11/03/2026
You hired a dog trainer. Now, how do you make that investment last? 🐾
After your first training session with me, I send a follow-up email outlining what we worked on, what I observed, and a training plan to help you continue at home.
But that’s only the beginning.
You’ve already made the effort to come see a trainer. You’ve invested your time, money, and energy into improving your relationship with your dog. So let’s talk about how to make that effort count.
🎥 1. RECORD YOUR TRAINING SESSIONS.
Seriously. Take videos!
I personally have tripods available during lessons if you’d like to set your phone up and record what we’re doing.
Why? Because there’s a LOT of information being exchanged during a training session. You’re learning new handling techniques, timing, body language, leash mechanics, and how your dog responds to different situations.
You’re not going to remember everything. And that’s okay.
Having a video allows you to revisit those moments, see what you might have missed, and refresh your memory before practicing at home.
🔁 2. PRACTICE YOUR REPETITIONS.
A lot of people are kinesthetic learners. In other words, you learn by DOING. Ironically, your dog is too. 😅
Watching me handle your dog isn’t the same as you handling your dog.
Just because I can successfully work your dog through a public environment while recognizing and responding to stress signals doesn’t mean you’re ready to do the same thing independently.
And that’s not an insult. That’s experience.
You need repetitions, too!
Practice in neutral environments. Build your timing. Learn how your dog responds to YOU. Develop the muscle memory necessary to communicate clearly.
Start where you can succeed and gradually increase the difficulty.
📝 3. DOCUMENT AND COMMUNICATE.
Keep a training journal!
It doesn’t need to be fancy. A notebook, notes app, or even a few sentences on your phone will work.
Write down:
* What you practiced.
* How long you practiced.
* What went well.
* What didn’t work.
* What questions came up.
* What changes you noticed in your dog’s behavior.
This does two incredibly important things.
First, it holds you accountable.
Second, it gives us information to work with during your next lesson.
Sometimes the smallest details explain why something is or isn’t working. And having those notes allows us to identify patterns instead of relying on memory alone.
📚 4. SHOW YOUR WORK!
Remember when your math teacher used to say, “Show your work!”?
Well, congratulations. I’m that teacher now. 😂
And I’ll be honest with you. Most of the time, I can tell whether you’ve been practicing with your dog between lessons.
But you know what’s REALLY fun?
When clients send me training videos between sessions!
I’m going to be your number one cheerleader.
I’m going to celebrate those little victories, help you troubleshoot the mistakes, and encourage you to keep going.
I’ll be your hype man.
Your gym bro.
“LET’S GOOOO! THAT WAS A BEAUTIFUL REP!” 💪🐕
Because I genuinely enjoy seeing my clients succeed, especially when I’m not standing right next to them.
💪 5. AT THE VERY LEAST… TRY.
This is probably the most important one.
TRY.
You’re going to make mistakes. Your timing won’t always be perfect. Your dog isn’t going to respond correctly every single time.
That’s part of learning.
If you’re struggling, communicate that.
Ask questions. Send videos. Take notes. Revisit your training plan.
There are plenty of resources available to help you understand what you’re doing.
Some trainers have spent thousands of hours working hands-on with dogs. Others have spent thousands of hours studying behavior in classrooms. Both experiences can provide valuable knowledge.
But none of that information replaces your willingness to actually practice.
Here’s something I want every client to understand:
Dog training isn’t just about teaching your dog new behaviors.
It’s also about teaching YOU how to recognize, communicate, respond, and make decisions.
Your dog isn’t the only student in the room.
And sometimes, the most important repetitions aren’t the ones your dog needs.
They’re the ones YOU need.
You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to be willing to learn, practice, and keep trying.
I can provide the education, demonstrations, training plans, and support.
But the real progress happens when you take what we’ve worked on and apply it to your everyday life.
You already took the first step by asking for help.
Now let’s make that investment last.
— William O’Daniel
WAK-9 Training LLC 🐾
