Questions I Wish I Asked Before Becoming a Dog Trainer
Looking back, there are so many questions I wish I’d asked myself before I became a dog trainer.
Questions that would’ve saved me frustration and helped me train my dog soooo much faster.
Now, as a trainer, these are the same questions I want to share with you.
Why?
Because they will change the way you see your dog—and the way your dog sees you.
What does my dog need mentally—not just physically? I used to think long walks or chasing a ball were enough to make a dog happy. But the truth? Dogs need mental exercise more. Without it, even the most active dogs will start acting out.
How am I confusing my dog? Early on, I didn’t realize I gave mixed signals that were confusing my dog. I rewarded bad behaviors occasionally because it was cute (playing tug with a towel for example, that backfired! whoops!) or I expected my dog to understand things I hadn’t fully taught them yet (expecting him to sit and stay at the park when we’d only ever practiced that skill in the kitchen).
Does my dog see me as a leader or a roommate? This one hit hard. Dogs crave leadership. I didn’t always step into that role, and my dog made bad decisions because of it. What I mean is, making sure his mental and physical needs were met first, so I could expect good behavior. I often demanded great behavior even when I hadn’t upheld my end of the bargain.
Am I fixing the behavior or treating the symptoms? Sometimes we slap a “quick fix” on a problem without understanding what’s behind it. Like using a bark collar to stop barking without addressing why the barking is happening. A quiet dog isn’t always a happy dog.
Is my dog bored, or do they need more rules? It took me years to realize that hyper or naughty behavior wasn’t always boredom. Sometimes, my dog needed more naps and strict rules—not more playtime.
I didn’t know to ask these questions back then, but now I do—and they’ve made all the difference.
If I could give one piece of advice, it’d be this: When you listen to your dog’s needs and see the world through their eyes, you’ll unleash a whole new dog. The fastest path to a well-behaved dog comes from understanding what they really need.
And that’s exactly what our trainers are experts at. Understanding your dog’s needs and customizing each training session for the fastest results possible.
