Your Dog is Your Student—and You’re Their Teacher

When I think about training, I don’t see it as a checklist of commands. I see it as a relationship.

Your dog is your student—and you’re their teacher. And just like a skilled teacher adjusts their approach for each student, training your dog should be tailored to them. Their personality. Their struggles. Their pace. No two dogs are exactly the same, and that means the path to success won’t be either.

Sure, we can map out the goals—obedience, calm behavior, confidence, trust—but how we get there depends on the dog in front of us.

Sometimes the roadblocks we face are emotional. Fear is a big one. It can shut a dog down, mess with their focus, even affect their appetite. I’ve worked with dogs so afraid, food wasn’t even an option. In some cases—like human-directed aggression—trying to use treats can actually backfire. That’s when we have to shift. Change the tool. Change the method. But never lose sight of the goal.

Training isn’t always a straight line. And that’s okay.
Sometimes we have to slow things down before we can move forward. If your dog is anxious or overly hyped, calming their mind becomes part of the training—not something to ignore.

Before we dive into training, ask yourself two questions:

• What kind of dog do you want to live with?

• How do you want them to respond to the world around them?

Once you can picture that clearly, we can build the steps to get there—together.

Because the truth is, tailoring the approach to fit your dog isn’t optional—it’s the key. That’s where progress comes from. That’s how we build trust. That’s how you go from chaos to connection.

In the end, this isn’t just about obedience.
It’s about creating a relationship that works—in real life, with real challenges, and real results.

— Mark Cousins
Evry K9

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