Dog Training – Active vs. Passive Learning

Michael Baugh CDBC

A new client in his early 30s stood in his driveway, his large dog sitting calmly by his side. His dog’s behavior intake form mentioned some aggression issues. This dog didn’t look aggressive, not at the moment anyway. I got out of my car, not nervous; let’s just say I was extra aware. (You don’t want to be creepy about it. It can spook the dog). The man released his dog to say hello, and it was all wags and nuzzles; the dog didn’t even jump.

“Who did you train with?” I asked the man later.

“I watched videos,” he answered, listing a few well-known positive reinforcement trainers.

You might think that trainers like me would be worried. Potential clients can get a flood of information about dog training any time they want online. AI will even help them refine their searches. I’m not worried. I’m glad. Watching videos helped my client and his dog. I made my job easier.

The problem isn’t dog training videos. It’s passive learning. A learner who is just a viewer doesn’t have to do anything. Yes, there is some retention of information, but that declines significantly if the learner is scrolling through videos. More is not better. Active is better.

A lot of positive reinforcement dog training videos are great. Books and podcasts are too. But research on learning consistently shows that participation and feedback improve retention far more than passive consumption. That matches what I see in dog training every day.

My client watched one video at a time. He paused and practiced. That’s not passive. It’s why he did so well. There were gaps and areas for improvement. But he’d gotten us to a great starting point.

When I’m working with a client, I teach a concept, demonstrate a skill, and then observe while my client tries the new skill with his dog. The process is dynamic. My clients’ active engagement solidifies the learning.

The more active the learner becomes by practicing, asking questions, and even handwriting notes, the more the information sticks.

Videos, podcasts, and reading all have their place. My client had a great deal of knowledge when I arrived on that first day. He and his dog had an open line of communication. My job was to show him how to leverage all that learning to remedy the occasional aggressive outbursts. After just two visits, far fewer than the number of times I typically see clients, the man smiled and said, “I think I got this.”

I nodded, “I think you do too.”

The foundation was already there. Dog training is experiential. If the information is good, putting it into action is the most sensible next step.

Michael Baugh CDBC specializes in aggressive dog training in Sedona, Arizona and Houston, Texas. You can see his online dog training videos on YouTube.

Starbucks and Aggressive Dog Training

Michael Baugh CDBC

I savor victory every time I pass a Starbucks. It had a tight grip on me. Every day, I pulled into the drive-thru and pulled out my phone with the app. I smiled, paid, took what the big-bucks boss called my “luxury experience,” and drove off. The trouble started with lattes: grande, then venti, two percent, soy, oat milk. Always iced. Things got worse with the occasional piece of coffee cake or pumpkin loaf. The habit grew expensive. I grew fatter. It had to stop.

My personal journey kicking fast-food coffee reminds me a lot of my clients. Our dogs get into bad habits: barking, lunging, and biting. Things escalate. We grow frightened and weary. Of course, we want it to stop.

Our behavior seems random. Same with our dogs. Habits, aversions, quirks — how do they form? Our dogs’ aggressive behavior works. It creates distance. Scary things retreat. My Starbucks routine worked, too — caffeine, sugar, ritual, relief. Different behaviors, same mechanics. Short-term payoff. Long-term costs.

Here’s how I kicked my Starbucks habit with parallels to curbing aggressive behavior in our dogs. It’s simple. But it takes some grit to pull off in real life.

Block access to the unwanted pattern of behavior.

Starbucks: I deleted the app. Since I stopped most often on my way to client appointments, I left just in time to get there (none to spare at the drive-thru). In the early days, I also changed my route so I would not pass the location nearest my home.

Aggressive dog training: Avoid aggression triggers. Walk when there are fewer dogs and people out if that’s your problem. Safely confine the dog out-of-sight of visitors if it’s a stranger aggression issue. Keep dogs that fight separate. Manage toys and food if the dog is a resource guarder.

Create new patterns of behavior.

Starbucks: I make my own iced coffee at home and take it in a tumbler. It actually tastes better. Eating before I leave certainly helps, too. I call my best friend on the way to clients. He knows I’m a recovering consumer.

Aggressive dog training: Train calm, predictable patterns of behavior. Introduce the triggering stimulus gradually, from a distance, with very little activity or distraction. Teaching a relaxation protocol is a great idea. So is casual observation of a trigger in a non-stimulating setting.

This works. But behavior change is still hard. I still think about stopping. And I still notice every Starbucks sign, no matter where I am. The process works with our dogs as well. Stick with it. Remember, I said this takes grit. I meant that. The long-term payoff? It’s absolutely worth it. Like a cold brew with oat milk from my tumbler on a warm day, it’s worth it.

Michael Baugh teaches dog training in Sedona AZ and Houston TX. He specializes in aggressive dog training.

Why People Stop Training Their Dogs and How to Get Back on Track

Michael Baugh CDBC

I’ve been thinking a lot about why people don’t train their dogs. It’s one of those Holy Grail questions for professional trainers and dog behavior consultants. Why won’t clients follow the plan we laid out together?

The excuses are predictable. I didn’t have time. I’ve been busy. I’m not coordinated enough. I don’t have the right tone of voice. I’m not good enough. Then there are the dog-focused ones. He’s stubborn. My dog is dominant. He’s too old, too young, too dumb, too distracted. Trainers hear these all the time, and it’s tempting to argue with every single point. In our heads, though, the response is usually much shorter. “No, none of that is true.”

So what’s really going on? Those of us who love training do it because it’s fun. Dogs learn when they see their actions affect the world around them. Seeing that in action is thrilling. We learn the same way. Our actions cue the dog’s response. The dog’s actions cue our reinforcement. We are communicating!

The problem is that new trainers give up before they get that first taste of success. It’s like the first episode of a series. If it falls flat, you stop watching. Humans have narrow spans of attention, sometimes. Sound familiar? We crave reinforcement. If we don’t get hooked early, many of us find it hard to keep going. What you need is a spark, something that starts a real conversation between you and your dog. A little back and forth of shared success.

And no, I’m not blaming your dog for failing to reinforce you. He’s probably just as bored and confused as you are.

Here’s the fix: Start simple. I teach hand targeting to all my clients first. It’s the appetizer, the ice breaker, the first clear win for both dog and human. You do this and I do that. Now we’re talking.

But don’t rush. Build gradually and set both of you up to succeed. Grab another easy win. Work on something simple, maybe a trick that makes you laugh. Enjoy the success. Show a friend. Reinforce generously. Once you’re feeling the rhythm, try a more challenging task. You’re getting it, little by little, both of you.

Here’s the bottom line. You can train your dog. And you can learn to love training, too. Drop the labels and get out of your own head. Go for that early win, that “wow” moment. Your dog will feel it, too. Ahh, this is how we have a conversation! Smile. Laugh. Have some fun. And get ready to learn. Your dog has a lot to teach you.

Michael Baugh teaches online dog training and in-person training in Houston, TX. He specializes in aggressive dog training.