60. The Small Wins: Recognising Progress in Dog Training

Short-form social media has made dog training advice more accessible than ever. In a matter of seconds, we can be shown how to stop barking, fix lead pulling, manage reactivity or teach a dog to behave around traffic.But there's a problem. Dog behaviour is complicated, and the advice that works beautifully for one dog might be completely inappropriate for another.In this episode, we discuss how short-form content can turn nuanced training concepts into universal rules, why genetics, learning history, health and environment matter, and how well-intentioned advice can sometimes create more problems than it solves.Using examples involving herding breeds, reactions to moving vehicles and training equipment, we explore why it's important to look beyond the individual tip and understand the dog in front of us.We'll also talk about how to evaluate online advice, recognise when something doesn't feel right for your dog and find a trainer who considers the whole picture rather than offering a one-size-fits-all solution.

Why does your dog respond perfectly at home but suddenly seem to forget everything when you step outside? Or why can they nail a cue one day and completely ignore it the next?In this episode, Pat and Molly unpack one of the biggest misconceptions in dog training: that a dog who doesn't respond to a cue is being stubborn, difficult or deliberately ignoring you.The reality is that there is usually a lot more going on.We explore how context, motivation, reinforcement history, stress levels and training foundations all influence a dog's ability to respond. Just because your dog understands a cue in one environment doesn't mean they automatically understand it everywhere.We also discuss why repeating cues, increasing pressure or expecting your dog to respond in increasingly distracting environments can make things harder, rather than easier.In this episode, we cover:Why knowing a cue doesn't mean your dog can perform it in every situation.How context changes what a dog understands.The role of motivation and reinforcement in getting behaviours to happen.Why stress and environmental distractions can affect your dog's ability to respond.The importance of building strong foundations before adding difficulty.Why training needs to happen across different environments and situations.How to make training easier by setting your dog up for success.The next time your dog doesn't respond, rather than assuming they're being stubborn, consider what might be making that behaviour difficult in that moment.Good training isn't about expecting dogs to get it right regardless of the circumstances. It's about giving them the skills, support and reinforcement they need to succeed.

In this episode, we discuss why choosing a dog based on appearance, popularity, or broad labels like “family-friendly” can lead to a mismatch. Understanding a breed’s original purpose and likely needs can help you choose a dog that fits your actual lifestyle - and set realistic expectations for the years ahead.In this episode, Molly and Pat explain how movies, pop culture, and social media can influence breed popularity, while hiding the work behind impressive training videos.They discuss how generations of selective breeding shape behavior: herding dogs may chase or nip at movement, terriers may dig and hunt, livestock guardians may bark and act independently, and hounds may follow scent, vocalize, and try to escape.They distinguish breed-related needs from exercise alone. More walks can build a fitter dog, so activity should be balanced with mental stimulation, appropriate outlets for natural behavior, rest, and learning to switch off.They explain how a mismatch between a dog’s tendencies and its environment can create stress and frustration, and why management - such as blocking garden beds while teaching a dog where to dig - can help.They recommend researching a breed’s origins, temperament, health concerns, grooming needs, vocalness, independence, and working versus show lines. Books, ethical breeders, trainers, and people who live with the breed can add useful perspectives beyond generic online descriptions.They emphasize that breed offers clues, not guarantees: individual temperament, upbringing, genetics, and environment all matter. For mixed-breed or rescue dogs, focus on the dog’s observed behavior and history; genetic testing may offer additional information.They discuss planning for a dog’s full 10-to-15-year life, including adolescence, changing circumstances, costs, and whether you can meet the dog’s needs on difficult days, not just ideal ones.Their takeaway: choose for the life you have, manage expectations, and accept that not every dog will enjoy cafés or other outings. The goal is to understand the individual dog and help them thrive.

Does your dog really need more exercise, or are you accidentally creating a canine athlete who just keeps getting fitter?In this episode, Pat and Molly from Flying Paws Dog Training challenge some of the common myths surrounding dog exercise and explore why more physical activity isn't always the answer to a calmer, happier dog.We discuss the importance of mental enrichment, teaching dogs how to switch off, and finding the right balance between exercise, stimulation and rest.In this episode, we cover:Why trying to physically exhaust your dog can backfire.The difference between physical exercise and mental enrichment.How too much stimulation can contribute to overarousal.Why teaching your dog to relax is just as important as teaching them to be active.The importance of sleep, downtime and recovery.Practical ways to create a more balanced daily routine.The takeaway? A tired dog isn't necessarily a happy or well-regulated dog. Sometimes, the best thing you can teach your dog is how to do absolutely nothing!

No two dogs are the same, so why would we expect the same training approach to work for every dog?In this episode, Pat and Molly from Flying Paws Dog Training reflect on how their approach to dog training has evolved over the years, with plenty of lessons learned from their own dogs along the way.From different personalities and temperaments to setting boundaries, encouraging independence and understanding what each individual dog needs, they explore why training isn't about following a one-size-fits-all formula.They also share how living with their own dogs has shaped their perspectives as trainers, challenged their thinking and reinforced the importance of adapting our expectations to suit the dog in front of us.Whether you're navigating life with an independent thinker, a sensitive soul or a dog who likes to make their own rules, this episode is a reminder that understanding the individual dog is just as important as the training itself.

