Teaching a New Dog: Common Challenges

I often hear, “my last dog wasn’t like this, he was so much easier to train. Why is my new dog so difficult?”

Here’s the truth, chances are you got lucky last time! Your new dog is actually pretty normal. 

Your last dog may have been one of those dogs that almost trained themselves. The good news is, you’ll appreciate your current dog even more once you go through training together. 

The harder you have to work for something the more you appreciate it.

Critical note: your current dog is here to teach you something. They have an important life lesson to teach you if you’re ready to hear it. 

For example, my dog Batman was a nightmare to train! He came into my life to teach me that I wasn’t done learning yet. He said, “so you think you’re a pretty good dog trainer huh? Well, watch what I can do!”

The foster with CAWS who helped me with the adoption was surprised I picked him because he was so crazy. At the time, I didn’t see the crazy, I just saw the right dog for me. It just felt like he was supposed to be my dog. 

Maybe you’ve had a similar experience?

Then a few months later I was like, “what have I done?! This dog is going to be a much bigger project than I anticipated!”

Honestly, I bit off more than I could chew. I knew I needed help because what I normally did wasn’t working. I ended up paying multiple trainers to teach me what they knew in order to help Batman become the best dog he can be. 

I had to admit I needed help, find the right help, and follow through in order to help him and myself get to the next level.

And wow am I glad I did! I enjoy every pleasant walk so much more than I have with any other dog because of how hard it was to get to this point. 

• Every time a skateboarder goes by and he remains calm
• Every time another person goes by and he just goes about his merry way
• Every time we have friends over and he’s not locked in the back room 

It makes my heart happy. I was able to help him overcome all that anxiety and frustration and learn to enjoy life. It’s an incredible feeling to help another being go from 

a ball of nerves to….. ahhhhhhhhh life is good. 

This is why I’m so passionate about what I do, I want to help you get to the other side where the living is good!

The good news is, my training program is about to fast forward your progress like you wouldn’t believe.

Every time I spend money on coaching and training I walk away thinking, “why didn’t I do this sooner?! It’s so simple to fix with the right approach! I should have done this months ago.”

If you’re contemplating dog boarding and training in Salt Lake City, don’t delay any longer. With the guidance and expertise of our professional trainers, you’ll be amazed at the positive changes that can be achieved. Take the leap and give your dog the training they deserve. 

Few things pay off faster than investing in knowledge.

I’ve been exactly where you are, and I know how to get you where you want to be. 

So if you’re ready to see results:

Tell Us About Your Dog

Okay, now for some quick tips on how to be patient with your dog:

1. Set realistic expectations: Dogs are like toddlers for life, so it’s important to set realistic expectations. Expect your dog to improve in baby steps each day and assume it’ll be 2 steps forward and 1 step back. Your dog’s progress will not be a straight line to success, it will be up and down because you’re both learning and making mistakes together.
2. Take breaks: If you find yourself losing your patience with your dog, take a break. Step away from the situation, take a deep breath, and give yourself time to calm down before returning to your dog. If your dog is a real handful, I recommend using the crate to give your dog a nap. You need to fully disconnect from your dog for a few minutes to a few hours, so you can come back fresh and ready to train them again.
3. Use positive reinforcement: Positive reinforcement, such as treats, praise, and affection, can help reinforce good behavior and encourage your dog to repeat it. Focus on rewarding the things your dog gets right. Corrections and punishments are sometimes necessary to help your dog fully understand the lesson but shouldn’t be used until you’ve done many repetitions. I recommend seeking the advice of a professional trainer for advice before proceeding.
4. Be consistent: Consistency in training can help prevent frustration and confusion. Be consistent with your command, and rules to help your dog paint a clear picture in their mind of what is expected. Dogs have a REALLY REALLY hard time with variation. They seem to learn specific scenarios well, but any change from what they expect to see tends to confuse them.
5. Seek help: If you’re struggling to manage your patience with your dog, consider seeking help from a professional dog trainer. A good dog trainer will have been through exactly what you are going through many times. I promise they will show you a faster way to teach your dog. It’ll be something so simple that you will say, “why didn’t I think of that?” 
6. Remember your why: Remember why you got your dog. Maybe it was for companionship or to keep you active or to help a family member who needed these things. Remember these reasons why and it will help you maintain patience when your dog is being a stinker.

I hope these tips help you strengthen your bond with your dog and bring you one step closer to the dog of your dreams!

Your friend,

Ryan Gwilliam

P.S. When you’re ready, the first step is to tell us about your dog. You can call us directly at 801-613-1364. Or you can book a call, send us an email, or send us a text via our website.