Simply put, dog adoption can be broken down into 3 steps; locating, adopting and integrating. In episode 5 we delve into integrating your rescue dog and what to do when they’ve hit a plateau and you’re not seeing the training progress or improvements, in dog behaviour, that you want to see.

I often liken this to your fitness journey and how you can start by seeing great results and this keeps you motivated to continue working towards your goals. Training your rescue dog can be rewarding when you see progress being made but what about when you don’t? This is a crucial point that can make or break your bond with your rescue dog. It’s so important to understand that your dog has limitless potential and you don’t need to just accept bad behaviours. This plateau your experiencing is a reminder that it’s time to adjust your approach in order to make bigger gains in your dog training.

Here’s 5 ways to improve your dog training when you’ve hit a plateau:

1. CHANGE YOUR REWARD - Think about what you’re using to mark wanted behaviours in your dog (treats, praise or toys) and assess whether it is an appropriate motivator for your dog. Do you need to find a more enticing treat (aka a high value reward) such as freeze dried liver or jerky bits? Is it worth seeing if your dog would rather work with a toy during training sessions? Maybe you have fallen off track and been using praise but it’s no longer getting results, time to go back to where you were last successful and reinforce that good behaviour again.

2. BREAK IT DOWN - Are you pushing too much too fast? Try breaking things down into smaller steps. Your rescue dog might not have grasped what you’re trying to teach them because you’re advancing too soon or not consistent enough to solidify the knowledge you’re working on.

3. CLICKER TRAINING - Try adding a ‘marker’ to the behaviour by clicking when your dog offers the desired behaviour (or at least some part of it). Remember that a click is ALWAYS followed by a treat in order for your dog to have a positive association with the clicker. This ‘marker’ helps signal the exact moment they got things right which can really expedite the learning process for your dog. Better feedback means your dog with learn exponentially faster about what behaviour they should repeat. Members in the Pawdoption Guide Membership Experience will have access to my clicker training tutorial when it launches early 2022!

4. ASSESS YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS - Is it possible that you’re having a negative impact on your dog’s training? Are you easily frustrated? Are you feeling unsure or lacking confidence? Take a moment to reflect on your current approach and see if there’s a way to take a break, prioritize one behaviour or get help from another family member. Remember that you can’t pour from an empty cup!

5. PROFESSIONAL TRAINER OR TRAINING CLASS - Maybe a new perspective is all you need! Look up professional dog trainers near you to find the best fit. The most experienced trainers will have the initials CPDT-KSA next to their name. This means they are Certified Professional Dog Trainers that have had their knowledge and skills assessed with both a regulated exam, skills assignments and 300 hours of dog training experience. A behaviour consultant is another professional worth seeking when your rescue dog’s behaviours are not improving. If you choose to sign up for an online/virtual dog training course, be sure the course has been designed by someone with great credentials like these!

Lastly, if your rescue dog is difficult on leash and you’re dreaming of the day when you can walk them proudly, check out my FREE Walk Your Dog with Confidence Mini Course!