Are We Asking Too Much of Our Dogs?

Michael Baugh CDBC

In 2003, Jon Katz published The New Work of Dogs. He was prescient. Humans were becoming more isolated, divided, and lonely. Dogs, he predicted, would fill the void, becoming surrogates for the human connections we couldn’t find or keep. Even then, our athletic hunters and protectors were trading in their physical roles for emotional ones. Heart Dogs saw us through life’s changes, relationships, heartbreak, big wins and losses.

The New Role of Dogs

We humans have a tendency to change our world faster than we can sometimes keep up. Cultural evolution now outpaces biological evolution. Our brains were built for small tribes and slow change, not endless notifications and global crisis feeds. It’s no wonder we are so stressed. And so sick. So, we look to our dogs for a moment of warmth, some playful nonsense, a bit of meaningful connection.

Here’s the problem, and Katz knew it. All these changes in our lives are putting dogs under new pressures. When I first started as a trainer in 1999, therapy dogs were a novelty. Psychiatric service dogs and emotional support dogs were very rare. Now, they are commonplace. Dogs used to herd and protect cattle, to flush and retrieve game, and to guard property. Today we discourage them from doing any of those things. Instead, we want them to take care of us.

We Changed Their Story

Dogs didn’t change. We haven’t changed all that much either. But we rewrote the storyline. Fast. It’s too much for us. It’s too much for our dogs. And here we are, in counseling and on meds — both of us. And somewhere in the quiet moments, we know something just isn’t right.

What Can We Do Now?

Be with your dog. Your dog is a living, feeling, thinking being. Not a checklist of problems to fix. Spend time with your dog in whatever way makes sense now. We are in this together, changing together, trying to keep up together. Dogs don’t live long. Neither do we. Don’t waste a minute.
Move. We need motion to stay healthy. So does your herder, your retriever, your terrier (or any of the aforementioned mixed). Play with your dog. Learn with your dog.
Get outside. Let your dog sniff. Leave your phone at home and let your eyes wander. Get away from other dogs if it’s safer and follow your dog to follow unfamiliar scents. Some of us call these decompression walks.
Stop outsourcing your dog’s life. Daycare and board-and-trains can be useful. But they are not a substitute for you. That might be a hard line to read. I’m sorry. Humans are clever. We’ve created services to ease ourselves of the burden of having a dog, when all we ever really wanted was … a dog.

Lean into discomfort (together). If we’ve put our social and technological lives on hyper-drive, we’re going to feel it. Our dogs will feel it too. The human and canine brains do not evolve that fast. So, it’s not a matter of keeping up. We have to adapt.

Let your dog turn to you for support. He’s not your therapist or your emotional anchor. You are his. Own that. What about us? We have to turn toward each other. Rekindle an old friendship. Go to book club, or pickleball, or mahjong (whatever your thing is). Be with people. We’re not that bad. And let’s make peace with ourselves. Pray. Meditate. Read inspiring books. See inspiring films. Listen to music.

Take a deep breath. You’re alive.

And damn, look at that dog you have. So sweet. And those eyes. I wonder what’s going on behind those eyes.

Michael Baugh teaches dog training in Sedona, Arizona and Houston, Texas. He specializes in aggressive dog training.

Myth Busting Clicker Training

Michael Baugh CDBC

I’ve clicker trained for a long time, and I can honestly say it remains one of the most impactful tools I teach my clients. If you have used it yourself, you know what I mean. If you haven’t tried it yet, I can’t wait for you to experience how fast dogs learn with it.

Clicker training works because it gives the dog an immediate, consistent signal that marks exactly the behavior you want them to repeat. The click is not a command, it’s not the treat itself, and it certainly does not make the dog behave on its own. It simply tells the dog, Yes. That was the right behavior and then you follow it with food reinforcement. Dogs learn because that click reliably predicts something great is coming. This kind of immediate feedback dramatically accelerates their understanding of what you’re asking for.

