20/05/2025
“Quick Fix” or Quick Fail? Why Good Dog Training Is About Smart Time, Not Shortcuts
I recently took a phone call from someone asking for some quick training advice. Now, I’ve no issue with helping where I can, especially if it’s just a nudge in the right direction but it quickly became clear that what this person was really after wasn’t guidance… it was a miracle.
They wanted a quick fix. Let’s clear something up: quick fixes in dog training don’t exist, at least, not without effort. You can certainly get quicker results if you’re consistent, patient, and use the right tools correctly, but a true “quick fix” without doing the groundwork? That’s just wishful thinking.
The Kettle and the Cup of Tea
Partway through the conversation, the caller got their partner to make a cup of tea. Fair enough, nothing wrong with a cuppa. But then, mid-sip and splutter (because they drank it too soon), they told me they “didn’t have time” to do 20 minutes of training a day for their dog.
I couldn’t help myself. “What do you do while the kettle’s boiling?” I asked.
“Oh, I just sit back down.”
“Why not use that time to train your dog?”
That’s when I explained kettle training, something I do daily. Every time the kettle goes on, I use that window to call over one of the dogs and do a bit of obedience or focus work. I use part of their daily food allowance, reward them, build engagement, and by the time the kettle clicks off, we’ve both gained something, me a cuppa, them a bit of mental stimulation and structure.
A few hours later? …. 30/40 minutes, I drink lots of tea! Another kettle session, another dog, another few minutes of meaningful training. It’s easy, consistent, and it adds up.
The Walk Around the Block Argument
Then the subject of walks came up.
They told me they walk the dog “around the block” usually for about 20 to 25 minutes, maybe 30 on a good day. My reply? “Stop just walking the dog, start working the dog while you’re out.”
Use that walk as training time. Practise recall. Ask for sits, downs, and stands at kerbs or junctions. Work on loose lead walking. Sprinkle in some impulse control. Yes, let your dog sniff, it’s vital for their wellbeing, but don’t treat the walk as a chore to get done. Make it an opportunity.
You can even incorporate scent-based enrichment into your own garden, scatter feeding, hiding food under plant pots, letting the dog hunt for it. It taps into their biological need to sniff and problem-solve. Dogs need this kind of stimulation, and it doesn’t cost a penny more than a handful of their regular food.
Misunderstanding The Power of Four
At one point, they quoted my Power of Four method back at me:
“Didn’t you say we have to do a 20-minute session?”
Yes, ideally. That’s the goal. Five minutes of play, five minutes of rest, five minutes of obedience, five minutes of play again. But nowhere do I say it has to be 20 minutes solid, every single time. Life gets busy. That’s why I also stress the flexibility of the routine. Break it up. Spread it out. Find what fits your day without losing structure.
Sadly, this person didn’t want to hear it. They were “too busy” for all of it—even the kettle training. They wanted a pre-programmed dog. One that didn’t require time, effort, or involvement. One that behaved perfectly without input.
I told them, quite honestly, perhaps they shouldn’t have got a dog in the first place.
That didn’t go down too well, and I doubt they’ll be booking in any time soon—but it got me thinking.
Training Isn’t About Having Time, It’s About Using It
You don’t need to spend hours training your dog. Unless you’re doing high-level sport or competition work, most sessions are short and broken up with breaks. Even then, no one’s drilling their dog solidly for 60 minutes. You’re looking at focused bursts of six or seven minutes, a break, then repeat.
It’s not about training harder. It’s about training smarter.
Use the time you’ve already got, the time while the kettle’s boiling, while dinner’s cooking, or while you’re in the garden. Turn walks into training sessions. Use food to build engagement. Give your dog purpose, structure, and consistency, and you’ll see the difference.
Final Thought
Dogs don’t come pre-installed with perfect behaviour. They’re not plug-and-play. They’re living, thinking, feeling animals that need leadership, guidance, and time.
You don’t need to train for hours. But if you can spare 15–20 minutes a day, even if that’s in little pockets here and there, you’ll not only see results, you’ll build a stronger bond with your dog in the process.
So next time the kettle’s on, ask yourself: “What can I do with my dog while I wait?”
www.k9manhuntscotland.co.uk
