Keys to Successful Dog Training #5

We are moving on to the next key to you being a very successful trainer of your dog.  It’s time to discuss the fifth key: Consistency. Just like most things in life, in order to make a change you need
to do it consistently.  Random attempts at anything will bring about random results.

I used to take piano lessons, not because I woke up every morning and thought, ‘wow, I really want to learn how to play the piano!’.  I was born the fourth child of four and our parents had a rule
that if you wanted to learn any instrument you needed to start with a year of piano lessons.  I wanted to learn how to play the piano like my older sister, Debbie. She was 10 years older than me, which means she could make amazing things happen at the piano.  When I decided to start taking lessons I had no idea of the hours Debbie had invested in learning how to play the piano. All I know is I wanted to be like her and I wanted it now.  Do you think I threw myself into doing everything it would take to play the piano like Debbie? Nope. Most weeks I would dabble at my lesson, then the morning of it I would spend a few minutes before school attempting my lesson and then as I walked to my teacher’s house I would pray that I could do the lesson.  She was a kind teacher but wanted the best for me, so she encouraged me to take the lessons more seriously so I could read music and become a musician. I pressed on and guess what? I got pretty good at it and even participated in a few piano recitals And since that experience I have been able to apply the Consistency Principle in many areas of my life.

Owning and operating two businesses, managing 35 employees and living a very active outdoors lifestyle keeps me hopping. I could not do it all if I didn’t have a schedule and actually use it.   I see

results and am able to accomplish more. Is it easy. Absolutely not, every day is a challenge. But when I honor my schedule I win, and I like to win (remember I am the 4th child :). I had to learn to say no, to set boundaries to safeguard my time and to write in small amounts of time for accidentals. Do I succeed every day? No. Do I succeed more than I fail? Yes.  That’s the point I am making with your dog training efforts …if you fail to plan you plan to fail. I don’t want you to fail and your dog absolutely doesn’t want you to fail.

How does one become consistent?  I do it by putting it on my calendar and I honor the schedule.  I write in walking, training, grooming, vet visits, etc. I also invite others to help when possible.  Sometimes I invite my husband on the calendar to-do and he will take the dog to the groomer or vet. It gets done and that’s what’s important.  You can definitely partner with others to train the dog. As a matter of fact, if you have a family it’s a great idea to share the responsibility of training because then it gets done and everyone knows how to do the skills.  During In Home Training and the first two levels of Group Classes I encourage family members to participate so everyone learns together.

I hope the Consistency Key doesn’t seem like something you just couldn’t do.  Your schedule might be out of balance right now with too many to-do’s for a 24 hour day.  Instead of trying to stretch

it to a 36 hour day, please try to find a balance so that you get to spend quality time with your dog every day.  Some of the benefits you will find along the way will hopefully be less stress, companionship and laughter (dogs can be pretty entertaining).

Take a step towards consistency and one day at a time you will get better.  I’ve come a long way from dodging my piano lessons so I know you can do it.

Happy Training!

Julie