How I Learned What I Know About Training Dogs

This is one of the questions I get asked the most when it comes to dogs—how did I learn all of this?

The truth is, it didn’t come from one course or one book. It came from real life, from time spent with my own dogs and puppies, and from caring enough to keep learning through every mistake and every small win.

From the beginning, I’ve always been drawn to how dogs think and communicate. There’s something really special about watching them learn, especially in those moments when things finally click. Seeing a shy puppy start to gain confidence, or helping a dog work through something they’re unsure about, is what made me fall in love with training in the first place.

What keeps me going is the change you see—not just in the dog, but in the relationship. When a puppy starts to trust you and understand what you’re asking, everything begins to shift. It becomes less about commands and more about connection. To me, that’s what really matters—raising dogs that feel secure, understood, and able to thrive.

Like a lot of people, I started by watching countless YouTube videos and learning from different trainers and situations. It opened my eyes to how much timing, consistency, and small adjustments can completely change the outcome.

I also spent a lot of time reading dog training books, and one thing I realized quickly is that there are many different approaches—and they don’t always agree. Instead of sticking to just one, I tried to take something valuable from each. I learned a lot from trainers like Ian Dunbar and Zak George, who focus on positive reinforcement, as well as Cesar Millan, who offers a different perspective on behavior and leadership.

At one point, I seriously considered becoming a professional dog trainer. I looked into programs and thought about taking that step, but I kept coming back to the fact that I was already learning so much every single day just by working with my own dogs and raising puppies. That hands-on experience became my classroom.

Working with our trainer at Creating Connections Dog Training also gave me experience I couldn’t have gained on my own. Being in classes, learning more about socialization, and helping prepare dogs for therapy work taught me so much about confidence, patience, and clear communication.

Over time, I’ve come to understand that training isn’t really about commands. It’s about understanding your dog, building trust, and setting them up to succeed in a way that makes sense to them.

And the best part is, every dog and every puppy still teaches me something new. That’s what keeps the passion growing.

In my next post, I’ll share one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned when it comes to raising puppies—why early socialization matters so much. 🐶