You have explained everything clearly, covered it many times, and broken it down into easily actionable steps for the dog’s guardian, yet progress between training sessions is still not happening.
This situation is more common than you might think, and it’s not about you or your dog knowledge.
Lack of progress often comes down to the guardian struggling with their own emotions, mindset, and resistance to change.
This is why understanding and empathising with dog guardians is just as important as understanding their dogs, even when it feels challenging.
Dog Guardian Resistance
When a dog guardian reaches out for help, they may be feeling desperate, frustrated, or even hopeless. They still need support, but emotions will always affect behaviour.
The human mind creates resistance to change as a way to maintain a sense of safety. Even when someone genuinely wants to improve things, making changes can feel overwhelming, uncomfortable, or even threatening.
Resistance to training advice can happen for many reasons, and the combination will vary from person to person:
Feeling ashamed that they let the problem continue for so long
Having a coping mechanism that makes it hard to ask for help
Feeling overwhelmed by the process and struggling to take action
Experiencing emotional pain when admitting confusion or mistakes
Recognising these struggles in people is an essential skill. The ability to notice and respond appropriately to a guardian’s resistance is more valuable to the dog’s progress than learning another advanced behaviour theory. Making a guardian feel safe, understood, and supported will do more for their dog than any technical knowledge alone.
Building Trust in Dog Guardians
Trust begins with empathy and validation. We don’t need to take on a guardian’s problems to help them, but when we make space for them to feel seen and heard, we create an environment where real progress can happen.
Some people have never truly felt heard in their lives. When we acknowledge their struggles without judgment, it builds confidence not only in themselves but also in the process. A dog guardian who feels valued in their experience is far more likely to engage, commit, and trust in the journey ahead.
Recognising resistance isn’t about convincing someone to listen it’s about creating the right conditions for them to feel safe enough to change.
When we meet people with understanding rather than correction, we open the door to better communication, stronger relationships, and lasting progress for both ends of the lead.
Next time you sense resistance, pause before offering solutions. A simple "I see how hard this is for you" can be the bridge between frustration and real progress.
Understanding dog behaviour is essential, but so is understanding the behaviour of the people who care for them.
In my Safe and Sound Dog Professional Network Mentoring experience we explore real-world strategies for working with both dogs and their guardians in a supportive and trauma-informed way.
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