Dog Training Success: Measuring It & Setting Goals

We are now fully into the new year and whether or not you made a new years resolution for yourself, did you make one with/for/about your dog? A new training goal perhaps?

Setting Dog Training Goals

With these, as with all training it's important to have realistic expectations. For example: if you're just starting your dog's reactivity support work then aiming for complete neutraility may not be achievable in a short space of time. However getting lower level reactions and faster recovery times after a reaction could well be within both your reaches.

My Top Tips

So when setting goals remeber to:

• Set yourself up for success, so you feel like you are getting somewhere in the right direction

• Break it down so you can reach each part throughout different points of the year and then feel the success

• Keep a training log or colour code each day so you can back track and see the progress

This goes for more simple goals such as settle/bed training, not jumping up on visitors, recall progression, loose-lead walking and more.

Measuring Dog Training Success

We get used to measuring success in BIG noticable moments; the dog can now not chase every squirrel, or not react to dogs. I'll let you in on a secret... This is detrimental to our concept of progress AND not accurate.

We should be measuring the small but MIGHTY successes

• Being calmer in a scary or arousing environment (even if for a few moments)

• Being more engaged more frequently

• Being able to sniff the environment instead of hunting/

• Not reacting to all dogs

• A longer pause before a reaction

• A lower level reaction

• A faster recovery time after a reaction

• Maintianing loose-lead walking for more paces (not the whole walk straight away)

• Recalling from a single dog (before two dogs)

• Being able to settle at home

• Being more confidence about a novel texture/sight

• Walking around the car relaxed if car averse

• Getting in the car and then getting straight out if car averse

These may be one-off's in the beginning but these will build and accumulate to produce the bigger more obvious results that people focus so much on. If we pay atttention to these successes we will fell more fulfillment and enjoyment with the training support journey we are on.

Needing Help?

Why not have a look at some top tips to boost recall & engagement?

Rapid Recalls

Do you have a reactive dog you are needing support with? I have a tailored Reactivity Support Package designed to help you and your canine companion with this behaviour.

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