There are always two sides of the leash. The dog side and the human side. Let’s take a look at the human side of the leash and see what the power of positive reframing can have on your dog.

Dog trainers are often approached with some type of question like:

• How do I stop my dog from barking?

• How do I get my dog to stop pulling on the leash?

• How can my dog stop being so reactive?

Notice the thread…how do I STOP a certain dog behavior? As dog owners, it can be easy to fall into the trap of focusing on what we don't want our dogs to do, rather than what we do want them to do.

The Magic Secret to
Stopping Unwanted Dog Behavior…

So here it is...the magic dog training secret of all time that absolutely NO TRAINER wants you to know regarding HOW to stop a dog's behavior...

YOU CAN'T!!

YOU CANNOT STOP A DOG BEHAVIOR!!

What? That’s dumb! People have stopped dogs from doing stuff forever!

Well, actually, we haven’t. It's impossible. Nope. Never. Not even [insert whatever you were thinking about!] That feels wrong, doesn't it? I thought so, too, when I first heard it. But, it is true.

WHY? WHY? WHY?

To STOP means don't do that behavior (no matter how fun it is) and choose a different behavior (that this human finds acceptable). That takes logical reasoning and dogs do not have that ability. They learn through association and value.

Dogs ARE great problem solvers. They ARE great workers. They ARE great at repetition (as long as the payoff is worth the effort!). But they are NOT great at logic.

So what are you supposed to do?

Begin by REFRAMING what you are seeing in our dog.

When you reframe you focus on the behavior you WANT, not simply focus on the behavior you don’t want. Then you can set a clear path and expectations to train FOR that behavior. Reframing can change your perspective and open a world of possibilities. Reframing is as much about training you as it is your dog. You’ll want to learn to embrace patience, consistency and understanding. Dog training is really about a journey of growth for both you and your dog.

Here are some examples of reframing.

• How do I stop my dog from barking? REFRAME: How can my dog sit quietly by the door?

• How do I get my dog to stop pulling on the leash? REFRAME: How can I get my dog to walk loosely on leash, next to me?

• How can my dog stop being so reactive? REFRAME: First, what specifically do I mean by “being reactive”? To what? In what circumstances? Then , how can I get my dog to react in a way that is socially acceptable to me?

It’s simply impossible to create a training plan for what you don’t want, so by focusing on the behaviors you do want from your dog, you’re one step closer to having a road map for your journey.

Remember, dogs are always learning, whether you are around our not, and they can look to us for guidance. By shifting your focus from what you don't want to what you do want, you're creating a happier, more harmonious environment for both our furry friends and ourselves.

P.S. Oh, and positive reframing can actually help you in all areas of your life! When you ask for what you want, the world knows what to give.