There is a very fine line that separates what most professional dog trainers do from what an average dog owner does.
That line is anticipation.
Why is anticipation so important? Because it improves your timing. Why is timing so important? Because how we time our response to our dog’s behavior will make the difference between shaping a lasting behavior or not. If you know your dog is terrified of city buses when they drive by, then we need to anticipate that behavior the next time we’re faced with that situation. By anticipating the fearful behavior we can try to give the dog a little space and be ready with the right timing of leash handling, praise and encouragement. For the leash reactive dog, if we’re not ready before the dog starts to escalate, and willing to correct the behavior when it is but a seed in the mind just beginning to sprout, well, then we might be dealing with a leash reactive dog for many many years to come.
Waiting too long to inform our dog when they’re making the right or wrong decisions will lead to ineffective communication. The good news is that you don’t have to be an expert in dog behavior in order to perfect your ability to anticipate. You just have to be an expert at your own dogs behavior. What are your dogs triggers? How quickly do they respond to your guidance? Once you enhance your ability to predict your dogs reactions you can make sure that you’re always one step ahead of them.
That’s what a professional does, but it need not be a secretive inaccessible skill.
