Overcoming Training Frustration: Understanding Progress and Advancement in Dog Training

Training a hunting dog is a journey filled with ups and downs. At some point, you may hit what feels like a wall. Your progress might seem to stall, or you may even feel like you’re taking steps backward.

You could be off to a fantastic start, with everything going well, and then suddenly, things take a turn. You might feel like you’re not doing as well, leading to frustration. This frustration can compound, slowing your progress and possibly leading to poor decisions as a handler.

Frustration can be your worst enemy. Your pup will pick up on your negative emotions and respond accordingly, which can further hinder your training.

But here’s the good news: what feels like a wall isn’t always one. Sometimes, it’s just part of the training process. To help you navigate these tough moments, I’ve outlined two simple steps:

1. Understand Progress

Progress isn’t always visible. It’s often intangible, meaning you can’t always see it happening. However, progress is all about moving forward, even when it doesn’t feel like it.

On average, your pup needs to repeat a behavior correctly 75 times to become fluent and 250 times in multiple locations to generalize the skill. (New to CGA? Learn more about the phases of learning, including fluency and generalization, here).

If you’re consistently putting in the reps and working diligently, you are making progress, even if it doesn’t feel like it.

If it seems like your pup is regressing, focus on getting successful reps:

• Shorten the distance of the task.
• Use a check cord to maintain control.
• Practice in a familiar location before introducing new environments.
• Bring back the clicker and treat to reinforce correct behaviors.

For example, if your dog has an improper hold on a retrieve, take a step back:

• Heel your dog back to the spot where it picked up the bumper or where the hold became sloppy.
• Have your pup hold the bumper correctly.
• Walk back to the spot where you want to receive the retrieve.
• Recall your dog to complete the task.

During these times, you might not see your dog excelling at new skills. This phase is normal, and it’s a part of the training process where progress is being made.

2. Understand Advancement

Advancement is different from progress. Advancement is when you can visibly see improvement—longer retrieves, new skills, and overall better performance.

This is a time to celebrate and build on the momentum you’ve been working toward. Advancement is a season you’ll experience throughout retriever training, and it’s exciting because it’s tangible proof of your hard work paying off.

While progress might feel like hitting a wall, it’s laying the groundwork for future advancement. Every rep, every investment of time and energy is progress, helping you and your dog move forward.

Conclusion

On the tough days, remember that your pup is still making progress, even if it’s not immediately visible. Celebrate when you see tangible advancement, but don’t get discouraged when things seem stagnant.

Recognizing whether you’re in a day of progress or advancement (or even experiencing both within different skills) can help reduce frustration and make your training sessions more enjoyable, even when they don’t go as planned.

#BuildFromHere,

Joshua Parvin

P.S. Want more tips on training your dog? Check out our other posts here.