1. Lead With Love: A 6-Part Journey to a Trained Dog and a Better You

• INTRODUCTION: “He’s Not Listening!”

  
  

Sound familiar? You say “Sit,” your dog looks at you like you’re speaking French. You repeat it louder. And then louder. Nothing. You’re frustrated, maybe even embarrassed. But here’s the truth most trainers won’t tell you:

� Your dog isn’t ignoring you. Your dog just doesn’t understand you — yet. And that’s okay.

Because this isn’t just about teaching your dog to obey. It’s about you learning how to communicate, connect, and lead with clarity and love. Let’s begin where real training always begins: with the human.

Your Dog is a Mirror, Not a Machine

Dogs are emotional sponges. They pick up on your energy faster than your words. They understand tone better than commands. When you’re anxious, angry, distracted — they notice.

So the first step to obedience isn’t teaching “Sit.”

It’s understanding this core truth:

➡️ You train through clarity, not control. Through presence, not pressure.

Start with the Basics (Sit, Name, Eye Contact)

Before your dog can “stay,” “heel,” or “recall,” they need to:

1. Recognize their name with meaning

> Say name → eye contact → reward

2. Make eye contact with you on cue

> Say “Watch me” → hold treat to eyes → reward when they look

3. Sit on cue

> Lure treat above head → when butt hits ground → say “Sit” + reward

** Pro tip: Say the command only once. Dogs learn better from body language + timing than repeated words.

“Your dog already wants to listen. You just haven’t learned how to speak ‘dog’ yet.”

— Every Good Trainer Ever

Take 5 minutes tonight and write this down:

�� THE 7-DAY CHALLENGE: “Name. Eyes. Sit.”

For the next 7 days, focus your energy and attention on three simple yet powerful behaviors:

• Responding to their name, making eye contact, and sitting on cue. These aren’t just commands — they’re the building blocks of communication and trust between you and your dog.

• Each day, say your dog’s name at least ten times and reward them every time they respond with eye contact. This helps them associate their name with engagement and attention.

• Next, practice the “Watch Me” cue in three short focus sessions (10–20 seconds each), encouraging your dog to hold eye contact and tune into you.

• Finally, reinforce “Sit” by practicing it twice in every room of your home — this not only helps with consistency but also generalizes the behavior across environments.

• Keep training sessions short and sweet — around 5 to 10 minutes — and always aim to end on a positive note. The goal isn’t perfection, but progress. A printable tracker can help you stay on course and recognize the small wins along the way.

• Repetition creates recognition. Recognition builds results. And results lead to a deeper, more responsive connection with your dog.

** Keep sessions short (5–10 mins max), and always end on a success.

** Optional: Track your success with a printable chart

CLOSING THOUGHT:

You don’t need to be a professional trainer to raise a well-behaved dog.

You just need to be present, consistent, and open to learning right alongside your dog.

Because in the end — it’s not obedience you’re building.

It’s a bond.