🐾 What Dog Training Has Taught Me About Leadership, Love, and Connection

Over the years, I’ve learned so much about dog training mostly through trial, error, and lots of patience. There are so many different methods and perspectives out there. Some swear by certain tools or philosophies, others by positive reinforcement alone.

What I’ve found, though, is this:
Dogs need leadership without dominance.
They need clear communication, praise, and fair corrections.
They need consistency.
And above all, they need your love.

🐕 How Parenting Humans and Pets Overlap

The more time I’ve spent training my dog, the more I’ve realized that being a human parent and a pet parent aren’t all that different.

Both kids and dogs need:

• Clear leadership and boundaries

• Guidance in learning right from wrong

• Safe space to make mistakes without fear

• Patience and consistent routines

• A sense of belonging as part of the family

When you think about dogs in a pack, there’s always a leader (the alpha) who provides direction and security. That’s where we step in. Dogs are biologically wired to need someone guiding the “pack,” and when you provide that leadership, they feel safe.

🗣️ The Power of a Common Language

One of the biggest lessons I learned early on? Consistency matters.

When I first started training Navi, different trainers gave me completely different cues to use. I was confused. She was confused. And it made progress much harder.

So, I picked a system that felt natural for us and we stuck with it.

Here’s what works for us:

• Praise – Always in a high-pitched, happy voice:
  “Good!” paired with a treat, petting, or play.
  That combination creates a “dopamine hit” for her and a clear connection between the behavior and reward.

• Corrections – We have two levels: minor and major.
  • Minor Infraction (Redirect):
  If she’s pawing at something she shouldn’t or sniffing where she shouldn’t, I simply say:
  “Navi, chhht!”
  A short, consistent sound that interrupts the behavior without drama.
  
  • Major Infraction (Immediate Stop):
  For something dangerous like bolting toward the street, I use a firm:
  “Navi, NO!”
  A serious cue she now associates with halting and paying attention to me immediately.

🍖 Find What Motivates Your Dog

Every dog is different. For some, it’s food or treats. For others, it’s toys, play, or affection.

For Navi, food is everything. She’s incredibly food-motivated, so that’s what I use most in our training. Once you figure out what drives your dog, you can tailor training to keep them engaged and excited to learn.

💡 My Final Thoughts

There are countless opinions about “the best” way to train a dog. My best advice?
Trust your gut. Find the method that works for your family and your dog and stick with it.

Training takes consistency and patience, but the hard work pays off. Navi isn’t perfect (no dog is!), but the bond we’ve built through years of training is rooted in love, trust, and connection.

And honestly? That’s what matters most.

🌱 In the rain, we root. In the wild, we grow.