Guaranteed Instant Results! Long-term Success Not Promised.

The first three weeks of a new "training" program is critical.  In my opinion, this is where you either stick with it, or change your method (and most likely your trainer).  The first session is where I see what I'm dealing with; mostly with you.

When I talk to you about helping your dog, I am watching you almost more then I am watching the dog.  I am observing your body language, and am listening to how you speak to your dog.
That first session, your dog is more likely to respond to me because it is new.  It is novel, and they are naturally such curious creatures, they can't help but want to play this new game I'm presenting.  So we try a few things, we get to know each other, and you try them with us.  You are amazed.  You cannot believe something's changed!  So you're into it.

Over the next couple meetings, I either see dedication and genuine effort from you, the Human, or I see you being to fall apart because it isn't working like magic anymore. 
Well, I got news for you:  Dogs have personalities.  They test our will, our stubbornness, our resolve, if you will, to make this new way The Way from now on.  I know you hear it over and over again, but Consistency is Key when working with an animal.  It doesn't matter what kind of animal you are trying to teach, if you are inconsistent, they cannot learn.

Think about how hard it would be to learn a new language.  Now imagine that every time you go to class, the teacher changes the rules, or even, the words and names for things she taught you last week.  How on earth do you expect to become fluent in a language like that? 
I'm sure you may pick up a few things, if the teacher screams at you loud enough, or maybe if she hit you with something.  You'd certainly learn to listen to tone and body language in a way to self-preserve, but you most likely would not be learning the subtle nuances required to learn the language properly.  You have become a creature of reaction. You may try to please the teacher by inventing ways to communicate; and every time you come up with something, she tells you it is wrong. If only she had been clear from the beginning of class, right?

Most of us are very confusing to dogs.  "Come."  "Come're"  "Here"  "GetOverHere!"  "ah screw it, SIT!"
We do not take the time to enforce that first of all, "Come" is what is expected, and that what is expected is expected in all circumstances.  We teach it in a place without distractions, and the dog gets almost proficient.  Rather then taking the next logical step (A, B, C, D, E, F, G...) we jump right to the dog park (A, B, C, .... *"Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness. -*Dali Lama") and expect our dogs to Get It just as soundly as they Got It at home.

We expect them to understand English.  They do not understand English.  They associate certain sounds with action, or lack thereof.  We are talking about inter-species communication here.  And we Humans take it so lightly, and expect SO MUCH from this other species, and yet take no time to understand their ways of communication at all.  I offer the challenge to all of you, that I offer to all of my students/friends:  Go to the dog park without your dog.  Observe other people's pets interacting with not only each other, but with their Humans.  What do you see?

Do you see friends hanging out at a park?  Do you see a bad relationship on display?  Is the dog in charge?  Or is there a level of respect that speaks to the bond they share?  It is quite interesting to see this in action, as it may help you to better understand exactly why your dog won't listen to you at all.  Perhaps you're projecting weakness and a lower pack rank then you realize...Or maybe you're just not speaking the language.

It's all about patience and a resolve that it will not be perfect for a while.  You are learning as your dog is learning, so be kind with yourself.  You cannot expect your dog to know to "come" at the dog park, if you have not first prepared him to return in the presence of dogs at all.  Ok, he gets it at home, he's pretty darn good at it, so let's take the next step:  Let's get that long line out and start practicing where he can see another dog, but cannot reach it.  Increase the distraction in increments.

You can't show up in Beijing and expect to understand, when all you know is Nebraska.