Trainer Tip Friday: Share the Training Load 🐾

At Zoom Room, we recommend aiming for about 20 minutes of practice a day—total. The good news? It doesn’t have to be one long session or the responsibility of just one person. Think of it as mini-reps throughout the day:

• 5 minutes of focused training here

• 30 seconds of “wait” before a meal

• A relaxation protocol while watching TV

• A quick sit & wait before engaging in play

Even with busy schedules, those small moments add up. And when everyone in the household takes part, your pup learns to respond consistently—not just to one person, but to the whole family.

When I work with clients in private lessons, I often ask them to outline what their dog’s typical day looks like:

• Where does your dog sleep?

• What’s the morning routine?

• Who feeds the dog and when?

• How does each family member interact with the dog?

From there, we can identify:

1. Accidental habits that might encourage unwanted behavior.

2. Everyday opportunities to reinforce training.

✨ Example: If your dog sleeps in a kennel, don’t just rush to open the door in the morning. Instead, practice a sit and wait, and only release when you give the cue. You can apply the same approach before meals and before play—adding brief impulse-control moments so your dog learns patience before they get to engage with food or toys.

✨ Bonus: Once you’ve mapped out the household routine, assign tasks! Who handles feeding? Who practices “place” and the relaxation protocol? Who works on leash manners? These can be permanent assignments or rotated—but the key is that everyone stays consistent in how the task is done and the training is reinforced.

When your family winds down, your dog learns to settle right along with you. It won’t even feel like training, but your pup is gaining valuable life skills.

The secret: keep it simple, share the load, assign roles, and let everyday life become a training opportunity.

📩 If you have any specific questions on this, please reach out at cos@zoomroom.com or bring it up in your next class—we’d love to help!

Training That Grows With You 🌟

At Zoom Room, we’re here to help you and your pup grow step by step—building confidence, connection, and real-world skills that last. Our programs meet your dog right where they are:

• Obedience Basics: laying the foundation for focus and everyday manners.

• Puppy Preschool: fostering early confidence and positive social habits.

• Build Level: strengthening reliability and attention under bigger challenges.

• Specialty Classes: Rally, Agility, or Trick Training to keep your dog sharp, active, and excited to learn.

Whether you’re refreshing the basics or tackling something brand new, we make training enjoyable, effective, and something you’ll both look forward to each week.