What to do when I have no motivation to train my dog?!
If you’ve ever felt like consistency is the hardest part of dog training, it's not just you!
Most dog owners don’t struggle because they don’t care.
They struggle because training feels like one more thing to squeeze into an already full day.
Some day's you've got the get up and go and have the energy, stamina and all the stars align to do everything on your to-do list and train the dog.
And another day, getting out of bed and brushing your teeth is an accomplishment!
And when life gets busy, training the dog is one of those things that can easily slide off our priority list.
Trust me, even as a dog trainer, where dog training is just as much a hobby for me as it is a career, even I have days where I have zero motivation to train the dogs.
But consistency doesn’t have to look like long sessions, perfect routines, or doing everything every day.
There’s a much simpler (and more realistic) way.
Habit Stacking
Incorporate super simple dog training into the daily habits you already have.
No taking extra time out of the day, but spending our existing time better.
This way your training doesn't rely on you being in the right mood, the day going perfectly according to plan or you feeling inspired or motivated.
Instead it becomes habit. It becomes muscle memory.
What Habit Stacking Looks Like in Real Life
Habit stacking should feel almost too easy.
Here are some practical examples:
While you cook dinner → your dog settles on their bed
When you feed your dog → use a handful of their meal for practicing tricks
While you watch TV → practice a nose touch
When you make your morning coffee → your dog practices waiting on their bed
When you pick up dog poop → your dog sits instead of getting under your feet
When you grab the lead → pause for a check-in before the door opens
Start With One Habit
You don’t need to change your whole day.
Start by choosing one moment and ask:
How could my dog be part of this?
That’s it.
Want to hear more about consistency in dog training?
Go check out the podcast I was interviewed on that went live today.
