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I Don’t Set Aside Time for Training
I’ve been thinking about how often I used to end a lesson by saying, “Practice this 10 to 15 minutes a day.” The client would nod, take the handout, and then the next week… “Yeah, we didn’t really get to it.”
Can you relate?
????When I think about how I train my own dogs, I almost never block off time. The reps just happen: I chuck treats on their bed during Zoom calls. I ask for a WAIT before I toss a toy, then release them to get it. When they check in during an off-leash adventure, they always get high value snacks.
That’s living real life at my house. When I started helping clients find those same kinds of moments, where training fits into what they’re already doing, they actually started following through.
➡To help your clients, you might say things like:
• “Have her sit while you put your shoes on.”
• “Practice DOWN-STAY while filling his food bowl.”
• “If you’re unlocking the car, wait for calm behavior before you open the door.”
These micro-sessions stick because they live in everyday life.
❓I’m curious. What’s one of your go-to “life happens here” training spots?
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6 Replies
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This is such a great point! Dogs are always learning since they are often living inside with the family, so we might as well capitalize on this. My go-to is always a sit & wait at mealtimes. At my place of employment, we focus on puppies, so we will recommend that people have small treat jars around their house with a cue written on a sticky note on the jar. So for example, a client could place a treat jar with 5 treats and “sit” written on it in their kitchen. When they see the jar, call the puppy over and practice 5 repetitions of sit, end with verbal praise and move on with the day.
It’s much easier and sustainable to incorporate short, real-life training reps than setting aside a chunk of time each day to train. Hopefully this is a habit that will last a lifetime for clients & their pups once they get the hang of it.
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These are great recommendations, @dpell12 – way to build micro-learning into everyday tasks. Have you read “Atomic Habits?” The book basically says to link new habits you want to build with things you already do. I just lined up my supplements with my coffee routine, for example, ensuring I actually take them while my coffee brews! Training can be like that.
Loading the dishwasher? Practice Leave It
Sweeping the floor? Place/Down Stay
Watering plants in the backyard? How about some quick recalls?
WIth puppies, I recommend the client just wear a treat pouch with the pup’s lunch in it. Breakfast and dinner can be full meals (which helps with potty training, but lunch happens all day, whenever something good happens. And yes to treat jars all over the house as well!
Keep up the great work!
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I love this advice. I might steal those ideas of the sit-stay while brushing your teeth or practicing leash walking just to the mailbox and back. I often suggest practicing “place” while you unload groceries or while you’re cooking dinner. (Those are real-life useful moments, too.) Practice rewarding calmness while you’re watching TV — you’re all just hanging out anyway. Practice an automatic wait at thresholds every time you take the dog out the door — no need to create an extra training session for it.
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Exactly right, @Shari – it’s amazing, when we start looking for those moments, how many we can find that can be connected with everyday things. The only downside (if you can call it that) is the dogs get really invested in paying attention to your every move… I once had a client complain about that!! “He just stares at me all day now!”
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You gotta choose your battles, right!?
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Hahaha… hooray for engagement!
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Oooh, all GREAT advice!
I used to practice Go to Place with my dogs on days with rain or snow…Place was transformed into a big fuzzy towel. My Berner and Lab actually enjoyed it and it kept my floors clean until I could get another towel to get them dried off.
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