Why Your Dog Isn't Learning
And Why Classes Don't Fix What You Won't Own
Most dog owners believe the same three things:
A trainer needs to see the dog to understand the problem
Group classes are how dogs learn
Their dog is the one causing the issue
All three are wrong.
And until we’re honest about that, nothing changes.
The lie: “A trainer needs to see my dog”
You believe no one understands what you’re dealing with.
You believe your dog is “different.”
You believe if a trainer just saw it, they’d finally get it.
Here’s the truth:
I don’t need to see your dog act out.
I’ve seen the behaviour thousands of times.
What I need to see — and what most owners avoid —
is what you do before, during, and after the behaviour.
Because that’s where the behaviour is built.
Dogs don’t invent problems.
They respond to patterns.
The bigger lie: “My dog needs a group class”
Group classes are not where behaviour problems are fixed.
They’re where dogs:
rehearse bad habits
shut down
get overwhelmed
or look “fine” while nothing changes at home
Group classes teach dogs how to exist near other dogs.
They do not teach owners how to lead, interrupt patterns, or follow through consistently.
And here’s the uncomfortable truth:
If your dog can “listen” in class but not at home,
your dog isn’t disobedient.
You’re inconsistent.
What no one wants to hear
Your dog is not lighting the fire.
You are the gas.
Not intentionally.
Not because you’re a bad person.
But because:
you repeat commands without consequence
you correct too late
you allow behaviour you later get angry about
you reward stress without realizing it
you soften when clarity is needed
you avoid follow-through because it’s uncomfortable
Dogs do what works.
If behaviour keeps happening, it’s working —
for the dog.
Why private training works (in-person OR virtual)
Private training isn’t about the trainer “handling” your dog.
It’s about:
slowing things down
exposing patterns
fixing timing
building consistency
teaching you how to stop behaviour before it starts
Whether it’s virtual or in person, private training works because it removes the audience, the distractions, and the excuses.
No hiding in a crowd.
No blaming the environment.
No pretending it’s “just excitement.”
Just truth.
Why virtual training often works better
When no one is watching:
you stop performing
your dog acts normally
your real habits show up
Virtual sessions show me:
your real routine
your real leash handling
your real corrections
your real follow-through
your real leadership gaps
That’s why virtual training isn’t “less than.”
It’s often more accurate.
Living with dogs means accountability — every day
I don’t train dogs part-time.
I live with them.
Multiple dogs.
Every day.
Fun moments.
Strict moments.
Structure.
Freedom.
Consequences.
If I don’t follow through, my dogs don’t magically behave.
If I let things slide, they take advantage.
That’s not dominance.
That’s reality.
And it’s the same in your home.
Training isn’t a class you attend.
It’s how you live.
The bottom line
If you keep blaming your dog, nothing changes.
If you keep hoping a class will “fix it,” nothing changes.
If you keep waiting for someone to step in and control your dog for you, nothing changes.
Change starts when you own your role in the pattern.
Private training — virtual or in person — exists to give you clarity, skill, and accountability.
Not excuses.
Are you Ready?
If this made you uncomfortable, that’s a good sign.
It means you’re close to the truth —
and close to real change.
And when you’re ready to stop repeating the same cycle, you can book an Evaluation to get started and then start your private session with me — virtual or in person — and we’ll fix what’s actually driving the behaviour.
No blame.
No fluff.
Just results.
—
Angie
Royal K9 Inc.
Contact
Questions about what your dog is saying to you in certain situations or just about your dog’s behaviour?
Reach out to angie@royalk9.ca Angie’s always happy to help guide you in the right direction.
