Dog training needs to be redefined, and trainers need to train in their lanes.

Bold statements, but hear me out. This information is shared with concern and respect.

Somewhere along the way, "obedience training" became the "end all be all" in terms of dog training. Whether or not folks were just getting a dog, experiencing a problem, or what-have-you, this became the definition of "dog training". It's what people sought when it came to anything with a dog.

But all "obedience training" is is attaching meaning to verbal cues and directives. That's it. It's helping a dog connect the dots between word and action. "Sit" = butt to the ground. "Down" = belly to the ground. "Come" = come to me from where you are. "Off" = get off whatever it is you're on. "Place" = go to this designated place and park it until you're released. And so on. Obedience training speaks to the *mental aspect* of the dog. **Compliance** to these directives, on the other hand, is connected to *other ingredients that need to be developed and spoken to* (there's a separate post on this).

Many people with dogs are not struggling with teaching their dog to sit. They're struggling with: destructiveness, different forms of anxiety (separation, social, general), attachment issues and relationship discrepancies, "reactivity", shades of aggression, using people as their personal jungle gyms, selective hearing, moving through and beyond trauma, stranger danger, "mine-itis", dogs being brought into situations that are overwhelming and they're ill-equipped to handle (and the ramifications of this), etc.... and also simply not understanding what dogs need as *dogs* (N.B. this does not include: overflowing buckets of toys, games, gadgets, outfits, "bedazzled collars", endless "pets", tons of accesses and privileges). As I always say, behavior is information.

What's listed above are not "obedience" or mental body issues; but, as with humans, are emotional body issues (outside of anything health or medical). It's the result of one or more of their instinctual, individual, and/or breed-specific needs not being met, fulfilled, or provided for. The "behavior" is the external expression of this.

Behavior is a form of expression and communication. It's also a response, and is reflective of what's in excess, what's lacking (or completely missing), and also what's just right. It's reflective of what's in balance and what's out of balance. What's going on internally will always be reflected externally.

Oftentimes, the general public is paying for help they don't need for situations they don't understand ~ leaving them feeling frustrated, hopeless, resentful, stressed, bouncing from trainer to trainer, hyper dependent upon "treats", in deep struggle...and both ends of the leash are suffering. I experienced this myself many years ago (https://www.packfit.net/lobos-story).

I see agility trainers, obedience trainers, detection trainers, etc. dishing out behavioral advice all the time... and, in full transparency....can leave me cringing at times.

I'm not an obedience trainer, and I'll never claim to be. I'm not an agility trainer, detection trainer, etc. These are not my lanes or areas of specialty. I'm a behavioral trainer, and this is where my focus and fluency lies. I train in my lane. While I do have a Nosework course through PackFit ("Nosework for the Home Dog"), this was created with a professional Nosework trainer.

Trainers not training in their lanes add to the confusion of the general public when it comes to "dog training". I'm not suggesting we stay in a box and never color outside the lines, no. Explore... learn....for the love of all things holy, expand those wings and grow!.... but- just gain some knowledge, experience, invest in further education prior to advising in areas beyond our focus and fluency (or simply refer out) when it comes to the general public. This is how we can best work together and serve in a greater, more impactful, and in a more effective way