10/21/2026
What’s the BUT…?
An obedient dog is simply a dog that is open to instruction.
People can spend countless hours working obedience, repeating commands, and refining behaviors, yet still feel like something is missing. There’s a lack of complete commitment from the dog when it matters most.
The conversation almost always sounds the same:
“He’s a good dog, BUT…”
That but is where the real conversation begins.
That last 15–20% of commitment we feel is missing isn’t always an obedience problem. It’s primal. It’s rooted in the dog’s instincts, decision-making, and, most importantly, the value we have developed as a leader in that dog’s life.
Let’s look at a simple example.
You’re walking your dog. Everything is going well. Your dog is listening, walking nicely, and responding to your instruction. Then another dog appears. Suddenly, your dog starts pulling toward it. The body language changes. Maybe the dog becomes defensive, anxious, or overly excited.
What happened?
The obedience was there when the environment was comfortable. But when stress entered the picture, something else took priority.
This is where we have to look beyond the command and start looking at the relationship.
The same thing happens when family comes over, when you visit the veterinarian, when you’re out in public, or when you take your bird dog into the field. Every environment presents different levels of stimulation, uncertainty, and pressure on the brain. The dog must process that information, make decisions, and determine how to respond.
Obedience teaches a dog how to respond to instruction. Leadership develops the relationship that influences how the dog responds when the environment becomes difficult.
When we develop true primal value through our course, we aren’t simply looking for a dog that performs when everything is easy. We’re developing a dog that can remain composed, look to its handler, and navigate difficult situations without feeling the need to take control.
And to understand this, let’s put ourselves in the dog’s position through a human example.
Imagine you’re an apprentice.
You and your mentor are in the building working on something with other apprentices. Your mentor tells you, “I’m leaving for the rest of the day. You’re in charge. Make decisions, solve problems, and make sure nothing goes wrong.”
Suddenly, your mindset changes.
You’re no longer just doing your job. You’re responsible for everything that happens. You’re anticipating problems, thinking ahead, and carrying the weight of making decisions. As the afternoon progresses, that responsibility starts to become stressful.
Then you see your mentor pull into the parking lot.
Instantly, something changes. You feel a sense of relief. Your mentor walks in and says, “My plans changed. I’m back for the rest of the day.”
You no longer feel that same responsibility to oversee everything. You can return to your job without carrying the weight of being in charge.
For the dog it can feel even more life threatening in situations to be in charge than just a mentor and apprentice example.
That feeling of reassurance is the concept we’re trying to communicate to our dogs.
Not through words, but through our actions, consistency, timing, body language, and the relationship we build with them.
Day after day, from the moment we start the morning until we finish the evening, we want our dogs to understand that they don’t have to take responsibility for managing every situation around them. We are there to provide direction, guidance, and clear expectations.
When we establish that relationship through our course, we can begin carrying it into the real world.
The dog encounters something unfamiliar. Instead of immediately reacting, it has a history of looking to us for direction. Instead of feeling compelled to manage the situation independently, it can remain composed and follow our lead.
We begin to see a more consistent dog, not just in a controlled training environment, but in everyday life and in the field.
Once we establish the proper relationship, we can continue building obedience, develop skills, and accomplish our goals with a much clearer foundation. Now that 15-20% fills in.
The goal is to develop a dog that can think, remain composed, accept instruction, and trust our direction when everything else in the environment is competing for its attention.
Human leads. Dog follows. Not just physically but mentally.
The Method Dog Training
Hay Creek Kennel, LLC
J. Wells Kennels, LLC
George Lyall
