Dog Training is Hard: Why Working with a Trainer Will Help

Fotolia_33995676_XSWe’ve all heard the saying that “practice makes perfect”, but it was Vince Lombardi who said it best, “perfect practice makes perfect”. If you have been struggling with your dog training, this is where you could be missing the mark. Let’s face it, dog training is hard. Our best pals sometimes have a mind of their own, which means your patiently given commands could go unheard. Then there are days when we are just too busy to practice the skills you perfected over the weekend. These missed sessions can lead to our dogs forgetting everything we worked so hard for.

We here at Pooch Hotel understand these struggles. We work with countless dogs and their human companions and hear similar concerns daily. The good news is you don’t have to do it alone. Partnering with a dog trainer is the best way to get you and your dog on the right track towards perfect practice.

Do you know why gyms, dance studios, and dojos have mirrors? It’s to help you make sure your form is spot on. Without the mirrors we only think we are doing the movements correctly. It’s very common for what we are doing and what we think we are doing are not in sync. This is also true when talking about dog training. Let us be your mirror. Dog trainers not only teach you how to speak the same language at your dog, but they also watch how you both interact. Is your dog leading you while you practice leash walking? This is a very common reaction that most dog owners don’t perceive. They think that their dog wants to be close to them which is why they are leaning against their leg. Dog trainers can identify this and correct you and your dog.

What do you do when your dog is having a bad day and not listing to you when it’s time to practice? Most of us give up and decide to try again later. This is obviously not the course of action as it can lead to more bad behavior. The rest of us may continue to the practice session, but due to our frustrations we may start displaying mixed signals that can make the situation worth. Again, this is a great example of when a dog trainer can aid your efforts. The more worked up we get the higher pitched our voices can get or we start barking at our dogs creating confusion. A dog trainer can identify these behaviors and guide you and your dog back on track.

Helping your dog become a model citizen is not an easy chore. It becomes even harder when we try to go it alone. You don’t have to go it alone. Give us a call, one of our professional dog trainers can help you and your dog turn your dog into perfect practice before you know it.