Not long ago, a "trained" dog meant one who didn’t pull too hard on the leash, barked less than the neighbor’s dog, and could sit on command when asked. The expectations were simple, stay out of trouble, follow a few basic rules, and be generally pleasant to have around. That was considered enough.
But that’s no longer the life we ask most dogs to live.
We Don’t Just Want Dogs at Home, We Want Them With Us
Today, dogs go everywhere. Coffee shops, hiking trails, breweries, family vacations, crowded city sidewalks. They're our sidekicks in a very human world and we expect them to keep up. Not just behaviorally, but emotionally.
We want them calm around kids, neutral toward other dogs, non-reactive to strangers, and responsive no matter the environment. That’s a lot to ask of any animal, especially one that doesn’t speak our language.
And that’s exactly why training expectations have evolved.
It’s No Longer Just About Obedience
Heel, sit, stay, those still matter. But now, we also need our dogs to handle unpredictable environments. That means:
Staying grounded in stimulating or stressful spaces
Shifting attention back to the handler under pressure
Bouncing back quickly when something triggers them
What we’re really talking about is emotional regulation and it’s become one of the most important things we can teach our dogs.
Teaching Emotional Regulation: What It Really Means
Emotional regulation isn’t a command. It’s a skill set. It’s the ability to feel something, excitement, fear, frustration and still remain present, thoughtful, and capable of making a better choice.
In dogs, that might look like:
Choosing to look away instead of bark
Slowing down on leash when arousal spikes
Holding a Down or Place command even when a dog walks by
Re-orienting to their handler instead of escalating
It doesn’t mean your dog never reacts. It means they learn how to recover.
And recovery is the real goal, not perfection.
Perfection Isn’t the Point, Recovery Is
Mistakes aren’t the problem. Dogs will get distracted. They’ll have off days. They’ll make bad choices sometimes. So will we.
What matters most is whether they know how to reset. Can they bounce back? Can they respond to pressure without spiraling? Can they shift their attention back to you, even after the moment got hard?
That’s what emotional regulation gives you.
It’s what lets your dog stay on the patio at a busy restaurant, even after a skateboarder zips by.
It’s what helps them settle at your feet in a crowded waiting room, even if another dog barks.
It’s what allows them to live life with you, not just near you.
The Role of Training in This New Reality
Modern training isn’t just about teaching commands, it’s about building coping skills. We use tools like food, leash pressure, engagement games, and e-collars not just to stop behavior, but to help the dog think through arousal. To come down instead of spiral up.
We focus on:
Structured walking to help the nervous system regulate
Place and Down to reinforce stillness and clarity
Long-line recall to redirect and re-engage when needed
Pattern work that builds confidence and predictability
We’re not just training behaviors. We’re training the brain.
Final Thoughts: We’re Asking for More So We Have to Teach More
The truth is, our dogs are living in a very human world. And we want them involved in all of it.
But if we’re going to ask our dogs to do more, go more places, and handle more pressure, we have to give them the skills to succeed. That means looking beyond obedience and focusing on regulation, recovery, and relationship.
Because the dog who can recover quickly, stay calm under pressure, and trust their handler?
That’s the dog who gets to go everywhere.