogs (and some cats too) can be successfully introduced to a brand new command in just a few moments.  In order for it to become a lifelong habit however, it must be continually re-enforced in the presence of controlled stimuli until the reaction to the command becomes muscle memory.  No one that I know (and I know a lot of extremely talented individuals) has the ability to look into a crystal ball and tell you exactly how long YOUR dog will take to adopt a freshly introduced behavioral pattern, or how long it will keep to the pattern.  

     Many of the trainers that I have encountered who have a promise or guarantee for behaviors within a set period of time are referring to how long it will take THEM (the trainers) to get the desired results, not how long it will take to make it work in the client's home.  One of the facilities I worked at specialized in just that- we took the dog for a set period of time to initiate new behaviors in the hopes that the family would be able to duplicate the results consistently at home.  

     In the case of in-home training, many of the "Quick-Fixes" are the roots for long-term issues that crop up 6-9 months after the visit(s).  For example, did you know that improper use of a pressure collar (a head halter / Gentle Leader, Sporn, pinch, or choke chain are some commonly known pressure devices for canines) can not only injure your dog permanently, but can cause overly forward body posture that other dogs interpret as aggression?  There can be huge difference between the perception of what is being sold, to the reality of what is being delivered.  

     I sometimes use an analogy to help describe to my students what to expect.  Consider how long your parent(s) guided you.  Think of how many years human children are supervised closely.  So why are we continually surprised when after a few short weeks or months, a dog will make incorrect choices?

     Timelines are fine for goal-setting.  But like most plans, once the action has begun, be ready to toss them out the window!  Expectations must continually be adjusted to conform to reality.



*For help understanding your dog please feel free to contact me.  pawsthenplay@gmail.com