Build the Habit You Want to Keep
Let me ask you something. Have you ever taught your dog a behavior—let’s say sit—and they nailed it in your living room, but totally ignored it at the park? Yeah. We’ve all been there.
Here’s the thing: teaching a behavior once doesn’t mean it’s going to stick. In fact, it barely scratches the surface.
What really matters is what your dog practices. Not just once or twice, but over and over again—in different places, with different distractions, and at different levels of challenge.
Practice Makes Permanent
I say this all the time, and I mean it:
The more a behavior is practiced, the more it becomes a habit.
Your dog is always learning—whether you’re actively training or not. Every experience is shaping their behavior. So if your dog jumps on guests every time someone walks through the door, guess what? They’re not being “bad”—they’re just getting really good at jumping on guests.
Same goes for barking at the window, pulling on leash, ignoring the recall cue... or, on the flip side, checking in on walks, settling calmly, or coming when called. It’s all just reps.
They’re rehearsing something. The real question is:
What do you want them getting better at?
And here’s the kicker:
Practice doesn’t make perfect—but it does make permanent.
That means we’ve got to be intentional. Because whatever your dog practices the most—whether it's calm behavior or chaos—that’s what’s going to stick. It’s not about drilling the same thing endlessly or demanding perfection. It’s about guiding those daily moments so the behaviors you want become the default.
Even a small behavior, repeated consistently, turns into something your dog just does—without you even having to ask.
A Behavior Isn’t a Habit (Yet)
There’s a difference between a dog knowing something and a dog doing it consistently.
A behavior is something your dog can do.
A habit is something your dog does automatically.
Habits don’t happen by accident. They’re built through repetition, reinforcement, and real-life use. And if we’re not careful, we end up unintentionally reinforcing the behaviors we’re trying to fix.
The 3 Ds: Where Habits Get Tested
When I work with clients, I always talk about the 3 Ds of training:
Distraction – Can your dog still focus when something exciting or scary is going on?
Duration – Can they hold a behavior longer than a second or two?
Distance – Can they listen even when you’re not right next to them?
These are the real-world tests. And here's the deal: if your dog only listens when you're standing two feet away in your kitchen, the behavior isn't solid yet.
Building a habit means gradually working through all three Ds, so your dog can respond anywhere, anytime—not just in the perfect conditions.
Shape the Reps You Want
Training isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being intentional. You don’t need a 30-minute session every day. What matters is what your dog is practicing in the little moments.
Here’s how to tip the scales in your favor:
Manage the Environment
If your dog keeps practicing an unwanted behavior (like jumping or barking), do what you can to prevent those reps. Baby gates, leashes, crates, and window covers aren’t punishment—they’re tools to help you guide practice.
Reinforce the Good Stuff
Catch them doing something right—even if it’s small. Reward calm. Reward check-ins. Reward patience. Reinforcement builds habits.
Interrupt and Redirect
Don’t just say “no.” Give them something else to do. Ask for a sit. Guide them to a mat. Offer a chew. If you don’t give them a replacement behavior, they’ll keep rehearsing the one you don’t want.
Use Real-Life Moments
Ask for a sit before opening a door. Practice recalls in the yard. Reinforce calm when guests arrive. These little things add up faster than you’d think.
Final Thoughts
Here’s the truth: your dog is always learning. Whether you're actively training or not, they're getting better at something.
So make sure they’re practicing the things you actually want to live with.
Let’s build habits you’ll be glad they have—for years to come.
