As a former struggling reactive dog owner-turned dog trainer (*raises hand*), I can confidently say that while the struggle itself can take its toll on you, what your dog teaches you in the process is far more rewarding than most of us realize in the moment.
Our Dogs Teach Us to Appreciate Our Surroundings
A dog that often struggles outdoors is going to challenge you to pay more attention to your surroundings. Oftentimes, we start to recognize that beautiful flower or plant that we’ve walked by a thousand times before, or that quirky house with all its unique details.
Would you have recognized these details otherwise? Maybe, maybe not.
The reality is that even if we’re stressed because we’re spending our entire walk trying to avoid other dogs (or insert your dog’s trigger here ____), we also realize that we’re missing so much at the same time when our heads are usually buried into our phones, and perhaps that’s one of the biggest lessons our dogs can teach us.
If We Don’t Stay Calm, They Can’t Either
If you’ve ever had a dog that was easily triggered, you know that when we panic, they panic just as equally. If picking up on energy were an Olympic sport, our dogs would be in first place every time.
This encourages us to regulate our emotions for our dog’s benefit and to lead them by example. This is another valuable lesson that our dogs teach us about ourselves when we’re working to rehabilitate their behavioral issues, such as reactivity, for example.
So the next time you feel like reacting or feel on edge, stop and breathe, because that’s exactly what you’re trying to instill in your dog. After all, if you’re calm, your dog will most likely follow suit.
Messy Days Still Count as Growth
As it relates to our dogs, behavioral change takes time, and each day isn’t going to be like the last. Some days you’re going to feel like you’re taking ten steps back, and five steps forward. That’s normal.
But overall, being consistent will inevitably grow the bond between you and your dog, and will help them become more confident through you being there for them when it matters most, even on the most difficult of days.
Progress, not perfection. And be kind to yourself. You’re doing a great job, and your dog knows that.
In Closing
We spend so much time trying to teach our dogs that we often forget that our dogs are some of the best teachers around. We can learn just as much from them as they can from us.
The next time you have an “off day” with your dog, try to write down some of the positive lessons that can be found in the situation to help put everything into perspective.
And most importantly, never give up!
Happy training 🐕✨
Nicolas Angione is the founder and head dog trainer at Hope Gables Canine, based in Fairfield County, CT. Inspired by his own dog's reactive journey and rehabilitation, he left his career behind to become a dog trainer. After years of shadowing other dog trainers in the industry, he started his own practice, which has successfully helped hundreds of dog owners, both domestic and abroad, regain peace and harmony with their dogs. Many of these success stories, dog training tips, and more can be found on their Instagram and YouTube pages.
