Michael Baugh CDBC
I can show you dog training techniques, the timing, the mechanics, the way your hands and body move. That part matters. You can learn a lot from dog training books, from articles, even from watching good trainers online. Those things help. But nothing replaces the experience of doing the work yourself.
Dog training is experiential. It isn’t something we do to our dogs. It’s something we do with them. We learn it in the same way they do: by trying, adjusting, and feeling it out as we go.
Mechanical Skills: Learning Through Movement
Effective dog training is physical. How we reach for the treat bag matters. The direction we turn our shoulders matters. Even whether we’re sitting, standing, or walking matters. Dogs see all of it.
Humans are natural imitators, so watching a skilled trainer can give you a great head start. But the learning really begins when you try it.
Your dog will teach you, too. Pay attention to how they respond to your movements, your posture, your facial expressions, even a small shift of your weight. These subtle cues shape the conversation between you and your dog.
There’s no perfecting this by reading alone. You only learn the dance by dancing.
Timing: The Art of Seeing the Moment
Good timing is all about the eyes. We reinforce as the behavior happens or just after, not minutes later, not even several seconds later.
That doesn’t mean you need to deliver the treat quickly. In fact, reaching for the treat bag too soon often distracts the dog. Instead, we use a marker like a clicker, or a consistent word that tells the dog, “Yes, you got it right, and your reward is coming.”
You can absolutely watch an experienced trainer do this. But great timing comes from practice. You build that skill rep by rep, moment by moment, until your marker feels almost automatic.
What About Board and Train?
People ask this a lot: “Can’t someone just train my dog for me?” We’ve all heard about the neighbor’s dog who went to “boot camp.” Some programs help; some cause real harm.
A positive-reinforcement board and train can give your dog a solid foundation. The most reputable programs require follow-up sessions so you learn how to continue the work at home. Take those seriously. Ask the trainer to coach you while you practice. Their expertise gets things started, but your involvement keeps it going.
Avoid trainers who rely on physical corrections, shock collars, or verbal intimidation. These so-called balanced dog training methods can damage a dog’s emotional well-being. And if you stayed with that approach, you’d be learning how to hurt your own dog. None of us brings a dog into our life to do that.
Training Together: The Real Reward
Training with your dog is a beautiful experience. It’s fun, sometimes messy, sometimes awkward, always deeply connecting. You’re learning about your dog while your dog is learning with you.
You’ve heard me say it before: training is communication. It’s one of the most meaningful conversations you’ll ever have with your dog.
So get in there. Try the thing. Allow yourself to feel uncoordinated at first. Work it out together. Keep going.
This is how great relationships form — through presence, effort, and shared experience. You bring your whole self, your dog brings theirs, and something remarkable grows between you.
Michael Baugh CDBC teaches dog training in Houston TX and online. He specializes in aggressive dog training.