What is Person Centered Dog Training?

Michael Baugh CDBC

Person-centered dog training begins with an idea from psychologist Carl Rogers, one of the founders of humanistic psychology. Rogers believed people have a natural capacity for growth and change, and that the right relationship can bring it out. He first called his approach client-centered therapy and later referred to it as person-centered therapy. Instead of the expert “fixing” the client, Rogers taught that clients themselves can guide their own progress when met with empathy, acceptance, and authenticity.

I’ve studied Carl Rogers for over thirty years. His contributions are more than a series of techniques. In fact, he referred to the person-centered approach as a “way of being.” And his influence extended far beyond the therapist-client relationship. Rogers taught his person-centered way of being to health care providers, parents, educators, and even world leaders. Today, person-centered techniques are the norm in all forms of therapy, and we see their impact in business leadership, ministry, and coaching.

What is most important about the person-centered way of being?

Relationship is everything. Whether it’s a therapist and a client, a teacher and a student, a father and a son, a doctor and a patient, or a dog behavior consultant and a dog guardian, their relationship is the intervention. That’s a bold statement. But if we remember the foundational idea that humans have an innate capacity for growth and change, it’s easy to see how the right learning relationship and environment can make that happen.

What makes a person-centered relationship work?

Empathy — deeply understanding another’s internal world and communicating that understanding. Empathy is an early twentieth-century translation of the German word Einfühlung, which literally means “in-feeling.” We could say we are feeling into our client’s experience.
Unconditional Positive Regard — accepting the other person without judgment or conditions, affirming their worth regardless of behavior. This can be hard.
Congruence (authenticity) — in our discussion, this is the dog behavior consultant being genuine and transparent, rather than hiding behind a professional or social façade. We trainers sometimes struggle with this. Let’s own our expertise. Let’s also show up with a healthy dose of humor and humility. Be you. It’s enough.

What are the challenges of person-centered dog training?

In psychotherapy, clients find their own way to solutions with the help of the person-centered relationship. Remember, the relationship is the thing.

In education, teachers create an environment with resources, but the learners guide their own experience. This was revolutionary in the mid-twentieth century, and the ideas live on today.

Dog training is rarely this self-directed. We’re used to giving clients a list of tasks, with a right and wrong way to do each one. Too often, we:

Dismiss clients’ training ideas.
Criticize their past attempts (even when some were successful).
Insist on rigid “trainer-approved” methods.

That kind of teaching wrecks the trainer–client relationship. It’s also the opposite of a person-centered approach.

How does a person-centered dog trainer make room for client self-direction?

We show up with empathy, authenticity, and unconditional positive regard. We’re not perfect, but we are ourselves. From that place, we help clients gain the skills and knowledge they need to work with their dogs, and to solve problems on their own.

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

Let clients set their own goals. It’s their dog, not yours.
Honor their skills and experience. Ask what has worked and what hasn’t. Build on the good, set aside the rest.
Share new dog training skills as options. Explain why you think they may help, then let clients choose which to learn.
Offer resources. Point clients to videos, articles, or handouts so they can learn independently.
Encourage creativity. Ask what the client has tried, reinforce smart solutions, and integrate them into the plan. (One client showed me how mat training diffused an object-guarding problem. It was brilliant.)
Celebrate wins. Clients will want to give you credit, but keep the focus on them. They did the work. You provided the relationship and environment for learning to happen.

Carl Rogers’ person-centered approach reminds us that people learn and grow best in relationships built on empathy, acceptance, and authenticity. When we apply this to dog training, we empower our clients to take ownership of their learning, to make choices, to become fully involved. If all this sounds familiar, it’s because we’ve been teaching dogs like this for years, some of us for decades.

“I feel enriched when I can truly prize or care for or love another person and when I can let that feeling flow out to that person.” (Rogers, A Way of Being, 1980). My dear prized trainer friends, this is why we get up each morning. We change dogs’ lives; we save them sometimes. And we are doing the same for our fellow humans. Let that sink in. Smile on it. This is who we are.

Michael Baugh teaches dog training and dog trainers in Houston Texas. He specializes in aggressive dog training.

