When Manzo was a little baby puppy, training him was the brightest moment in my day. I got to play with my little boy and watch his eyes light up when he figured out a new behavior. We could engage and talk in a language only he and I understood. It was easy to do because I live for these moments. When Piper and Manzo started having disagreements that turned into full-blown fights over a scrap of trash on the floor, prioritizing training sessions suddenly felt very hard. As our dogs mature, and our lives change, it’s increasingly difficult to carve out time for training.
Training these days with my sweet boy looks different than it did 13 years ago but still, after a long day of work I too find it hard to prioritize his training over, don’t judge me, the couch, and a new episode of Outlander. Now, hiring a trainer helps a lot with accountability, and, depending on how much you need, we can be the gentle, constant reminder you need to motivate you to pick up that treat pouch and open your homework plan!
At the end of the day though, you are your dog’s caregiver, teacher, best friend, and trainer. Today we’re going to discuss how you can easily carve out time for training with your dog. Consistency after all is the key to your dog’s success, but without action, you and your dog will stay stuck. So here is your first assignment- keep reading!
5 Easy Ways to Prioritize Your Dog's Training
Set Small, Specific Goals
Imagine 2 ladders, both of the same length. One ladder has rungs every 3 feet. To climb all 15 feet of that ladder will take a lot of effort and strength. You’ll get there, but you’ll be tired and possibly frustrated. The other ladder has rungs every 12 inches. You’ll be climbing the same distance but with greater ease and less effort.
Training your dog is the same. You do not have to do everything all at once. In fact, you shouldn’t! Dogs, and humans, learn best when we teach one step at a time and build on successes over time. Let’s say you want your dog to stop reacting to dogs on walks. That’s one heck of a goal. If you start there you and your dog will be frustrated and you’ll give up before you even begin! Make your goal much smaller. Let’s say you focus on your dog’s leash manners first, or your dog’s ability to make eye contact. Both skills will help reduce reactivity and will be much easier to achieve. Then, once you meet those goals you can add more.
Pair Training With Existing Habits
I’m willing to bet you have some very well-engrained habits built into your every day. Maybe that’s brushing your teeth, eating breakfast daily, brewing coffee, etc. Habit stacking is the process of pairing one new habit with another you do regularly. Can you practice 10 repetitions of one skill your dog is learning, while you wait for your coffee to perk? Could you practice your dog’s place cue while you read your book/check your email/scroll Facebook?
By linking 2 habits together you’ll come to associate one with the other. For example, every morning when I make my coffee (6 am, sharp!) I also give Manzo his 6 am medications. I'll never forget because I’ll never forget my coffee! These 2 habits always happen together and it’s become a very easy task to complete.
Create a Training Cue or Trigger
Decide on a trigger that tells you it’s time to train and there is no negotiating! When the trigger happens you grab your treats, lesson plan and get started.
You could set an alarm to tell you when it’s time to train. You could set a visual trigger like leaving your dog’s lesson plan on your refrigerator as a reminder to train for 5 minutes before you start cooking dinner. Before you leave for work, set your treat pouch and lay it out where you’ll see it, but your dog cannot steal it, so you see it as soon as you come home. This will certainly remind you to grab your treats and get going!
Make Training Fun and Rewarding
If you’re not enjoying training your dog then please tell your trainer or find someone else who can make it fun for you! Now it’s not all puppies and unicorns. Sometimes it’s hard and emotional. When you practice skill-building though- it should be fun for you and your dog. Incorporate treats and praise so your dog is happy and having a good time. We all love seeing our dogs happy!
Set rewards for yourself too- no joke! Start small by getting some of your favorite treats. For me, this would be Ferrero Roche chocolate balls and for Jake, it would be snack-size baggies of chips. Every time you train your dog you get a treat too! (No joke, this is how we trained ourselves to balance our checkbooks weekly! We got treats every time!) Or, set a longer-term goal such as, “I will train my dog 5 days a week for 2 weeks.” Then decide what your reward will be when you’ve achieved that. Maybe a movie date or that item that’s been hanging around in your Amazon cart while you try to decide if you “need” it. Train your dog and earn it!
Build a Support System
Do other people live with you? Then by all means they can help you train your dog. Involving children, when appropriate, can be a great way to help your dog get their training done! Split tasks among family members and set a weekly meeting when you can all show off what you’ve taught Fido. A chart tracking who did what is great for this!
Let your friends and family know that you’re working on some new skills with your dog and ask them to help keep you accountable by asking for regular pupdates. Post on your social media when you do a training session- you can also brag about how great your pup is doing!
We all know that training done consistently helps your dog greatly! If you train inconsistently, then your dog has to make head or tails of your expectations and may not make progress as well as you’d like. Remember that training your dog is a lot like a gym membership- you get what you put in! So before I leave you to form better habits, here are 10 quick ways you can implement some of these strategies today. Which one will you pick?
10 Tips to Make Dog Training a Daily Habit
Set a Timer: Dedicate just 2-5 minutes to training; it feels doable and effective.
Use Habit Stacking: Tie training to something you do daily (e.g., after your morning coffee, practice leash manners).
Prepare in Advance: Keep treats, clickers, and toys in easily accessible spots to eliminate barriers.
Make it Playful: Treat training as a fun break rather than a chore.
Reward Yourself: Pair training sessions with your own small reward (e.g., enjoy coffee afterward).
Leverage Downtime: Use moments like TV commercials or while dinner cooks to practice quick cues.
Be Consistent with Timing: Dogs thrive on routine, so practice at the same time daily.
Celebrate Small Wins: Acknowledge progress, like your dog holding a "stay" for a few extra seconds.
Use Visual Reminders: Sticky notes or reminders on your phone can keep training top of mind.
Engage the Family: Rotate training duties so everyone contributes and the dog gets more practice.
