Why Your Dog Listens in Class but Not in Real Life

Robert Forto

Robert Forto

@robertforto | Executive producer and co-host of Dog Works Radio

Why Your Dog Listens in Class but Not in Real Life

Your dog sits perfectly in class, walks nicely when the trainer is nearby, and seems to know exactly what you want. Then you get home and everything falls apart. That does not necessarily mean your dog forgot the training. It may mean the training was never built to survive real life.

In this episode of Dog Works Radio, Michele Forto from Alaska Dog Works explains why dogs often learn the environment surrounding a behavior instead of developing a skill they can perform anywhere. Sitting quietly inside a training facility is very different from responding when a runner appears on a trail, a visitor knocks at the door, or a moose catches your dog’s attention.

Michele also explains why training the owner matters just as much as training the dog. At Alaska Dog Works, the goal is not a dog that performs beautifully for an hour in class. It is a dog and owner who can take those skills into walks, doorways, trails, public spaces, winter conditions, and everyday Alaska life.

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Robert Forto

Robert Forto

@robertforto | Executive producer and co-host of Dog Works Radio

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