Why Our First Training Session is Always at Home
Why training should always start at home.
People are often a little surprised when I say our first session is at your home or on a private dog field. “But what about when we go out?” I hear you ask. And yes, I get it—you want me to see your dog in action in the real world. But here’s the thing: I don’t want your dog practicing the very behaviour we’re trying to fix. Trust me, most owners are fantastic at describing what’s going on anyway.
For example, if I’m working with a reactive dog, the last thing I want to do is throw them into a busy public space where they might react. Not only would they be practicing the behaviour we’re trying to change, but it’s also stressful and overwhelming for them. And even for things like recall or loose-lead walking, the first session in a public place is a recipe for distraction chaos. Imagine trying to discuss bathroom paint colours with your husband while he’s glued to his favorite football game—you’ll see where I’m coming from!
Starting in a calm, controlled space means we can focus on the foundations, the building blocks that make all the difference. Without these strong foundations, we’d basically be setting your dog up to fail—and that’s not my style. Once the basics are solid and you’ve done plenty of practice, we can gradually add distractions and take your dog out into the real world to polish skills and tweak things where needed.
So don’t think it’s weird that we start this way. I want your dog to succeed as much as you do… probably about as much as your husband wants his team to win on match day!
If you would like some help with your dog – please get in touch and we’ll have a chat and get you booked in.
