You’re Doing Better Than You Think

After publishing Part 1 and Part 2 of the blog series “What Dog Guardians Are Struggling With”, I received some lovely messages from dog guardians. Some thanked me for putting words to what they were feeling. Others said it helped them feel less alone. A few even said they’d cried reading it (sorry). So I thought I’d better do a follow-up blog to let you know that you’re doing better than you think.

I want to say this clearly. If you’re here, reading about how to help your dog, you’re a rock star guardain.

There’s a no so subtle pressure in the dog training world to act like you’ve got everything together. Your dog should walk nicely on a loose leash, come when called, ignore distractions, welcome strangers, play perfectly with other dogs, and never chew, bark, dig or react. But that’s not real life. Real life is messy. Dogs, like people, have good days and bad days. And you’re not failing just because your dog isn’t “easy”.

Your dog doesn’t need perfection. They need your consistency, your care, and your willingness to keep trying.

Progress Doesn’t Always Look Like Success

Progress might look like a dog who used to bark at every person managing to walk with their guardian while another dog walks past. It might even look like a dog who used to bite now giving a warning sign like growling instead. It might be that they can be left alone for five minutes without panicking when before they couldn’t cope with 30 seconds. I’ll say it again – you’re doing better than you think.

These things don’t get applause at the dog park. But they matter. And they mean something.

There are days where you’ll feel like nothing is working. That’s normal. Behaviour change isn’t a straight line. It moves forward, then back, then forward again, often when you least expect it. Some days, it’s about noticing what didn’t happen. My dog didn’t lunge. They didn’t chase the cat. The toy didn’t get destroyed. You didn’t lose it and raise your voice.

It’s quiet, unspectacular success. But it’s success all the same. We want progress, not perfection!

Helping Your Dog Is Helping Yourself

There’s something quite beautiful about the kind of people who train dogs with compassion and empathy, for themselves as well as the dog. They learn to observe more carefully. They become more patient. They celebrate small wins (all those 1% wins). They let go of control and focus on communication and relationships.

That doesn’t just help dogs. It helps humans too. It’s proof that you’re doing better than you think. Take the WIN!

I’ve watched guardians become more confident, more kind to themselves, and more able to train their dog simply by choosing to train differently. Force-free, games-based training isn’t just about treats and tricks. It’s about building trust which can change everything.

You don’t need to be a professional. You don’t need to know all the answers. Goodness, I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t! You just need to be the one who keeps showing up. Even if your voice shakes. Even if you’re tired. Even if you’ve made mistakes. Especially if you’ve made mistakes.

You’re Not Behind

One of the most unhelpful thoughts a dog guardian can have is, “We should be further along by now.” Who says? Your dog isn’t on a timetable. There’s no deadline for learning to feel safe, or for figuring out the world, or for building a relationship that works.

Some dogs take longer. Some guardians take longer. That’s not failure. That’s life. If your neighbour’s dog can walk past another dog calmly and yours still barks, it doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. It just means your journey looks different.

Different doesn’t mean defective.

Keep Going

If your dog has made any progress, that’s your win. If your dog is still struggling and you haven’t given up, that’s also your win. The time you’ve spent learning. The nights you’ve spent worrying. The mornings you’ve spent practicing. It all matters.

So if no one has said it to you yet, let me be the one who does.

You are doing a good job. You are helping your dog. You are making a difference.

And your pooch knows it, even if they can’t say so.

Game On! Let’s Play!

Hxx

Written with the assistance of AI