Dog training is a complex puzzle. Taking a holistic approach to training dogs, i.e., putting together the puzzle, yields real-world results that stand the test of time. Dogs think in pictures and it’s our job as trainer/handler/owner, to paint the easiest-to-understand pictures and communicate our expectations associated with those pictures to reduce stress and anxiety, while promoting confidence. If the dog is stressed or anxious when it gets in the car to go to the park, that’s because the dog has been conditioned that the picture of the car equals stress and anxiety. Whenever we run into behavioral or training issues with our dogs, we need to ask ourselves what pictures have we painted for the dog and go from there.
