Every puppy learns at their own pace. Some love being in the middle of every new experience, while others prefer to watch from the sidelines. Even dogs from the same litter or the same breed can grow in confidence at completely different rates. Sometimes their interests align, and sometimes they don’t. And that’s okay. Our job as dog owners is to recognize those differences and help each dog build confidence in their own time.
It’s also important to remember that puppies take so much from us as humans. We are their constant in a world full of change. We chose to bring them into our homes, into an unpredictable human world where routines, places, and activities shift daily. It’s our responsibility to help them cope, and the best way we can do that is by staying calm ourselves.
A handler’s mindset directly influences a puppy’s state of mind. If we are stressed, anxious, or frustrated, our dogs will feel it. Calmness in training gives dogs the best chance to remain calm themselves and to learn in a positive, steady way.
Three Tips for Calm Training
- Breathe out – When you’re training “stay,” focus on exhaling. Your body language and breath out will help influence your puppy to relax.
- Say it once – Give each cue or instruction a single time. Repeating it out of stress can change your tone, which only adds confusion and pressure, making the dog more stressed.
- Meet them where they’re at – Lower your expectations and self-reflect on how YOU are influencing your dog
There's a theory that it takes practice in at least seven locations before a behavior becomes reliable for a dog. A solid 'stay' at home doesn’t guarantee success at the beach, or your parents’ house. Each new place is filled with overwhelming smells and sights, so give your dog the grace to learn the easy way.
By keeping calm, you give your puppy the gift of stability. And with stability, comes trust, confidence, and success.