How to Prepare For Your Dog Training Session

Michael Baugh CDBC

Dog training on-the-fly can look too much like testing and not enough like teaching. Sure, there are some circumstances where a properly reinforced single-event training moment is acceptable, even preferred (example: randomly calling your dog to you for a click and treat). Most of the time, though, I recommend well-planned brief sessions for training with your dog, seven to ten minutes in duration, one to three times per day.

What Should You do Before Starting a Dog Training Session?

✅ Make sure you have all the props you’ll need nearby. (for example, your dog’s mat, or target stick)

✅ Have treats and your clicker if you are using one. (Carry your treat bag around for an hour before a session so your dog doesn’t automatically flip into “training mode.”)

✅ Create a low-stress, minimally distracting place to train.

✅ Imagine what a successful session will look like. Visualization works.

✅ Take a breath. Relax. I like to do a brief meditation before training. It helps me focus and pay attention.

Begin.

When we set ourselves and our dogs up for success, training is fun. It’s not always easy, but the challenges are easier to solve. Enjoy this moment. Keep in mind how your session connects to your larger dog training goals without getting lost in the future, or getting frustrated because you’re not there yet. Teach in the here and now. The days with your dog are passing, and this is all part of the joy you share with each other.

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

What Does Behavior Have To Do With My Dog’s Health?

Dogs don’t just express themselves through cute quirks. They are also communicating their physical and mental health. Our dogs’ behavior and health are deeply intertwined.

How Does My Dog’s Health Affect Behavior?

Pain, illness or injury often show up first as behavior changes. Pacing, panting, withdrawing, sleeping more, or suddenly acting aggressive are all signs. Dogs can’t tell us when their joints ache or their stomach hurts, so behavior is a key early warning sign.
Hormonal and metabolic shifts can modify energy levels, mood, reactivity.
Chronic stress, fear or anxiety has measurable physiological effects like higher cortisol, altered immune function. For example, dogs with fear/anxiety disorders are more likely to get skin disorders and other immune or hormonal issues. (Dreschel 2010)

Early intervention is key. Any sudden change in behavior, especially in an adult dog, should begin with a thorough veterinary assessment.

How Does My Dog’s Behavior Affect Health?

Persistent anxiety in dogs keeps stress systems activated. Over time, that is linked to poorer immune function, greater risk of infections, slower healing, and shortened lifespan. (Dreschel 2010)
Poor sleep or disrupted activity cycles and also increased disease risk, especially on older dogs. (Modino 2014)

Euthanasia related to canine behavior issues is one of the leading causes of death in young, otherwise healthy dogs.

The encouraging news is that behavior can change. In fact, change is the nature of behavior in dogs (and humans).

What Every Vet Should Know About Behavior Change.

In practice, vets should screen for behavioral signs just as they do for physical ones: ask owners about noises that scare the dog, separation behavior, aggression, changes in sleep or appetite. Early detection means interventions can start before behavior problems worsen. Baseline interventions include:

Positive reinforcement training (rewarding desired behavior) is supported by both behavior science and welfare research. It tends to produce more reliable, less stressful results than aversive or punishment-based methods. It improves trust between dog and human, reduces fear.
Classical conditioning (associating neutral or formerly negative stimuli with positive outcomes) helps reshape emotional responses—for example reducing fear of loud noises, strangers, or new environments.
Medical Treatment by a licensed veterinarian is part of many behavior change plans, even when there is not an underlying physical malady. This often the case with dogs who have significant anxiety, fear, or aggression.

Two Professions Working Together.

Qualified trainers and certified dog behavior consultants will flag behavior changes that require a veterinary visit. Medical intervention can go a long way in changing even the most troubling behavior issues. Similarly, excellent veterinarians will have behavior professional to whom they can refer for behavioral functional analysis and intervention.

Your dog’s behavior is one of the clearest windows into his health. Behavioral changes often precede obvious medical signs. At the same time, behavior itself can contribute to disease risk, reduced well‐being, and even shorter lifespan. For veterinarians (and for dog owners) addressing behavior proactively using evidence‐based methods like positive reinforcement operant and classical conditioning isn’t just about better manners. It’s about longer, healthier, happier lives.