When you need to microwave food for 1minute do you press 1-0-0 or do you press 6-0, or even better do you have the option for a quick 1min you press or quick 30second you press twice? Which ever way you do these we can all agree the end result is the same, we have heated up something for 1 minute. So some prefer to push as few buttons as possible, some just default to old habits, you know before the fancy quick start buttons were added 😉 Why are we talking about this here? This directly relates to your mindset in dog training in a few different ways. The idea that there are different methods to the same result is not a new concept, 5+4=9 and so does 6+3 so when you are struggling with any dog training challenge we often need to remember to take a step back and look and see if there is another solution, inevitably there always is. This is where group training, instructors, peers, mentors, friends, YouTube videos, Podcasts, etc. can also be of value, sometimes you can see that alternate solution and a little nudge from the right source can make the world of difference.
This also brings up that thought that if you are not learning ang growing you might be doing something the slow/inefficient way when a new solution might be available. Being someone who takes in information and seeks out new information to learn and grow will only aid you in getting out of old habits. It is important to recognize these old habits and see when they are no longer serving us, in dog training but in life. Its ok to grow and learn and become a different type of trainer than you were 10 years ago, 5 years ago, 1 year ago, heck 1 month ago. Gaining information and learning new things and then pivoting based on that information is key to growth. Don’t fall into the trap of, I’ve always done it this way and its worked, while that mindset may not really effect heating up your food, it will impact your dog training and your relationship with your dog.