Some weeks just hit different. We have grand plans of what training will look like and then life happens, we run out of puff, and sometimes all we really manage to achieve are walks around the block…. welcome to my week this week.
I could beat myself up about this, play the guilt game, and feel like a terrible dog owner. Or, I could do the more helpful thing and look for little glimmers of success throughout the week. Spoiler: I’m choosing to do the latter.
In weeks like this one, the small wins really do count.
So that you can reap the rewards of the small wins too, I’ve decided to share my thoughts on why small wins are a dog trainers lifeline. I want to challenge how we define training, explain why the small wins make all the difference, and give you some tips on spotting and celebrating the small wins in your week.
Redefining Training
I often get caught in the trap of thinking that ‘real‘ training requires me to follow a specific program with complicated drills and specific equipment. The truth is, ‘real‘ training is anything that we do with our dogs that builds on behaviours or skills over time.
Sure, this could be big things like following a program. But it could also be small things, like training your dog to have their nails trimmed, teaching steadiness by having them sit before being released to have their meals, or calmly sitting in the back of the car until they are asked to get out.
What we often forget is that the ‘small wins‘ are actually the behaviours that make the most significant difference to our enjoyment of our dogs. These are the behaviours that reinforce a calm state of mind in our dogs, and in ourselves. They make living with our dogs that little bit more manageable… through developing routines and giving us confidence in our dogs abilities. And, when you’re having a tough week, these are the behaviours you will be glad you spent time teaching.
Why Small Wins Count
Small wins are sometimes all our overloaded brains can manage. As I mentioned last week in my post about When Life Gets Messy, we aren’t our best dog training selves when we’re under pressure. Trying to push through a big formal training session when we’re like this usually doesn’t lead to good outcomes for you or your dog.
Small wins throughout the week help us to relieve some of the pressure that dog training can bring. Big training sessions can be a huge investment of time, travel, and mental capacity. In a small wins training situation, the investment is low stakes. So, even if things don’t go to plan, it doesn’t feel like a great deal of time or effort has been lost. If you try to do something small, and it starts going pear-shaped, it’s much easier to abandon a small wins training situation too.
The other great thing about small wins is that they allow us to keep a little bit of momentum going. While we might not be working on big, flashy skills, we can still see that we’re making progress. Small wins remind us that progress is made, even with little steps. Consistency doesn’t have to mean intensity.
The thing I like most about counting the small wins is that it allows me to keep connection with my dog without getting overwhelmed. It keeps us both engaged in building those all-important relationship points, even at a time when I might not think I’m capable of doing much. Something a simple as a grooming session is a great way to show your dog affection and keep an eye on their physical health. Not to mention, the act of grooming can also help to relax us too. There’s something soothing in the repetitive and mindless task of brushing dogs that also reduces our own heartrate.
How I Spot (and Celebrate) Small Wins
The small wins are the little things that give us the reassurance and confidence to carry on. Therefore we need to be able to spot them to celebrate them.
For me, I simply look for small opportunities that present themselves through the normal course of my daily life. This week that has been things like:
- Seeing our pack settle down together in the living room
- Having a stress-free nail trimming session with the girls
- Having Zed walk nicely on and off the lead
- Having all dogs patiently waiting for their meals
None of this has been done as part of an official training session. It all just happens within the scope of our daily lives. But, it’s all great training none-the-less.
Most of these things have been worked on at home. Most of them have taken less that 10 minutes of time investment. And, all of these activities were things that could have easily been abandoned if frustration had begun to set in.
If you’re struggling to see the small wins in your own dog training, I have a few suggestions:
- Sit down with a cuppa, and think about all the things you do with your dog throughout the course of a normal day. Do they sleep in a create or kennel? How do they have their meals? How are they exercised? How do they spend the majority of their waking day?
- Once you have a bit of a list, you can start to think about the opportunities for small wins that those activities could present. Could they wait calmly to be let out, or for meals? Could you work on walking nicely from A to B? Could they interact with other people or animals in a positive manner?
- From there, all you have to do is keep an eye out for these moments. You need to be prepared to celebrate them with a reward that your dog will love; affection, treats, a game.
Remember, small wins stacked together lead to big changes over time.
So, what were your small wins this week? Maybe you were able to tidily heel your dog to the car, or they settled while you ate dinner. Share your wins in the comments, I’d love to celebrate them with you!
Field Notes & Follies 
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