Training the Response Before You’re in the Situation: Why It Matters
Let’s be honest—learning how to train a well-behaved dog isn’t about fixing problems when they explode in front of you It’s about preventing those problems from popping up in the first place. You don’t teach your dog to come back to you in the middle of a squirrel chase. You teach them to come back to you in a calm, quiet space, so when the squirrel eventually shows up (as they always do), your dog already knows what to do.
The Secret to a Well-Behaved Dog? Train Before the Situation Happens
This idea—of training the behaviour before the situation arises—is at the very core of good training. It’s one of those things that sounds obvious when you hear it, but often gets missed in practice. We get it. Life gets busy, your dog seems fine most of the time, and then suddenly something goes wrong and you’re caught without a plan…
Practise makes predictable
Let’s look at recall as an example. If you only practise calling your dog back when they’re already 20 metres away in full sprint after a bird, you’re basically setting both of you up for frustration. In that moment, your dog is full of adrenaline, and if the cue hasn’t been rehearsed and reinforced in easier situations, it’s unlikely to work.
Instead, we start recall training in a boring hallway. No distractions. Just you, your dog, and something they find valuable—whether that’s a bit of chicken or a chance to play. You build that cue from the ground up, layer by layer, until it becomes second nature. Then you move it into the garden. Then the park. Gradually, the real world becomes part of the training plan. That way, when your dog does see that bird, you’re not gambling on luck—you’re calling on a response that’s been rehearsed dozens of times.
Think of it like learning to drive. You wouldn’t take your very first lesson on a busy roundabout during rush hour. You’d start in a quiet car park, building the basics with someone experienced guiding you calmly through it. Training your dog is no different. You’re building up to the busy stuff—carefully, intentionally, and with loads of repetition.
The myth of the “bad” dog
A lot of the time, people tell us their dog “knows what to do, they just choose not to do it”. But here’s the thing: most dogs aren’t being stubborn or testing limits. More often than not, they’re confused, overwhelmed, or distracted—and they haven’t been given the chance to properly learn the cue in different settings. If a cue only works when you’re in your living room, it’s not yet a trained behaviour. It’s a hint of potential.
Dogs don’t generalise the way we do. Just because your dog sits beautifully in the kitchen doesn’t mean they’ll automatically do it in the middle of the park. That’s why one of the biggest parts of effective training is helping your dog understand that the cue means the same thing, even when the surroundings change. That kind of confidence doesn’t happen by accident—it’s built over time, in small steps, with loads of encouragement along the way.
Think like a coach, not a referee
It’s tempting to wait for things to go wrong and then jump in with corrections. But effective training isn’t about blowing the whistle. It’s about setting up small wins and rewarding the heck out of them. If you know your dog finds other dogs exciting, don’t wait for them to bark or lunge—start by creating space and rewarding calm behaviour at a distance. Reward your dog for glancing at another dog and then looking back at you. That’s gold. That’s where the learning happens.
You’re building a pattern: “See dog, check in with human, get something good.” Do that enough times, and it becomes the default. And the best part? Your dog starts to trust that you’ve got the situation handled. They don’t need to take charge or react—because they know what’s expected and what’s coming.
This doesn’t mean your dog is never going to make mistakes. Of course they are. But your role is to make those mistakes part of the learning—not the end of the world. Dogs don’t learn from being told off; they learn from being shown what to do instead, and then being rewarded when they get it right.
Pressure changes everything
You might’ve noticed that behaviours fall apart when the pressure is on. Maybe your dog’s brilliant at loose lead walking until a skateboard goes past. Or they can sit nicely at home but completely blank you in the café queue. That’s normal. It doesn’t mean your dog is ignoring you. It means the situation is more than they can handle in that moment.
That’s why we always work below threshold. We train in a way that your dog can succeed, gradually increasing the challenge but always keeping it doable. If your dog is struggling, it’s a sign to dial things back—not push harder.
Imagine trying to learn a new skill while being shouted at or yanked around. Would you feel confident and capable? Probably not. Dogs are no different. They need calm, consistent teaching—and lots of reinforcement for getting it right.
