Focus On Fun Dog Training

26/05/2026

No Recall? Here’s why.

Your dog ignoring you at the park is a connection problem.

Right now, the environment holds more value than you do...

So your dog switches off.

Not because your dog is dominant.
Not because they’re trying to be in charge.
And not because they need stronger leadership.

But because your dog does not believe all good things come through you.

There is no reason for the dog to want to get back to you.

Your dog must believe that racing back to you is what results in more freedom and more joy.

For many dogs, coming when called results in being put back on leash. The joy simply ends.

So why would they want to come back?

A recall is not an obedience skill... it tells an important story...

How much does your dog value being with you?

If that is a 5 out of 10, your recall is also a 5 out of 10.

The solution is not being more exciting.

First you must cause your dog to WANT to come racing to you the very first time you call.

And you do that with games that your dog actually finds are great fun to play...

Using what your dog actually wants as the reward.

That is step one.

But that alone is not enough.

During this phase, you must also make sure ignoring you no longer works for the dog.

So don't call your dog unless you know they will respond...

Or you are prepared to go to your dog.

If your dog does not respond, you must go to your dog and move them away from the distraction, and then try again.

If they still won't respond, you go back and move your dog further away, and try again.

You keep repeating until you are successful.

No physical corrections needed.

Just the quiet assurance that if you call, you will insist on your dog responding.

That process is what causes your dog to believe that coming back to you is the better choice than ignoring you.

Especially so if you reinforce that choice with what the dog actually wants — in this case, being given permission to go back and see that distraction.

Now when you call again, your dog will race to you.

Why?

Because your dog believes that racing to you is what causes the JOY to continue.

What part of recall do you struggle with most?

24/05/2026

Stop trying to be “the leader.”

Be the Wise Old Owl instead.

The one your dog trusts.

The one that notices the tiny changes BEFORE the barking, lunging or chaos begins.

The one that understands behaviour is always telling us something.

The one that teaches the dog what TO DO instead of constantly correcting what NOT to do.

The one that realises dogs learn best when they feel safe…
not scared.

And the Wise Old Owl knows something else too…

Life is meant to be enjoyed.

For the human.
AND the dog.

Training should not feel like a daily battle.

It should feel like building a friendship so powerful…
your dog wants to stay connected to you no matter what is happening around them.

That’s the difference.

[https://focusonfundogtraining.com/]

19/05/2026

This is where Reactivity ENDS!

This simple game allows you to keep your dog engaged and thinking.

No battles.
No dragging.
No intimidation.

Just a dog learning how to stay calm enough to think.

And yes… it really can be this simple.

30/04/2026

“I didn’t really follow the program… but look what happened anyway.”

I received an email last night from one of my members, Mark.

And honestly… it stopped me for a moment.

Because his situation is what so many people quietly deal with.

Life got busy.
Really busy.

His mum had a serious stroke.
He took on her care.
He was renovating.
Working full time.
Raising teenage boys.

And like so many…
his dog training slipped down the list.

He told me he hadn’t engaged much with the course.

No regular sessions.
No consistent check-ins.
No “perfect plan.”

But here’s what did happen…

He held onto a few simple ideas:

Play games
Let the dog think
Reward the right choices
Build the relationship

And his dog Twix?

An 18-month-old Koolie…

✨ Became a delight to live with
✨ Waits calmly at doors and gates
✨ Loves going to his bed
✨ Has a solid recall (and improving)
✨ Walks beautifully without pulling
✨ Chooses to come back when called
✨ Thinks before grabbing food
✨ Checks in, instead of tuning out

Not perfect…

Still the occasional chewed sock.
Still gets overexcited with visitors.

But here’s the part I loved most:

“We now have a dog that we can control, is loyal, by my side when required, and a pleasure to take out.”

That’s the real win.

Not perfection.

A dog that chooses you.

And here’s something else Mark shared that really stood out…
“The story really is that I have adapted from the old traditional ‘dog-discipline’ style training to a much more positive, reward-based method… and this has been much more enjoyable as a trainer.”
That shift?
That’s everything.
Because when you stop trying to control your dog…
and start showing them how to win…
You don’t just get better behaviour.
You get a dog that:
✔ Wants to be with you
✔ Wants to listen
✔ Enjoys getting it right
And suddenly… it all feels easier.
Here’s why I wanted to share this…

Most people think they need:
❌ More time
❌ More discipline
❌ More control

But that’s not what changes a dog.

What changes a dog is this:

Changing what works for them.

When the dog discovers:
👉 “Choosing you works better than everything else…”

That’s where you see real change.

Even if life isn’t perfect.
Even if training isn’t perfect.
Even if you’re just doing a little… when you can.

If you want to see how this works…

I’ve put together a free video that shows you the first 3 Must-Have Secrets.

I’ll post the link in the comments.
It’s a sneak peek into The PATHWAY—and it will help you understand why so many people suddenly start seeing change… even when they’ve struggled for years.

27/04/2026

A harness doesn’t stop a dog pulling.
Neither does a leash.

Training does.

A harness is just there for safety—it stops your dog escaping. That’s it.

Walking nicely without pulling?
That’s something your dog has to learn.

And here’s where people get stuck…
not pulling and walking beside you are two different skills.

A dog can be out in front, relaxed and responsive…
or right by your side when you ask.

Both are trained.

And it’s not complicated… it’s no harder than teaching a sit.

The real shift happens when your dog figures out:
“Staying connected to you works better than pulling.”

Because dogs repeat what works.

