Practice makes progress.

I do not play basketball, but if I wanted to learn, I would not go to the local park and jump into a competitive 5-on-5 game to teach myself. I would put a hoop over my garage, get a ball, and start practicing. After spending hours shooting and dribbling alone in the driveway, I might invite one or two friends to join me so I could learn to play under a bit of pressure. Then, after lots of practice with gradually increasing challenges, I would head to the park to join a game. Building a skillset before using it under stress may sound obvious, but most fail to do this when teaching their dogs how to respond to challenging situations.

For example, if your dog typically gets excited and jumps on visitors, you would probably prefer that they wait quietly until you call them over to greet the guests politely. To achieve this, you must first teach your dog to wait patiently without distractions. Then, gradually add duration (how long they will wait) and distance (how far away from you they will wait). It is essential to practice without distractions until your dog responds reliably. Only then can you add some distractions. Begin by having your dog wait when someone they know well comes over. Once your dog will reliably wait around mild distractions, you may start to practice around new visitors.

Consistently showing your dog what is expected of them under progressively difficult circumstances teaches them how to offer appropriate behaviors to get what they want. There is a difference between disobedient and under-practiced; if your dog fails to do what you ask, they likely just need more practice. Having visitors is one of the most exciting things in a dog’s life (joyful for some and stressful for others). It is unfair to expect your dog to behave appropriately while guests arrive unless they have practiced doing it hundreds of times. Practice may not make perfect, but it does make progress. Be patient and consistent, and your dog will happily cooperate with you.