Forget Commands: Build Your Dog's Confidence for Long-Term Success
12 Reasons Building Confidence Leads to Better Behavior Than Commands
Most people don’t realize how little we focus on commands. Of course we will teach your dog the commands they really need.
The ones we teach every dog are:
Sit
Stay
Come
All done (for when the game is over and it’s time to relax)
No
Place
Let’s go (time to follow my lead)
Go sniff
Relax (yes, every dog can and should learn this one)
Short list right? Most of what your dog is learning is non-verbal. A big chunk of your dog’s education has to do with CONFIDENCE!
And they earn their calm sense of confidence by trying new things and succeeding!
Here are the top 12 reasons why confidence building is more important than commands:
Leads to Natural Good Behavior: A confident dog feels secure in their environment and naturally makes better choices without needing constant commands.
Reduces Reactivity: Confidence-building addresses the root cause of many behavioral issues like barking, lunging, and reactivity because your dog is no longer anxious or fearful.
Fosters Independence: Instead of relying on constant guidance, a confident dog can make good decisions on their own.
Long-Term Results: Confidence-building creates lifelong improvements. A confident dog is less likely to revert to bad habits.
Addresses the Root of Problem Behaviors: Rather than just telling your dog what not to do, confidence-building helps them feel secure enough to know what to do.
Teaches Your Dog How to Handle Stress: A confident dog can handle stress more effectively and won’t react out of fear or insecurity.
Increases Focus: A confident dog isn’t distracted by their insecurities and is able to give you more of their focus and attention, making training sessions more productiv
Decreases Chewing and Whining: Confidence helps reduce general anxiety in dogs, which can manifest as chewing, whining, or destructive behaviors when they’re left alone or in new situations.
Prevents Fear-Based Aggression: Dogs often lash out when they’re fearful or unsure. Confidence helps reduce the chances of your dog reacting aggressively when they’re scared.
A Better Quality of Life: A dog who feels confident in any environment has a much higher quality of life—they enjoy every part of their day without stress or fear.
Improves Problem Solving: Confident dogs are better at making good decisions on their own, which leads to less frustration for both of you.
Confidence = Faster Obedience and Commands: A dog who feels confident will learn commands faster and naturally follow your lead more consistently.
Did I convince you yet? Confidence > Commands
We have fun teaching both, but what we get really excited about is:
When your dog holds their head up a little higher.
When they feel proud of themselves for figuring it out!
That’s what lights up our trainers. It’s why we work so hard!
By the way, I’d love to hear from you! If you have any questions about this topic—or any dog training questions at all—feel free to reply to this email. I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
