07/28/2026
If you feel frustrated in your training, if you sit with it long enough, you’ll often find her real name is expectation.
It may be how you thought your dog would work, what you’d accomplish, how quickly you’d progress, the handler you’d become, how easy it would be, etc.
One of the best gifts you can give your dog and yourself, is letting go of that.
Expectation can breed frustration.
What you want may not be meant for you in this moment, but that’s not to say you won’t achieve it, in fact, you may get something even better.
It does, however, mean you may need to change.
These 5 actionable insights can move you forward.
It starts with the mindset to believe…
1. Believe that abilities aren’t static and they can be developed through hard work, effort, mentorship and that you’re going to improve.
Accept you may have to put yourself in a position to be uncomfortable or possibly embarrassed to push through to the next level; the cost of entry.
2. Focus on small, daily improvements and in the value of compounding good habits, rather than quick wins.
Believe in accountability; success with your dog starts with your responsibility to improve as a teacher—
3. Employ self-discipline over motivation when needed. Even when you don’t feel like it, to get better you have to put in the work.
Rather than comparing yourself to others, strive to be a little better than you were yesterday.
Believe in proactively taking ownership of where you are and where you want to go.
4. Realize every expert was once a beginner, failing more times than a novice has even tried.
Failure is part of the process; it’s going to happen. Believe that failure is an opportunity to learn.
5. If you’re not making progress or achieving goals, get help; self-awareness is strength.
That includes recognizing when you can’t do it alone.
There are many qualified mentors; adapt a positive method with students that have consistent success. Believe in coaching.
Partnership includes holding up your end.
Frustration is a problem you can solve.
When you let go of it, it increases patience, improves focus and revives joy.
Mostly, it can transform your relationship with your dog.; believe—
macraeway.com
