12/09/2025
With a TV dog training show canvasing for participants in our area, it’s natural that guardians might wonder if what they see on screen is the 'best' way to help their own dogs.
The edits make things look simple and fast, but in reality, behaviour is much more complex.
On television, you’ll most often see methods using a mixture of reward and punishment.
The quick-fix moments look impressive, but they don’t always tell the full story of what the dog is feeling and why, or what may happen longer-term.
I thought it might be useful to share some condensed side-by-side comparisons, looking at what you might see on some popular TV shows, and how a dog centred, kind, science led approach with behavioural understanding might look different.
1. Barking at home or on walks.
▪ On TV:
You might see a spray can, sharp sound, or firm interruption to stop the barking.
The dog goes quiet because they are startled.
▪ Alternative approach:
The first step is to ask why the dog is barking. Anxious? Excited? Frustrated?
Once the reason is known, appropriate training and support can be put in place.
For example, if it’s frustration at seeing another dog, initially distraction can be used whilst working on building calm disengagement skills.
If it’s anxiety, changing how safe the dog feels around their triggers would be the focus.
In each case the dog learns alternative behaviours, and their underlying emotions are addressed.
2. Pulling or lunging on the lead.
▪ On TV:
You might see lead jerks, a change of lead equipment, or body pressure to stop the pulling. This stops the behaviour in the moment because the dog avoids the pressure / discomfort.
▪ Alternative approach:
Teach loose lead skills using rewards to reinforce preferred behaviour choice, build value for walking near the guardian, and use equipment like a comfortable, well-fitted harness to keep everyone safe.
If lunging is part of the picture, again asking 'why' is important to understand. This information allows relevant management strategies to be put in place whilst skills are built. The dog learns what to do in a way they feel comfortable, and not just 'what not to do'.
3. Interrupting behaviour with sharp “ah-ah” or similar.
▪ On TV:
The trainer uses a loud verbal interrupter. It startles the dog, and the behaviour stops.
▪ Alternative approach:
Rather than relying on surprise, teach an attention noise. A pre-taught cue (in an encouraging tone) that the dog is rewarded for responding to. Doesn't sound very different does it? The detail is what matters, the real difference is trust: the dog understands what’s being asked, feels confident about how to respond, willingly does so and is rewarded.
4. Preventing access (body blocking).
▪ On TV:
The trainer steps into the dog’s space to stop them rushing to another dog, person, or food.
The dog moves back to avoid pressure.
▪ Alternative approach:
The reason the dog wants access matters.
If it’s excitement to greet: build a calm check-in before greeting, rewarding the dog for attention on their guardian.
If it’s frustration: work on frustration tolerance, reward disengagement, and use build skills to move away.
If it’s food or resources: teach trades / exchanges, put processes in place to keep training safe and stress-free.
In each case, the alternative approach focuses on reasons for the behaviours and building skills. Instead of the dog avoiding human pressure, they learn how to make choices that work for them and their family, for the long term.
Why this matters.
Quick fixes are attractive on screen because they’re dramatic and immediate. However, dog training shouldn't be about suppressing behaviour for the sake of appearances...
It should be about considering the bigger picture:
- Understanding why the behaviour is happening.
- Ensuring needs are met, including breed and individual, health, diet, etc.
- Building trust between dog and guardian.
- Teaching alternative skills that are relevant and make sense to the individual dog.
- Supporting changing emotional response, not just actions.
This is what creates safe, reliable, long-lasting change.
If you’re watching dog training on TV, enjoy it as entertainment, but remember it’s never the whole picture.
Every dog deserves to train in a way that feels safe, kind, and clear, with their emotions taken into account.
The examples above are simplified. There's much more to it, but that's not for this post.
If you’d like guidance tailored to your own dog, from someone who will always explain both the 'how' and the 'why', I’d be glad to help.
Tara
Paws & Minds
🐾🧠
