👉 New Year, New Goals… How to Reach Your Dog Training Goals (Without the Frustration)
Every year, dog owners set big goals: better behavior, less stress, more freedom.
And every year, many of those goals quietly fade by February.
Not because you don’t care — but because you didn’t set yourself (or your dog) up for success.
Here’s how to do it differently.
1. Get Help From a Professional
Most people start with, “We can probably figure this out ourselves.”
And sometimes you can — but it usually takes longer, comes with more frustration, and leaves gaps you don’t even realize are there.
A professional trainer:
Sees problems you’re too close to notice
Gives you a clear, efficient plan instead of guesswork
Pushes you (and your dog) further than you’d go on your own
Yes, it’s an investment. But it often saves months (or years) of stress and dramatically improves your day-to-day life with your dog.
2. Define Success — Clearly and Specifically
Goals like “less anxious” or “more confident” are a start, but they’re too vague to train effectively.
Instead, ask:
What does this look like in real life?
Where is this actually causing problems?
For example:
“Doesn’t come when called if scared”
“Breaks out of the crate when anxious”
“Shuts down in new environments”
Clear goals give you something concrete to train — and when those improve, the bigger picture usually improves too.
3. Be Honest About Your Own Habits
Training isn’t just about fixing your dog — it’s about fixing the patterns that created the behavior.
If your dog loses their mind when guests arrive…
but you come through the door hyped, loud, and excited every time — that’s information.
Progress starts when you’re willing to say:
“What am I doing that might be contributing to this?”
Ownership is powerful. And it’s necessary.
4. Don’t Try to Fix Everything at Once
If your dog has 10–15 nuisance behaviors, resist the urge to tackle all of them immediately.
Pick one or two and be consistent.
When you focus:
Your timing improves
Your consistency improves
Your dog gets clearer information
As leadership and structure improve, many smaller issues resolve on their own.
5. Schedule Training You Can Actually Stick To
Perfect plans fail when they’re unrealistic.
If daily sessions aren’t realistic for your life, don’t pretend they are. That only leads to burnout and quitting altogether.
Instead:
Schedule 3–4 training sessions per week
Keep them around 20–30 minutes
Protect that time like an appointment
Consistency beats intensity every time.
6. Ignore the Noise and Lead Your Dog
Setting boundaries will get comments:
“That’s too strict.”
“You’re being mean.”
“I wouldn’t do it that way.”
That’s okay.
Your dog doesn’t need everyone’s approval - and neither do you.
Your dog needs clarity, structure, and leadership — especially when things are hard.
Carry that responsibility confidently.
Your dog is better for it.
Jennifer Hime is the owner and training director of Front Range K9 Academy in Wheat Ridge & Northern Colorado. She can be reached at https://www.frontrangek9noco.com