One of the first things clients notice when they pick up a clicker is that it changes their timing and focus. When you are concentrating on clicking at that exact moment you see the correct behavior, it naturally hones your observation skills. Many people find themselves less likely to dive into the treat bag too early. They are watching, clicking, and then treating.

There are some common myths about clicker training that I want to clear up because they often keep people from giving it a real shot. One of the biggest misconceptions is that you have to have the clicker with you all the time, or else your dog will forget everything they learned. That could not be further from the truth. Clickers are tools for the learning phase of a behavior. Once a task becomes fluent and reliable, you can set the clicker aside. Your dog will still perform the behavior; they just don’t need the marker anymore. You might still reinforce with treats or praise periodically, but the clicker itself is retired for that command.

Another myth is that the clicker makes the dog perform. Some people think the sound of the clicker somehow causes the dog to behave. That misinterpretation leads to confusion, especially when a dog doesn’t respond without the clicker in hand. In reality, the clicker teaches the dog to understand exactly what behavior earned reinforcement. It’s a marker. A bridge. A communication shortcut. Nothing more, nothing less.

Some trainers worry that dogs will be dependent on constant clickers and treats forever, but that is also incorrect. Once the behavior is strong, predictable, and reliable, you can begin to thin the rewards. The power of clicker training is that once the learning has happened, the dog remembers the behavior without holding you hostage to the tool.

The bottom line is that clicker training is science-based, positive reinforcement dog training that fosters fast learning, clear communication, and a strong bond between dog and handler. It’s not magic, but it sure feels like it when an “aha” moment clicks for both you and your dog.

Michael Baugh is a dog trainer in Houston, TX. He specializes in aggressive dog training.

The Most Important Lesson I’ve Learned about Dog Training

Michael Baugh CDBC

I have been in the dog training business since 1999. My first client lived in a high-rise on Lake Erie in Cleveland. Her Bichon would steal bits of paper, socks, and underwear, then race around the apartment with his prize. I’d learned enough to help, not bad for a beginner. But I had no clue about the powerful lessons that were still to come.

For years, I read nothing but books about dog behavior. I lost count of the courses, workshops, and seminars, both online and in person. I pursued graduate studies, going deeper and deeper. Learning thrills me.

There were mistakes. Painful losses. Tears. Early on, a large dog sent me to the ER. I sometimes rub my fingers over the scars without thinking. My body remembers.

From all of that — the study, the money spent, the hours invested, and the decades of experience — one lesson stands above the rest. Dog training is about dogs, yes. Teaching dog training is about people.

Prizing the Client

I love the awkward truth of that phrase. Psychologist Carl Rogers coined it as part of his work on unconditional positive regard. As teachers of dog behavior and behavior change, we must care for our human clients as much as their dogs. Rogers suggests that to teach well and to be of real help, we must love our clients.

We do not have to agree with them. But we have to find meaningful common ground. A genuine human connection is not optional. It is the foundation.

Paying Attention Comes First

Dog training should not be a list of problems to solve. We show up with knowledge and experience. We often arrive with solutions ready. But we are not there to teach our agenda.

Listen deeply. Pay attention. Let us discover what our client truly needs and how it fits into their real life with their dog.

Caring for the Relationship That Matters

Teaching dog training is about relationships. It begins with the relationship between trainer and human learner. We prize the client.

More importantly, it is about our client’s relationship with their dog. This is why we teach with intelligence and compassion. It’s why we teach positive reinforcement methods. They protect and grow the relationship between people and their dogs.

Positive reinforcement works. It is love in action.

Love your fellow human, your prized client. Pay attention to them and to what they need. Care for their relationship with their dog.

From the kind woman with her small, fluffy white dog to now, this work continues to nurture me. I can think of no more meaningful way to spend my mental, emotional, and creative energy. I turn sixty this year, nearly half of it spent helping people live better lives with their dogs. When I think about that, I smile.

What a gift. What a joy it is to begin again each day.

Michael teaches dog training in Houston, TX. He specializes in helping people with aggressive dog training.