We Tried Other Training. Why Didn’t It Stick?

It’s a conversation we have all the time.

“We did training before, and it worked for a little while, but then everything went back to how it was.”
“We had someone come to the house, but the minute they left, our dog went right back to the same behaviors.”
“We thought we were doing everything right, so why didn’t it last?”

If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. It’s not that you failed. It’s that most training programs don’t go far enough to create lasting behavior change.

Most dog training focuses on obedience, not mindset.

Sit, down, stay, heel, come. These are all useful commands. But obedience alone does not create a calmer, more reliable dog. It just creates a dog who knows what to do in a quiet environment with low distractions.

What many owners discover is that their dog can sit perfectly in the kitchen but completely fall apart on a walk, when the doorbell rings, or when passing another dog. That is because the skill never translated to real life.

At Monument City Dog, we specialize in balanced dog training that targets your dog’s emotional state, not just their commands. We focus on helping dogs regulate themselves, make better decisions, and remain calm under stress. This is especially important for reactive dogs, anxious dogs, and dogs with big personalities.

Short-term training often lacks consistency and structure.

A few lessons can give you some tools, but long-term change requires repetition, structure, and follow-through.

Many dog trainers offer one or two sessions per week with no consistent support in between. For dogs with more complex behavior issues, that simply is not enough. They need real-time feedback, consistent expectations, and daily practice in different environments.

That’s where an immersive board and train program in Baltimore can make the difference. It allows us to build the foundation for calm, clear behavior every single day, not just once a week.

Training doesn’t stick if the dog’s lifestyle doesn’t change.

This is one of the most overlooked parts of dog training. A dog might go to class or have a lesson, but if their daily life is still chaotic, overstimulating, or lacking boundaries, the training will not hold.

Behavior is shaped by lifestyle. If a dog is constantly barking out the window, pacing around the house, or being allowed to make all the decisions, no amount of “sit” or “down” is going to solve the root of the issue.

Our programs are designed to reset your dog’s daily rhythm and teach new habits that actually stick. We combine structure, calm exposure, accountability, and play to create balanced, reliable behavior in real life, not just in the training room.

What makes dog training actually stick?

• A calm, confident handler

• Daily structure and boundaries

• Teaching the dog how to regulate, not just react

• Exposure to real-world situations

• Consistency and accountability

• Repetition, repetition, repetition

We take all of these pieces and put them into a clear, immersive program tailored to your dog. Our goal is to help your dog be calm, confident, and connected to you, no matter where you go or what distractions show up.

If you’ve tried training before and it didn’t work, you didn’t fail.

You just needed a different approach.

At Monument City Dog, we offer balanced board and train programs in Baltimore that are built around real-world results. If you are ready for your dog’s behavior to change for good, we are here to help.

Because when training reflects real life, it sticks.

Having issues on the Walk? Start inside!

The majority of my clients come to me with some sort of issue with the walk with their dog whether it be pulling on the leash, barking at other dogs or people, or just completely tuning them out. And my very first question is, "How are they inside?" 

A lot of the dogs are calm per se, but won't listen when called, jump on furniture, freely roam and pace, jump on guests, and bark at the door. I always advise my clients when they are struggling outside with their dog that they absolutely need to tighten up the boundaries inside. The majority of bad behaviors in dogs are rooted in fear (barking, lunging, territorial stuff). Dogs that feel they are in control will more often than not make bad choices simply because they feel they are in danger and need to protect themselves. 

A common problem once we get the walk situated is that the dogs head is on a "swivel" and is constantly looking around. This is the jumping off point for arousal and although they are calmer, any sort of stimulation could set them off, starting the cycle all over again. The ideal position for a dog to be in on a walk is head directly next to or behind your knee. If the dog has more serious behavioral issues, the head needs to be further back to create a clearer boundary that they are no longer in charge. If you watch any clip of a wolf pack traveling, the followers are behind the leader with their heads down, in a determined trot to their destination. 

So how do we fix this? The very first place we start with every dog in training is the Place Command. This teaches your dog to have an off switch, builds impulse control and to make good decisions on their own. The value is this command is the duration, as it is a doggie meditation of sorts that shows your dog that he can turn off his mind, relax, and not need to worry about what is going on around him. Your dogs only job is to stay on his bed. Once they get good, you can practice increasing distraction, duration, and distance, and adding triggers.

Starting inside with low distractions will get your dog in a state of mind that defers issues to you, therefore not worrying about everything thats going on around them. Dogs that are constantly looking around are worried! Providing them with leadership and clear boundaries gives your dog a sense of peace that they no longer have to worry about being in control. Do yourself and your dog a favor, teach the place command!

Should You Let Your Dog on the Furniture?

This is one of the most common questions I get from dog owners: "Is it okay if my dog is allowed on the couch or the bed?"

The short answer is that it depends. There isn’t a universal right or wrong here, but there is a right or wrong for your dog, your home, and your lifestyle.

Let’s break it down.

What Message Is Your Dog Receiving?

Dogs don’t come pre-programmed to understand the difference between furniture rules and leadership. In many cases, allowing a dog on the couch isn’t about the couch at all. It’s about how the dog behaves while they’re there.

If your dog can calmly hop up when invited, hang out respectfully, and get down when asked, then furniture access might not be a big deal. But if your dog guards the space, ignores your commands, becomes overstimulated, or treats the couch like their personal throne, it’s time to rethink things.

It’s not about dominance. It’s about clarity. If your dog can’t take direction from you in high-value areas like the bed or couch, that’s usually a sign that more structure is needed in other parts of your routine too.

Permission-Based Privileges

One of the easiest ways to keep things clear is to make furniture access invitation-only.

That means your dog doesn’t get to jump up whenever they feel like it. You invite them up. You ask them to get down. And you follow through. This keeps you in charge of the resource and reinforces that access is earned, not assumed.

If your dog struggles with impulse control or pushy behavior, taking a break from furniture access can be really helpful. It gives you space to reset the tone in the house and gives your dog the chance to practice calm, respectful behavior on the floor first.

Cleanliness and Personal Preference

Sometimes the decision has nothing to do with training and everything to do with lifestyle. Big dog, white couch. Allergies. Young kids. There are plenty of valid reasons to keep your dog off the furniture and that’s totally fine.

Your dog won’t feel unloved if they’re not sleeping in your bed. Dogs care more about consistency than comfort. As long as your rules are clear and you stick to them, your dog will adapt.

What We Recommend

In our training programs, we usually start with no furniture access. This gives us a clean slate, helps build impulse control, and removes unnecessary gray areas. Once the dog is calm, respectful, and responsive, furniture can be reintroduced as a privilege.

There’s nothing wrong with couch cuddles if your dog has earned them and can handle them well.

The Bottom Line

It’s not really about the couch. It’s about the relationship.

If your dog sees furniture time as a chance to relax near you and is respectful of the space, that’s great. If it’s creating conflict or chaos, it’s time to step back and create clearer boundaries.

Whatever you decide, just be intentional. Choose the rule that works best for your household, and stick with it. Whether your dog is curled up on the couch or relaxing on a bed nearby, what matters most is the mindset behind the behavior.