As 2024 draws to an end,
2025 brings the opportunity to create a new reality for our dogs
by asking some really important questions…
What if success with dogs wasn’t about control?
What if success, instead, meant helping our dogs feel safe and happy?
What if, instead of trying to control them, we chose to focus on how to improve their overall well-being?
What if we thought beyond traditional training?
What if it wasn’t just about changing their behaviors, but also about making changes in our own lives to support our dogs needs?
What if we could learn to recognize how pain or stress affects their actions?
What if we could give them more choices in their daily routines?
What if we learn how to use methods like errorless learning so they can feel more confident while learning?
What if leash pulling wasn’t just a behavior to stop?
What if we asked why dogs pull on the leash?
What if we question whether or not they’re in pain and trying to move more comfortably?
What if we try to find out if something in their environment is overwhelming them?
What if they simply have unmet needs, or their leash is too short to let them move naturally?
What if, instead of punishing the behavior, we could work to understand it, and then address the real reasons behind it?
What if we all realized that punishment won’t solve the problem?
What if we knew that suppressing behaviors with tools like prong collars or choke chains actually caused more harm than good?
What if we can agree that punishment simply doesn’t fix the root cause of behaviors, it just masks the problem and can make life harder for our dogs?
What if we focused on solving the underlying issues instead of controlling the symptoms?
What if the goal was joy, not competition?
What if we stopped trying to prove ourselves to others?
What if we realized that we didn’t need to respond to people who ask, “Why can’t your dog do this?”
What if we stopped comparing ourselves to other people, and their dogs, and instead stayed focused on what really matters – our dog’s entire well-being?
What if we went beyond sit, stay, and heel?
What if we prioritized the bond we share with our dogs, creating a life where they feel safe, happy, and supported?
What if, at the end of the day, we felt confident in knowing that it’s not about competing with others or proving anything, but that it’s about living in partnership with our dogs and making choices that let them thrive?