So you started out right. You decided that rather than simply managing around your new dog's or puppy's behavior, you were going to put in the effort and train them. You were determined not to have a dog that jumped, or pulled you on a leash, or heaven forbid, had separation anxiety or dog reactivity. And it seemed like it was working, until it didn't. So what happened?
Burnout. Discover ways to avoid the dog training burnout, and stay the course to your Best Dog Ever.
I know, I know... you're ready to tear your hair out. Your dog's behavior is just making your eyeballs itch, and it seems as if all the training in the world isn't helping your dog, who, despite all your effort, is right back to where they started.
What happened? You started out so strong, and suddenly your dog is back to jumping on guests, barking a nothing, and dragging you on a leash. You've all but given up, burned out.
So let's get you back on track, and your dog's behavior back under control.
5 Ways to Avoid Dog Training Burnout
Let's start with the 3 pillars of dog training:
Control yourself;
Control the situation;
Pilot your dog.
Skip on any of these steps, and you will burn out, and suddenly your dog is back to humping Aunt Martha's leg.
So let's see where things ran afoul, and get them back on track.
1. Set Realistic Dog Training Goals.
Be honest, did you really think you were going to put in the effort to get your dog certified as a therapy dog, service dog, emotional support dog, and certified life coach? Did you like the idea of these titles more than their actual utility (and accompanying effort)?
Set up realistic dog training goals, for example:
Lowering your dog's reactivity around other dogs on leash > Ability to walk your dog off-leash
Your dog can quiet down when Piloted > Dog never barks
Puppy goes potty outside > Puppy potties on command in a specific corner of the yard
Having the best version of your dog > Comparing your dog to another dog
The object here isn't to race to mediocrity, but to start to hit some goals before burnout occurs. You can then use the fuel from that realized goal to propel yourself toward your next training goal.
Running a marathon is out of my league right now, but I'm training for a 5k, and hitting my goals.
To be fair, I thought my friends asked if I could go for a "rum".
2. Set Your Dog Up For Success
My two girls, Arwen (Border Collie) and Hazel (Aussie) are both very high-energy. They're really good dogs, but absolutely require adequate activity throughout the day to be on their best behavior. Without proper exercise, Bad Things happen in our house.
So stop cheating your dog out of good behavior by skipping their activity. Consider it as important as giving them food and water.
Having trouble coming up with ways to give your dog the activity they require without hiking 10 miles every day? Check out this post for ideas.
3. Dog Training: Consistency vs. Follow-Though
I often relate the tale of my daughter, River, who has a pot of coffee made for me when I come home from training sessions, is currently getting slightly above a 4.0 GPA, and helps me at my Sunday Dog Pack Walks.
And her room is so messy and disgusting that if a maggot crawled in there it would vomit and die. Although, she has taken great care of her room nowadays.
Now based upon everything else I mentioned about River, a messy bedroom is definitely not high on my priorities. So therefore I don't consistently make her keep her room clean. However, if I tell her to clean her room, I will follow through.
It's no different with my dogs. I do win every battle I choose to fight with my dogs, but trust me, I'm more of a lover than a fighter. So yes, as I'm writing this, my Arwen is going haywire at the door as the mailman makes his rounds. I'm not in the mood to deal with it, right now, so I don't try some half-assed attempt at Piloting my dog.
All my attempts are full-ass or nothing.
So if she doesn't stop barking in the next 5 seconds, I will snap my fingers, which is an audible negative. I am resolute that as I am snapping I am already starting to get up to use my body language to negate her behavior.
Five seconds go by, so I snap and start to get up. However, she stopped the second I snapped, meaning I didn't need to get up.
This worked because I'm willing to follow through with my negatives each and every time, rather than the dog training equivalent of "Stop or I'll Say 'Stop' Again!". I'm also not frustrated because I didn't "nag" her by yelling and hoping she'd stop (hope is never a gameplan) but I also realized that this was potentially a battle I could choose to fight or not.
4. Don't Treat Dog Training Like A Crash Diet
While I applaud your dedication, you can't keep this up. Unfortunately for both you and your dog, you're going about this all wrong, and will burn out quickly.
Rather than treating your relationship with your dog as a crash diet so you can fit in that dress you bought for that reunion, you need to look at this as a lifestyle change.
Diets are temporary and not sustainable. Lifestyle changes can be small adjustments over longer periods of time that reap huge rewards. You can also start to stack those changes as you incorporate them into your daily routine.
For instance, I had a client who is struggling with a bit of depression, and is a little bit of a shut-in right now. While she loves her dog, she is not taking her dog for walks at all. And while there are other ways to exercise your dog, the walk is still integral to your dog's mental and physical health.
So did I tell her she needed to walk her dog? No. We needed to create a lifestyle change. I told her that I wanted her to walk to the stop sign at the end of her street every day for the next week (literally about 50 feet). I wanted a pic every day of her doing this.
And guess what...
On the 4th day, I saw a little white dog in that pic.
And by the 7th day, she had incorporated the routine into her lifestyle 2 x a day. Further she is continuing to stack other lifestyle changes to create a healthier and happier life for both her and her dog.
I'd like to say that 2 years later she's taken up marathon running, but that wasn't her goal. Her goal was to strengthen her relationship with her dog, work through some negative canine behaviors, and create a calmer and happier life together. And that's precisely what we did!
All of it one step at a time.
5. Understand Dog Training vs. Dog Behavior
You're taking tricks classes, agility classes and have your dog in daycare 3x a week, yet your dog is still a total asshat on walks, and forget letting guests into your house.
Of course, you're frustrated; with the amount of time, energy, and money you've put into your dog's training...where are the results?
Well, that's kinda like taking my car to a car wash, but being disappointed washing my car didn't fix my flat tire.
That flat tire is like behavior. If there's a flat tire, you can't go anywhere. And if your dog has poor impulse control (aka, behavior), then all the car washes/training in the world isn't going to get you moving in the right direction.
As I explain more thoroughly in this post, dog training is about a specific thing: a dog turning in a circle when I say "dance", or a dog going to their crate when you tell them "place". And that's wonderful, but if your dog still goes nuts at other dogs when on walks, well, that's a behavioral issue.
Your dog's impulse control issues and/or anxiety problems need to be addressed. Once you do that, you'll be back on the road in no time.
Conclusion: Seeking Professional Training for Your Dog's Behavior
Training your dog, and working through their behaviors can be frustrating, but with the right approach and techniques, it is easily manageable. By understanding the root causes, employing trust-based techniques, and following a consistent behavioral training regimen, you can help your dog lead a happier, calmer life.
Take the next steps towards your Best Dog Ever, and learn about our dog and puppy training services.
Together, we can make a positive difference in your dog's life.
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