Importance of Patience in Dog Training

It is important to learn how to cultivate patience for improving a positive and enriching relationship with your dog. 

Patience is being present in the moment with your dog.

Not allowing yourself to become overwhelmed with your dog. 

Not becoming distracted with what any outcome or future may be in store. 

Allowing yourself to pay attention to what you and your dog are doing together. That means willingly giving your undivided attention to what is taking place. 

Being patient yields time for learning to occur. 

A prerequisite to patience is mindfulness.  

Strengthening your mindfulness to understand when a limit is being reached. Not allowing you and your dog to become overwhelmed. 

When you are patient you have the ability to stay focused on the goal you are working towards with your dog.

Resting and taking a break is an important part of patience. There is nothing wrong if it takes multiple attempts working together with your dog. 

Taking on more than you can handle and attempting a quick outcome will not be helpful to achieving the goal you and your dog are working towards. 

By being patient you allow you and your dog to work at a little bit at a time. Building upon each success. 

Not rushing. Not being swayed by any failures. Setting yourself up for continued success. 

If you are overwhelmed before you even get started you won’t be able to work together properly. 

Exercising patience during any testing times allows for discovery and growth. Fortifying your resolve and adaptability. 

Impulsiveness leads to irrational thought processes which in turn affect your decision-making. Illogical decision-making can foster bad decisions which can set you back further than where you started. 

By not being impulsive you can stay focused on what you and your dog are trying to achieve. 

Whether that goal may be:

potty training a puppy, introducing crate training, getting your new adopted dog accustomed to their new home, or teaching your dog to sit for the first time. 

Not being irrational and remaining patient, calm, and positive will keep you on track to success. 

Remember our dogs look to us for Everything!