The Weekly High Five 🐾

Hey there,

Your dog was doing great for a while. Then suddenly it's like they forgot everything.

Here's the deal. It's probably not your dog being stubborn. And it's probably not that the training method doesn't work.

The missing piece? Consistency.

I know what you're thinking. "Pam, I've heard this a million times." But most people think they're being consistent when they're actually all over the place.

The Power of Just Showing Up

Before I became a trainer, my dog Pal taught me something. I never formally trained him. But every time someone came to the door, I'd walk him to his crate and say "go to bed."

Eventually, the doorbell would ring and Pal just walked himself to his crate without me saying anything.

Think of it like water wearing down a stone. One drop does nothing. But the same drop, in the same spot, over and over? Eventually it carves a path.

Where Most People Get It Wrong

Timing. Reward them three seconds late and they have no clue what they're being rewarded for. Stop fumbling for treats.

Boundaries. My dog jumps on me but never on guests. Why? I set that boundary and stick to it. No exceptions based on my mood or how tired I am.

Everyone in the household. If you're working on "no jumping" but your spouse encourages it, you're wasting your time. Get on the same page or accept that nothing's going to change.

It's Not Gone, It's Just Rusty

If your dog knew a command before and now they're not doing it, they didn't forget. They're out of practice.

It's like speaking a language you learned years ago but haven't used. The knowledge is still there.

I get calls from families saying "He was doing so well but now he's jumping again!" When I ask when they last practiced, the answer is always weeks or months.

Stop calling it a training failure when you just stopped training.

The Commitment Nobody Talks About

Training isn't a six week project. It's a lifestyle.

Once consistency becomes your default, it doesn't feel like extra work. It just becomes how you interact with your dog.

Think of it like brushing your teeth. You don't negotiate with yourself about whether you feel like doing it today. You just do it.

That's what consistency should feel like. Natural. Automatic. Non negotiable.

What This Means for You

You don't need a perfect training plan. You just need to stop making excuses and be consistent with whatever you are doing.

Pick one thing. Done the same way. Every single time. No matter what.

That one consistent habit will teach your dog more than a hundred half practiced commands ever will.

Questions about staying consistent? Hit reply. I'm here to help you figure out what consistency looks like for your real life.

You got this!
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Pam,
CPDT-KA
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PS. Struggling to stay consistent or need help getting everyone on the same page? Stop spinning your wheels.
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Let's create a training plan that actually sticks. >>>> Click here to book your Free Call with Me​