Forget the smack, teach me instead
Caroline Strainig here from CLEAR Dog Training.
Over the years, through my training work and foster work, I’ve seen some truly heartbreaking cases. One that has stayed with me was a dog who came in at just one year old and had no idea what a treat was for doing something right — none at all.
When the owner was asked how he trained him, he admitted his approach was chasing the dog and using force when the dog got it wrong.
That dog wasn’t “bad”.
He wasn’t stubborn.
He was confused and didn’t understand what was expected.
And here’s the honest truth: dogs can be incredibly frustrating, especially when you’re tired, stressed, or embarrassed in the moment. It’s easy to get carried away.
I’ll put my hand up — if a puppy chews my best pair of shoes, it’s not because the puppy is “naughty”.
It’s because I left them where the puppy could get them.
I didn’t puppy-proof my home. That one’s on me.
That’s why part of training is actually training ourselves
to pause, breathe, and think:
“What do I want my dog to do instead — and how can I teach it?”
Clear teaching builds understanding.
Rewards build motivation.
Good management prevents blow-ups.
Kind training isn’t “soft” — it’s effective.
If you’re feeling stuck or reactive, you’re not alone. There is a better way, and it starts with a pause ??
