🎒 Trainer Tip Friday – “Jump Into Back-to-School Season with Your Dog”
As my son (14!) starts high school this week, I’ve been thinking about how important routine is—both for kids and for dogs.
The good news is that adding training into your dog’s life doesn’t have to mean finding an extra 30–60 minutes you don’t have. Instead, integrate it into what you’re already doing:
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Before opening the kennel → ask for a wait
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Before feeding → practice that wait again (bonus: it builds impulse control)
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Before playtime → ask for a cue or a few seconds of steady focus
One of my favorite ways to do this is gamifying training—turning training moments into games your dog loves.
For example, my older dog Diesel loves tug. So during our tug sessions, I mix in waits and drop its so he’s thinking while he’s having fun. My younger dog Grim loves the find it game—I hide somewhere in the house, call him, and when he finds me, he gets a reward. It’s not only a blast for both of us, but it’s also great practice for a solid recall when I need it in real-life, distraction-heavy situations.
And remember—this isn’t just for your dog. Training should be fun for everyone involved. If you’re enjoying the process, your dog will feed off that energy.
đź“‹ Homework for the Week:
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Pick 2–3 daily routines (kennel release, mealtime, before walks) and add a wait or focus cue before the action.
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Choose a favorite play activity your dog loves (tug, fetch, find it) and weave obedience cues into the fun.
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Keep it short—5–15 seconds of play, then pause, ask for another cue, and play again.
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End the game while they still want more to keep motivation high.
Gamifying training makes progress feel less like “work” and more like something you and your dog can’t wait to do.
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