28/04/2026
Your dog sits perfectly at home, then seems to forget everything at the park. Why?
Because dogs are contextual learners.
When a dog learns something in one place, they often associate that behaviour with that specific environment. The smells, sounds, distractions, and familiarity all play a part in what they understand.
So when you ask for the same behaviour somewhere new, it may feel completely different to them.
That is not stubbornness, dominance, or disrespect. It is usually a lack of generalisation.
Reliable dog training does not come from repeating a behaviour in one place only. It comes from building that behaviour step by step in different environments, with different distractions, until your dog can respond with confidence wherever they are.
Think of it like learning to drive. You start in an empty car park, then build up gradually. You do not go straight onto the motorway, and your dog should not be expected to do the same.
If you need help building reliable behaviour around real-life distractions, book in for a consultation with our team today. Message us or give us a call 01524 587315 to get started.