In this episode, we explore the often difficult and emotional topic of rehoming a dog. We discuss the stigma that can surround rehoming, why it isn’t always a sign of failure, and the circumstances where finding a different home may genuinely be the best option for both the dog and their family.We look at lifestyle and environmental mismatches, behavioural and safety concerns, changes in family circumstances, and the reality that sometimes management or training alone cannot make a situation sustainable. We also discuss how to assess your options, make an informed and responsible decision, and approach rehoming with the dog’s long-term welfare at the centre of the process.Ultimately, this episode is about moving away from judgement and recognising that responsible dog ownership sometimes means making incredibly difficult decisions.

Sometimes dog training means changing the plan, having an awkward conversation, or accepting that management might actually be the best solution.In this episode, we talk about some of the common misconceptions we see around dog training and some of the things trainers occasionally have to stop themselves from saying out loud!We discuss:​Why management isn’t a failure​What to do when the original training plan simply isn’t working​Why we need to train the dog in front of us rather than sticking rigidly to a method​The assumptions we make about why dogs behave the way they do​Why equipment fit and comfort matter​How breed traits and lifestyle can contribute to training challenges​Why a behaviour learned at home won’t automatically work everywhere else​The importance of actually practising and reinforcing the behaviours you want​Navigating some of the more awkward conversations between trainers and owners​Why honesty about what is (and isn’t) working can lead to better outcomesDog training doesn’t always go according to plan, and that doesn’t necessarily mean anyone has failed. Sometimes the most important skill is recognising when something isn’t working, figuring out why, and being willing to change what we’re doing for the dog in front of us.

Dog training progress doesn’t always look dramatic. Often, it’s the small changes that happen quietly over weeks or months that show just how far you and your dog have come.In this episode, we talk about why progress can be difficult to recognise when you’re living with your dog every day, and how an outside perspective can sometimes highlight improvements you’ve stopped noticing.We also dive into the adolescent stage, when training can feel inconsistent, patience can wear thin, and it’s easy to wonder whether all your hard work is actually paying off.We discuss:Why progress in dog training is rarely linearThe small wins that are easy to overlookWhy adolescence can make it feel like training has gone backwardsThe role of patience, consistency and maturityHow an outside perspective can help you see changeWhy comparing your dog to where they were, rather than where you think they “should” be, mattersCelebrating progress while still acknowledging there’s more work to doSometimes the biggest sign that training is working isn’t a perfectly behaved dog. It’s looking back and realising that something that used to feel really difficult… doesn’t feel quite so difficult anymore.

This is a difficult episode, but an important one.Over the past five years, between us we’ve had to say goodbye to four of our own dogs, Murph, Rily, Tani and Dudley. With the recent loss of Murph, we wanted to have an open conversation about something almost every dog owner will eventually face: knowing when it might be time to say goodbye.This isn’t an episode about having all the answers. It’s about the decisions, emotions and uncertainty that can come with the end of a dog’s life, and our own experiences of navigating those moments.We talk about:The difficult question of “How do I know when it’s time?”Quality of life and recognising when things are changingMaking euthanasia decisions when there isn’t always one obvious answerThe guilt, doubt and second-guessing that can come with making that decisionOur experiences saying goodbye to Murph, Rily, Tani and DudleyThe different ways grief can look after losing a dogRemembering and honouring the life they had, rather than only focusing on their final daysThere is no perfect way to navigate the loss of a dog, and every dog, family and situation is different. In this episode, we simply share what those decisions have looked like for us and some of the things we’ve learnt along the way.If you’re currently facing an end-of-life decision with your dog, have recently said goodbye, or simply want to understand this part of sharing your life with dogs a little better, we hope this conversation helps you feel a little more prepared for one of the hardest parts of loving them.

Bringing home a new puppy is exciting but those first few weeks can also feel like a lot. What should you focus on? How much socialisation do they really need? And are you accidentally putting too much pressure on yourself to get everything right?In this episode, we break down what really matters when setting your puppy up for success.We chat about:What puppy socialisation actually means and why it’s more than meeting lots of dogs and peopleHow to safely expose your puppy to the world without overwhelming themBuilding routines while still allowing flexibilitySetting realistic expectations for a young puppyWhy rest and downtime are just as important as training and adventuresHelping your puppy develop confidence and resilienceCreating positive experiences rather than trying to tick off a socialisation checklistThe foundations that can make life easier as your puppy growsWhether your puppy has just arrived home or you’re preparing to bring one home soon, this episode will help you focus on the things that matter most, without feeling like you need to do everything at once.🎧 Perfect for: new puppy owners, soon-to-be puppy owners, and anyone wanting to give their puppy a strong start to life.