10/14/2025
🐾 A Real Story From the Training Field: Quick Fixes Don’t Exist
Every once in a while, a situation comes along that reminds us why clear communication and education are so important in dog training, not just for dogs, but for humans too.
Recently, we worked with a dog owner who booked a private session outside our regular service area. Despite the distance, we happily waived all mileage fees to make sure we could help.
During the session, our trainer, with over a decade of hands-on experience, focused on the dog’s main challenges: overexcitement and jumping behavior (behavior modification training needed). The dog already understood basic commands like “sit,” so the session focused on helping the owner learn how tone, timing, and energy influence a dog’s response.
Throughout the session, the owner was engaged, took notes, and seemed responsive to the tips and guidance provided. It truly appeared to be a productive and positive experience for both her and her dog.
Sometimes that means the trainer spends a good portion of time teaching rather than doing, explaining the “why” behind the behavior and how to correct it in real-world moments. What might sound like casual conversation during the session is actually purposeful; it helps the dog stay relaxed and calm while learning in a new environment while teaching valuable lessons form past training experiences.
Unfortunately, the client later expressed disappointment, feeling the session didn’t provide new information and chose to pay less than half of the agreed-upon fee, just enough, she said, to cover gas.
Even so, we've sent her a customized growth and training guide with tips, because we believe in following through on our commitments and helping every dog we work with reach their potential.
💬 “You can’t say the training doesn’t work if you haven’t done the work.”
We also recognize that after receiving her message, we may not have provided the best customer service in our follow-up communication. We’ve already taken steps to strengthen how we respond in these situations.
The truth is, dog training isn’t about quick fixes.
There’s no magic word or single session that instantly changes behavior.
It takes patience, consistency, and follow-through.
A first private session is about building a foundation, learning, preparing, and giving you the tools to succeed. The real progress happens when you put those tools into practice after the session.
This experience has also been a valuable reminder for us as a business. Moving forward, we’ll be updating our policies and client contracts to ensure expectations are crystal clear from the start, so that both our trainers and our clients are on the same page about what training truly involves.
At Tails University, we’re dedicated to helping dogs and their humans communicate better, build trust, and grow together, one step, one session, and one success at a time.
