I will start this post by stating I don’t remember who said it or first published the phrase “Train the Dog in Front of You” but it’s something that has stuck in my mind for a very long time and I repeat it to myself with every dog I train. With that being said, I would like to THANK the person who coined that phrase.
I recently repeated that phrase “Train the dog in front of you” while talking to a neighbor whose dogs are always bolting out the gate and running the streets, ignoring her calls for them to come back. She literally spends most of her days “searching” for her dogs who ran off. Her statement to me was “my other dogs never did that”.
So what does the statement “Train the dog in front of you” mean to me? It means that EVERY dog is unique. Every dog learns at different levels. You cannot assume or expect that your new dog will behave or react like your previous dog. Some dogs may learn or understand slower than others. Some dogs may learn faster, catch on quicker. Every dog IS capable of learning, but sometimes you may need to break it down in simpler terms for them. Make clear what is expected of them. Train them, teach them. Give them more time to understand how to behave like you want them to or, if they seem to learn quickly, challenge them more during training periods so they don’t get bored.
Not all dogs are created equal. They are individual, living, breathing, thinking creatures and should be treated with the love, patience, and respect they deserve.
Our training styles should be diverse enough to accommodate the learning style of each dog.
So, go ahead…
TRAIN The Dog In Front of You!