What’s Stopping You from Training With Your Dog?
Let’s have an honest heart-to-heart. You love your dog. You want them to feel safe, calm, and happy. But something’s getting in the way of taking that next step—committing to a training plan, reaching out for help, or simply believing that things can get better.
You’re not alone. Here are three of the most common reasons people hesitate—and why it’s okay to feel this way.
1. "What if I do all this work and my dog still scares people?"
You’re worried that despite your best efforts, your dog will always bark at strangers, lunge at other dogs, or cower at every unexpected sound. That fear is so valid. Especially if you’ve already put in hours of training and still feel stuck.
But here’s the truth: Progress isn’t always linear. Sometimes it’s slow. Sometimes it’s invisible for a while. And sometimes it’s not about the end goal of having a “perfect” dog—it’s about building trust, communication, and resilience together.
Fearful dogs aren’t trying to be difficult. They’re overwhelmed. And every moment you spend showing them the world is a little safer than they thought—it counts.
Want some community support from other dog owners who get it?
Join the Helping Fearful Dogs Feel Safe Facebook Group
When working with fearful dogs, one of the most powerful lessons we can teach them is this: you’re allowed to move away from what scares you. Rather than reacting with barking, lunging, or other stress signals, dogs can learn that they have choices and that choosing space is always okay.
Too often, dog owners unknowingly force fearful dogs into uncomfortable situations. Whether it’s a stranger reaching out to pet them or being led too close to a trigger, these moments can intensify fear. Instead, our goal should be to support the dog’s emotional safety by empowering them with options.
At Crazy 2 Calm Canine Coaches we use the Trauma Informed approach to dog training using the training triangle taking care of the needs of the dog owner, the dog, and the trainer by working together.
2. "It’s going to take too long."
We live in a quick-fix world. When a behavior issue crops up, we want it solved yesterday. So it’s frustrating to hear that real progress—especially with fear-based or complex behaviors, might take weeks or even months.
But here's the shift: training isn’t a chore, it’s a relationship. It's learning to understand each other. It’s tiny wins—like a soft gaze, a relaxed body, a tail wag—in situations that used to be overwhelming.
And yes, it takes time. But so do all the best things in life.
What to learn how to develop Confidence in your dog?
Check out the Confidence Canines Collection on Patreon
Some trainers will promise you a quick fix! Try this tool or punish your dog for acting that way. At Yooper Paws of Love we don't make promises on the amount of time it takes to train your dog. That's because your dog is just as unique as you! Every human and dog team progresses at their own rate. Our goal is to help you learn how to make simple changes in your dog's day-to-day that set them (and you) up for success. Then we can look at teaching the dog to do more of the behaviors you love, naturally reducing the behaviors you would like to go away. Everything we do is based on teamwork!
3. "It’s my fault."
Maybe someone told you that you “spoiled” your dog. Or that you “let them get away with too much.” Maybe you’re blaming yourself for not starting sooner, or for making mistakes along the way.
Let’s stop right there: Guilt is a heavy weight to carry, and it doesn’t belong in your training journey.
Dogs aren't keeping score. They’re learning in the now. And you’re showing up now. That’s what matters.
We all know and have felt the judgement or the disapproving eye of another human who doesn't like the way we are training our dog, walking our dog, or doing enrichment activities with our dog. Even when sometimes the feeling of being judged is only in our mind. But here is the thing, we can't control what other people think any more than we can control what they do. So let's forget a moment that people can be cruel and instead focus on the kindness of those trying to help us.
What's most important to your dog is that you spend TIME with them. They can easily forget about the simple mistakes we make on any given day. What they remember is how we made them feel! And let's face it, that's what we remember most about our dogs too. So let's just spend a bit more time "feeling" together as a team.
Take a Breath!
Fearful dogs are not broken. They're not “bad,” and they’re not too far gone. They're sensitive, overwhelmed, and trying their best to navigate a confusing world.
With the right support—gentle, ethical, and relationship-centered support—they can build confidence. And so can you.
So... what’s stopping you?
Let’s make space for hope. Let’s take the first step—together.
Visit the "Fearful & Fizzy Dog Training" tab on our website to get started on the path to helping your dog.