So if a dog is still dragging someone along in a harness…
it’s not the gear that’s the problem—it’s the training.

14/04/2026

Last week, I shared how I asked for a “down” out on our walk…
and realised I hadn’t revisited it in months.
Well, today was interesting.
Clippa came out way more into the game.
Both dogs were responding brilliantly when I called “Drop”…
…but then I found the next hurdle.
It worked beautifully when they were within about 20 metres.
So I thought—let’s try it at a long distance.
Half a 10 acre paddock away…
Clippa dropped.
Buddy stood.
He didn’t run off.
He didn’t ignore me completely.
He just… didn’t down.
And this is where it gets interesting.
Most people would look at that and think:
👉 “He knows it, he should do it.”
But that’s not how it works.
Distance changes everything.
The further away they are:
• the environment has more value
• you have less influence
• and the behaviour has to be much stronger to hold up
So this isn’t disobedience.
It’s simply telling me:
“We need to build more value here.”
Not by correcting…
not by repeating the cue louder…
…but by going back and making it worth it again.
That’s how you get reliability.
That’s how you build a Powerful Connection that holds up anywhere.
And this is exactly what I show you in the free video—
the 3 Must-Have Secrets to a dog who WANTS to listen, no matter what’s going on around them.

These Different Dog Training Techniques make it Easy. Science, Powerful Games, Hot Tips & Support. A POWERFUL CONNECTION and THE BEST DOG EVER

10/04/2026

Yesterday I made a simple choice…
Drive less. Walk more.

The dogs were thrilled about that decision 😊

While we were out, I randomly asked for a down—both dogs off leash.

Buddy?
Straight down. No hesitation.

Clippa?
…not so much.

And it made me stop and think.

How long since I last asked for that?
Honestly… I can't remember!

And this is something so many people miss.

Just because a dog knows something…
doesn’t mean they’ll always choose it.

Because behaviour isn’t about memory.
It’s about what’s worth it in that moment.

So every now and then, we need to revisit things.
Not to drill them… just to revisit.

So the dog remembers:

“Choosing me still works.”

That’s how you keep behaviours alive.
That's how you build a Powerful Connection.
Not by control…
but by keeping the value there.

And this is exactly what I walk you through in the free video — the 3 Must-Have Secrets to a dog who WANTS to listen.

These Different Dog Training Techniques make it Easy. Science, Powerful Games, Hot Tips & Support. A POWERFUL CONNECTION and THE BEST DOG EVER

23/03/2026

Picture driving using GPS and taking a wrong turn.

Does the GPS shout at you?

Does it punish you?

No.

It simply recalculates.

It shows you the correct route.

Clear information.
No drama.

Dogs need guidance like that — not intimidation.

When a dog jumps, pulls, barks, rushes the door, grabs clothing…

It’s very easy to assume defiance.

It’s very easy to think they need correcting.

But what if they simply don’t yet understand what works?

Don't know what to do instead?

Dogs repeat behaviours that have worked before.

If they truly understood which choice leads to success…
why wouldn’t they choose it?

Yes — we can stop behaviour with intimidation.

But stopping behaviour isn’t the same as teaching.

One creates hesitation.

The other creates understanding.

When we calmly remove reinforcement for choices that don’t work,
and clearly reinforce the ones that do…

The dog isn’t scared.

The dog thinks.

And when they understand, something shifts.

The tension drops.
The frantic behaviour settles.
They start choosing better options on their own.

Not because they’re afraid of getting it wrong.

But because they finally know how to get it right.

And that feels good — for both of you.

16/03/2026

Frustration causes aggression.

Years ago, an animal behaviourist shared a story about training a killer whale.

The whale had learned a particular behaviour and was performing it beautifully.

On one training session, the trainer decided to push for more.

The whale performed the behaviour once.

The trainer withheld the reward, expecting a second repeat.

The whale waited.

No reward came.

It waited again.

Still nothing.

Then it swam directly at the trainer and pinned him firmly against the pool wall.

The trainer survived.

But he said he would never forget the lesson:

Frustration changes behaviour.

We all know it does.

We get frustrated…
and we get angry.

Now bring this back to dogs.

When we:

• Withhold clarity
• Make training confusing
• Create situations where they keep failing

We are building frustration.

And frustration does not create cooperation.

It creates tension.

That’s why it’s important to teach the dog what to do using:

Clear criteria.
Clear reinforcement.
Clear communication.

To increase understanding.

And reduce frustration.

Because when a dog knows how to win…

They don’t need to escalate.

They choose to engage.

And a Powerful Connection begins.

10/03/2026

I saw a post in my Facebook feed today.

Titled:
Electronic training devices: Pros and Cons.

I didn’t read it.

Because devices don’t teach a dog what to do.

Pressing a button that makes a dog feel worried enough to stop what they’re doing…

Isn’t training.

It’s behaviour suppression.

It doesn’t require understanding.
It doesn’t require communication.
It doesn’t require connection.

Just push a button.

And that’s probably why these devices are popular.

“It feels like control.”

But control at what cost?

Is the dog relaxed?
Is the dog confident?
Is the dog choosing to work with you?

Or are they slightly on edge… aware that something unpleasant could happen?

Yes — behaviour can stop in the moment.

But stopping behaviour is not the same as teaching.

If the dog doesn’t understand what to do instead…

Nothing has been learned.

The behaviour has simply been interrupted.

Real training builds understanding.

It builds clarity.

It builds Trust and Confidence.

And when you have that —

You don’t need a device.