30/06/2025
Love this, it's all about time, kindness, patience and communication ❤️
Are We in Too Much of a Rush with Our Dogs?
In dog training circles, we often talk about connection, clarity and calm. We talk about building confidence and taking our time. But if you pause for a moment and look at what is really playing out in training classes, advice groups or everyday walks in the park, there is something we need to acknowledge. We are in a rush.
Most of the people who come to us are not starting from scratch. They are already overwhelmed. Their dog is showing behaviours that feel unmanageable or out of control. And the first question we often hear is this. How long will it take to fix this?
It is a fair question. But it is not always the right one to begin with.
The Fast Results Culture
We live in a world that celebrates speed. Fast obedience. Before and after videos. Clips where dogs go from chaos to calm in under a minute. And when you are stuck in the middle of a problem, it can feel like everyone else’s dog is already there. Already perfect. Already finished.
That pressure creeps in quickly. People start skipping the foundations. They rely on shortcuts. They mistake silence for understanding. They tell themselves their dog should know better, when in fact the dog is still trying to figure it all out.
And that is where things begin to unravel. Not because people do not care, but because they do not always know how much time and repetition real change takes. Training is not about fixing behaviour. It is about building communication. That takes more than quick wins. It takes presence, patience and the right kind of support.
Lack of Tools, or Lack of Time to Use Them Properly?
Some people are not rushing because of ego. They are rushing because they feel lost. Because someone told them the problem should be gone by now. Because they thought a few sessions would be enough. Because no one explained that behavioural change is not linear. It is layered. It is lived. And sometimes it is slow.
This is where better questions matter. Not just what do I want my dog to do, but what is my dog trying to tell me. Is this resistance or confusion. Is this disobedience or discomfort. Am I reacting or responding.
It takes emotional skill to ask those questions. But that is where progress really begins.
The Pressure to Prove
There is pressure in dog ownership. Pressure to keep up. Pressure to make the dog look easy. Pressure to prove that we are doing things right. Whether it comes from family, friends, trainers or strangers at the park, it can change how we respond to our dogs.
The pressure itself is not the problem. What matters is what we do with it. Do we lean into the discomfort and make better choices. Or do we react, rush and push for outcomes the dog is not ready for.
Your dog does not need you to be perfect. But they do need you to be consistent. And calm. And honest about where they are, not where you think they should be.
The Future of Dog Training is a Mindset Shift
Real progress in dog training will not come from better tools or louder voices. It will come from better mindset. A mindset that values relationship over results. A mindset that sees behaviour as information, not disobedience. A mindset that is willing to slow down when everything around us says speed up.
We need to help people understand that training is not a checklist. It is a conversation. We need to remind owners that calm is taught, not assumed. That confidence is built, not demanded. That partnership is earned, not rushed.
Because your dog is always communicating. The only question is whether we are listening.
Final Thoughts
Are we in too much of a rush. Often, yes. But we do not have to stay there.
Slow training is not soft training. It is smart training. It is aware, considered and grounded. When we stop measuring success by speed and start measuring it by trust, everything begins to shift.
Progress will come. It always does. But let it come through choice, not pressure. Let it come because your dog feels safe with you. Let it come because you took the time to learn what they need.
That is the kind of training that lasts. And that is the kind of relationship that matters most.
Renee 🐾
