Nearly 20 Years of Learning About Dogs — and I’m Still Learning

I’ve been working with dogs for nearly 20 years now, and not long after I started working with them, I began studying dog behaviour and training too.

Throughout those years, my understanding of dogs has changed and changed. Every time I think I’ve got it, I learn another layer.

When you first get a puppy, what you know is really just the tip of the iceberg. There are so many different layers to owning and understanding a dog, and so many things you learn along the way.

But for the most part, one of the biggest things we should be aiming for is simply to create a happy dog.

If you can create a happy dog, really meet their needs and understand what they need from you, you’re likely to find yourself with far fewer behavioural problems.

We are also fighting against some difficult breeding. Dogs aren’t always as healthy as they should be, and behavioural traits can also come down through genetics. Sometimes you can do everything right and still have things to work through.

But whether you’re bringing home a new puppy or taking on a rescue dog, one of the biggest things I would say is:

Invest the time early on.

Those first six months matter.

It’s amazing how all the tiny bits of training eventually make up the bigger picture. You’re not just teaching individual exercises — you’re creating really good communication between you and your dog.

And one thing I think is really important is learnability.

Try not to take your dog straight into frustration when you’re teaching something new. Your dog doesn’t already understand the concept of what you’re asking them to do.

If, early on, training repeatedly becomes “I don’t understand what you need from me,” that mindset can start to run through lots of the other things you try to teach later.

So start easy.

Give them the benefit of the doubt.

Help them understand how to get it right.

And teach the things that are actually going to be useful in real life.

Paw is great — but not when you’re eating your dinner.

Build connection first.

From that connection, so many other things start to fall into place: your recall, your lead work, and your dog’s ability to stay connected with you when other dogs are around.

But that connection goes both ways.

Your dog needs to learn that they can trust you. That means us learning to read their body language, understanding what they need, recognising when something is too much, and stepping in to protect or guide them when they need us to.

Over time, they learn that they don’t have to deal with everything on their own.

They can look to you for help.

And I think that’s where the really good relationship starts.