So when things fall apart in the real world, don’t panic. Look at it as valuable information: “Okay, this situation was too hard—how can I break it down and train for it next time?”
Reinforcement isn’t bribery—it’s feedback
When we talk about rewarding dogs, some people worry it means constantly having to carry food or toys. But rewards are just feedback. They’re a way of saying, “Yes! That’s the thing I want more of.” When a behaviour is reinforced enough times, it becomes habit. The external reward might fade over time, but the behaviour sticks because it’s been practised so often and linked with good outcomes.
And let’s face it—dogs don’t do things just because we said so. They do things that work for them. Our job is to make the right choices easy, obvious, and worth it.
This might look like high-value treats when you’re teaching something new. It might be access to a sniffy spot as a reward for walking nicely on lead. Whatever your dog finds motivating, use it. Reinforcement isn’t about spoiling your dog—it’s about being clear and fair.
Real-life training means real-life preparation
We’re big believers in training for your life. That means thinking about the situations you’ll actually be in—not just ticking off a list of behaviours. If you go hiking, you’ll want a dog who comes back reliably off-lead and can pass other dogs calmly. If you live in a flat, maybe the focus is on calmly greeting visitors or settling during noisy delivery runs. It all starts with imagining the situations ahead of time—and teaching the skills your dog will need to navigate them confidently.
Training “out of context” isn’t pointless—it’s where the foundation is built. But if you stop there, your dog may struggle to apply what they’ve learnt when things get real. That’s why we always encourage clients to gradually introduce new layers of challenge. Add in new locations, people, dogs, sounds, smells. Practise recall from a bit further away. Practise “wait” at a doorway when there’s someone holding a bag of chips on the other side. You’re turning skills into habits.
Anticipate, don’t just react
Training the response you want before the moment kicks off means you’re not firefighting. You’re ahead of the game. If you know your dog jumps up when guests come in, teach a “go to bed” cue before the doorbell rings. Practise it daily, make it rewarding, build up the distraction slowly. Then, when your friend does actually walk in with muddy boots and a takeaway bag, your dog already has a job to do—and you’re not shouting over the excitement trying to gain control.
This kind of proactive training changes everything. It makes life more predictable for your dog, and it reduces your stress too. You’re no longer hoping things go well—you’re shaping the outcome from the start.
Build habits, not hopes
The difference between hoping your dog listens and knowing they will comes down to preparation. You can’t hope your dog comes back when called—you have to build that recall like you’re building a muscle. You can’t hope they’ll sit politely at the vet—you practise that settle cue at home, in the car, outside the vet’s office, and then finally in the waiting room.
We’re not chasing perfection. We’re building habits. And the more your dog experiences success, the more confident they become in how to navigate their world.
Even five minutes a day can make a huge difference. The key is consistency. Keep the sessions short, fun, and doable. Celebrate the small wins—they’re the building blocks of long-term behaviour change.
Be your dog’s guide, not their boss
At the end of the day, your dog doesn’t need a boss. They need a guide—someone who helps them figure things out, rewards their efforts, and keeps them feeling safe. Training before the situation gives your dog a framework they can rely on. It means you’re not reacting—you’re responding. And your dog is doing the same.
The real beauty of this approach is that it deepens your relationship. Your dog learns to look to you not because they’re afraid of getting it wrong, but because they trust that you’ll show them how to get it right.
That trust takes time. It’s built through hundreds of small moments where you show up with patience, understanding, and a pocket full of rewards. It’s built when your dog knows you’re paying attention, you’re consistent, and you’re fair. And once that foundation is there, everything else becomes so much easier.
Want support in teaching your dog the right response—before you need it? That’s what we’re here for at Paws Academy. Whether you’re raising a new puppy or working through trickier behaviours with your adult dog, we’ll help you build solid foundations that actually hold up in the real world.
Contact us to find out how we can help you and your dog train with confidence, clarity, and zero pressure. Let’s build the kind of everyday life you both enjoy.