I Can Only Show You The Door- It’s You That Has To Walk Through It!

Training your dog can feel overwhelming

Especially if you’ve been stuck with the same problems for ages and you’re just desperate for it to be sorted. So you call in a trainer, thinking a few sessions will crack it.

But here’s the hard truth — you’re still the one who has to do the work.

A good trainer will hand you homework, probably ask for video updates so they can guide from afar, and check in between sessions. But the real progress? That happens when you pick it up day to day. Not just in the one hour you’ve paid for.

Why Trainers Don’t “Fix” Dogs

A trainer doesn’t need your dog to behave for them. They need your dog to behave for you.

That’s why you hear people say, “They’re perfect for the trainer, but as soon as we’re home it’s back to the same old problems.”

It’s not that your dog’s being awkward. It’s because dogs don’t generalise well. They’ve worked out the trainer is consistent, fair, and predictable — but they don’t assume that applies to you too.

Think of it like going to someone’s house. If they ask you to take your shoes off at the door, you’d probably assume that’s polite in other houses as well. Dogs don’t do that. If you want the rule to stick, you’ve got to show them every single time, and in multiple different locations and scenarios.

The Homework Problem

This is where so many people trip up.

Ever been to physio? You get the exercises, you’re told “three times a day for two weeks”… and then you do it twice and forget the rest. Then you wonder why nothing’s changed.

Or the gym. Your PT tells you to ditch the cake-for-breakfast routine, eat something decent instead, and do a few home exercises between sessions — but you keep doing what you’ve always done (good morning cake). No surprise when the results don’t come.

Dog training’s the same. If you switch off after the trainer leaves, nothing changes. Training is 24/7. Your dog is always learning what flies and what doesn’t.

Short-term effort. Long-term gain. That’s the deal.

It’s Not Easy (But It’s Worth It)

I’m not going to lie to you — it’s hard work. It can feel daunting, frustrating, and even a bit endless at times. You might’ve thought the trainer would fix things in a couple of weeks. Sorry, it doesn’t always work like that.

Think about it like learning an instrument. You can’t rock up to piano lessons once a week, never practice, and expect to belt out a tune. But if you practice in between? Your abilities skyrocket — you’ll play with more confidence, fewer mistakes, and less frustration.

Dog training’s the same. Expensive if you don’t do the work. Dirt cheap if you do. Because a good trainer should give you skills you’ll keep for life — not just for this dog, but the next one too.

And hey, group classes are usually a pretty darn cheap way to maintain your training over time. Plus, they’re a great way to meet like-minded dog owners and swap stories and experiences.

Bottom Line

Whether you like it or not, the real change comes from you. The trainer can only show you the door — but you’re the one who has to walk through it.

A few months of hard work is a small trade for years of a calmer, happier life with your dog.