Episode #193 Helping Your Dog Overcome Training Setbacks

The way , this is the puppy training podcast and I'm your host , amy Jensen . Hey you guys , welcome to the podcast . Thank you for listening . Thank you for sharing this with your friends , people you know , getting a dog or a new puppy . We have a lot of useful , quick tips and information that's free to you and to them , so please keep sharing the show .

We really appreciate your support . Now , training a dog takes patience , consistency and dedication . We know this . It takes time , right , it's not really hard , it's just unless being consistent is hard , I guess , which it can be , but it's just time and effort .

Right Now it's a super rewarding journey and we work really hard to help our dog develop new skills and behaviors . Now it's not uncommon , though , for us to experience setbacks . Today I want to talk about this . I want to talk about when something unexpected maybe spooks your dog and causes them to regress or lose confidence .

Maybe you're out and about and something happens that's scary to the dog and now , suddenly , when you try to go there , it's hard and you feel like you have to start all over . So I know these setbacks can be frustrating . Recognize it's frustrating for both you and your dog , but they are a normal part of the learning process .

Now the key to overcoming some of these challenges is to approach the situation with understanding , patience and then having a clear strategy to help your dog regain their confidence so that you can continue progressing with their training . First , let's talk about understanding the cause of the setback . It's important to identify what started this .

What started the setback ? What started the regression ? So before we take any action , let's identify what it was . Was there a sudden loud noise , or maybe an unfamiliar person or a new environment that maybe caused your dog to get a little spooked ? Dogs are really sensitive to their surroundings and something that may seem minor to us can be overwhelming for them .

So understanding what triggered their fear or anxiety can help you address the root cause rather than just recognizing the symptoms . If your dog's setback is related to a specific situation , we'll need to work on desensitizing them to that trigger in a controlled and gradual manner , and gradual is really important . We want to take this slowly .

Actually , the more slowly you go , the faster we'll see results . Now , once we have a better understanding of what caused the setback , our next step is to rebuild our dog's confidence .

We're going to use positive reinforcement , which is one of the most effective ways to do this , so we want to focus on rewarding small successes , even if they seem insignificant compared to the progress your dog had previously made .

We want to celebrate every moment where our dog responds positively to a cue or remains calm in a situation that previously caused them to be fearful . For example , if your dog was spooked by a loud noise , let's start with that one . And now they hesitate to walk past the certain area .

I want you to start by rewarding them for just looking at that area , or if they'll just approach that area great , without showing signs of fear . Reward them , praise them and then just turn and walk away from it .

So as we start to see body language that yeah , I don't really want to go that way before that point , if we can , we don't want to push them past their thresholds , we want to just turn and walk away from it . So they see it , they're looking at it , maybe they take a step closer towards it and then we walk away .

Gradually we'll start to increase the challenge and rewarding our dogs as they get closer and closer until they're finally comfortable walking past it again . This gradual process , which we call desensitization , will help our dogs rebuild their confidence without overwhelming them .

That's really important , that we're not overwhelming them , that we're helping them find little wins and successes along the way . When a dog experiences a setback , remember that it can be helpful to break down the training into smaller , more manageable steps . I'm always asking myself how can I make this easier for my dog ? And maybe that's distance .

Distance is usually where I start . Can I just move away further from whatever it is that they're anxious about , right ? So instead of focusing on the final behavior that I'm trying to achieve with my dog , instead I take a step back . I work on smaller components of that behavior . For example , let's talk about leash walking .

If my dog was really doing great at walking on a leash but is now afraid to even leave the house , then I'm going to start by rewarding them for calmly sitting at the front door and maybe I'll take them outside and we'll just play , so we're not going to walk . Maybe we take the walking out of it . Maybe we just sit outside and let my dog sniff .

I'll just sit and read a book and they can just be outside , so we're going to take that walking component out of it . So I'm breaking down , even though I want to work on leash walking .

If my puppy is scared to go outside and walk in the neighborhood , let's just plant ourselves in places in the neighborhood where we're not actually moving , because that's adding stress to the situation . We're just sitting and letting the dog be and take it in and start to relax in these areas and then , finally , we can work on .

Okay , we can walk from this spot to that spot . So we'll gradually increase the distance they walk , rewarding each small success along the way . Breaking down training tasks in this way reduces the pressure on our dog and it helps them feel more in control . It also gives them opportunities to succeed and win .

So pay them along the way and celebrate those little wins . This is really important for rebuilding their confidence . One of the most challenging aspects of training a dog through a setback is maintaining your patience . It's easy to become frustrated or anxious yourself , I guess , or you're just wanting to get it done right . I just want to get the job done .

When your dog seems to regress after making so much progress , it's essential to remember that setbacks are a normal part of the learning process . Dogs like us have good days and they have bad days , and it's important to stay consistent with your training approach even when things don't seem to be going as planned .

Try to maintain a calm and supportive demeanor on your part during the training sessions and be sure to keep your expectations realistic . Progress may be slower than before , but with patience and persistence our dogs will begin to overcome their fears and regain their confidence Again .

I know it's so easy to just want to push , push , push , and sometimes we push too much . It will go faster in the end overall if you go slower . I know that seems a little bit counterintuitive , but it works . Now , if your dog has been spooked or is anxious , they may benefit from a calm , predictable environment during training sessions .

We can create a supportive environment .

I want to reduce any outside stresses , so instead of working in an area with loud noises and unfamiliar people or crowded spaces , maybe we can help our dogs feel more secure and focused by picking a quiet location , right One with fewer distractions , or even going to a familiar place , right Somewhere where my dog already feels safe , and then gradually reintroduce

distractions as they become more confident . Additionally , maintaining a consistent routine can help reduce anxiety in our dogs . They like to just know what's going to happen . A routine , a schedule , those kinds of things helps our dogs be less stressed . So I could set specific times for training , play and relaxation so my dog knows what to expect . That can help .

That predictability can help ease their anxiety and it makes them feel more comfortable and in control of their environment . If your dog setback is severe or if you feel overwhelmed , please don't hesitate to reach out to us . We are happy to help coach you through this process .

You can meet with us , send us emails , you can attend classes and courses that we teach , but we can definitely work with you one-on-one as needed , even on a week-to-week basis , to monitor that progress for your dog over time . So reach out , join our program . We're happy to help you .

My team of trainers is amazing and we love doing our one-on-one trainings with you

. Training setbacks are a natural part of the process when working with dogs , especially when they're spooked by something in their environment . So remember to identify the cause of the setback and then we're going to rebuild our dog's confidence through positive reinforcement . We're going to break the training into smaller steps . Maintaining our patience .

We can help our dog overcome their fears and continue progressing . Remember we want to create a calm and supportive environment and seek help if needed . Reach out to us . We're here to help you . With time and effort , your dog can regain their confidence and you'll both move forward with training . You guys are awesome . Keep up the good work . Happy training .

If you have a question about anything you heard on this podcast or any other puppy training question , visit my site , baxter and Bellacom , to contact me .