Obedience Training vs. Behavioral Training

Somewhere along the way, obedience training became synonymous with "dog training."

When a dog is brought into a home (if people make the effort to learn, teach, and equip), puppy and/or obedience training is what they get. And it usually stops there.... hence why so many end up struggling with behavioral concerns and problems.

If and when this happens, it's usually the dog who gets the blame, labeled, (mis)judged, and either gets re-homed, abandoned, lives a much smaller life with zero freedoms, isolated in a room, unfairly and unjustly crated for hours upon end, or left behind at a shelter--- usually resulting in an early, untimely, and most undeserved death.

What the general public doesn't realize is ...

#1 All "obedience" training is is attaching meaning to cues and directives, and

#2 Obedience training makes up a mere fraction of "dog training." Much like a child going to school is a small fraction of their overall development.

Not only does this involve teaching and equipping a dog, but the human responsible with the dog (and why our book, "The Human End of the Leash: Dog Training's Missing Link" is being written | pre-orders can be made here: https://packfit.thinkific.com/courses/the-human-end-of-the-leash ).

Dogs are looking to *us* for what to do, how to feel, and understanding what's expected of them. The problem is most people don't understand how to communicate clearly and effectively (most are - unknowingly - sending mixed messages and signals), and we're usually (again, unknowingly) reinforcing the very choices, behaviors, and states of mind we're struggling with. We don't know what we don't know, and what we don't know is hurting us... especially them.

As professionals, trainers have a responsibility to understand the distinction between obedience and behavioral training. Not only this, but it's our responsibility to also create awareness around this. Sadly, most are not.

It's important for trainers to *train in their lane* and work together.

This involves obedience trainers finding behavioral trainers they feel comfortable with, forging a relationship, developing a comfort and familiarity, and working together.

Behavioral trainers - doing the same with obedience trainers.

This also includes sport and working dog trainers, as many full breed and "drivey" types of dogs (who'd excel and thrive through having a job to do and a sense of purpose) end up as "pet" dogs without having this part of them fulfilled.... only giving way to frustration and problematic behaviors.

The goal here is what's best for the individual client and individual dog, and fully equipping them for a beautiful life together.